Reply #19: Media: LTTE

[H2O Man]

The corporate news media is pretty much bought and paid for, and is not likely to begin reporting things in the way that DUers would like. However, there is one area of the newspapers that we can reach: the editorial pages, and especially the "Letters to the Editor."

Much of this information is the same as presented on post #12. A LTTE is likely to be given more attention by the paper if it includes information about an elected official who lives in or serves the area the newspaper covers. For the sake of this discussion, I will use the example of Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D- Pindars Corners, NY). I live near Oneonta, NY, which is but a few miles from Moynihan's famous home at the hamlet of Pinder's Corners.

In the 1980s, a few friends and I would get together every week, and compose letters to various elected officials, and to newspapers. The responses from elected officials would often be used the next week in LTTE. If we sent a LTTE of the Oneonta newspaper (The Daily Star), one that reported a response from Senator Moynihan was far more likelt to be printed -- and prominently -- than a letter with a response from Tom Harkin. A local senator is obviously going to be of more interest than someone from the mid-west.

We made up a name of a "citizen's group." Made letterhead. And we sent out letters and surveys to numerous elected officials. At that time, our country was engaged in wars in Central America. Reagan was reportedly popular, and the newspapers were generally not challenging him on his policies. So we did.

One example really stands out. I sent Moynihan a letter about El salvador. A week later, I got a response, thanking me for my letter, and then agreeing with the position opposite to what I expressed. Two days later, I got a second letter, again thanking me, and then taking the same position I had. I copied both letters, composed a short letter, and sent it to the Daily Star. They ran my letter, whichshowed that the senator felt very strongly -- both ways!

When I was younger, and in college, I always included the fact that I was a student with an interest in politics in letters to elected officials. I found this often helped when I made requests for "additional information." Many officials will, for whatever reason, cut college students interested in politics a break.

Again: in writing LTTE, if you are able to quote from a letter from an elected official, or to include an open request in you LTTE, it may get an editor to give it more serious attention. This can include both positive and negative comments from you -- "I support Senator Clinton's _____," or "I challenge the congressman to explain why he ____."