Getting 'Free Press' for Free Letters to the Editor Op Eds Press release Working with the Media Q&A “ For a politician to complain about the press is like a ship's captain complaining about the sea” – Enoch Powell

Letters to the Editor

Op Eds

Press release

Working with the Media

Q&A

Libertarian Communications Failure #1 Throwing the Book at Them

Throwing the Book at Them

Libertarian Communications Failure #2 Felony Label Grabbing

Felony Label Grabbing

Libertarian Communications Failure #3 Insulting Your Audience

Insulting Your Audience

Libertarian Communications Failure #4 Not Knowing the Issues

Not Knowing the Issues

Libertarian Communications Failure #5 Not Listening

Not Listening

Letters to the Editor Most effective tool to promote libertarian ideas Most read part of newspaper No filter, VFR direct to readers Research newspapers guidelines & stick to them . Do not use boilerplate or form letters. Weeklys welcome “fresh” views & articles

Most effective tool to promote libertarian ideas

Most read part of newspaper

No filter, VFR direct to readers

Research newspapers guidelines & stick to them .

Do not use boilerplate or form letters.

Weeklys welcome “fresh” views & articles

Technical Points Use website or email (letter in body) Do not send handwritten letters. Type them: 2X or 3x space, 1 side, 1page Include name, address, day-time phone number Hand delivery, meet staff

Use website or email (letter in body)

Do not send handwritten letters. Type them: 2X or 3x space, 1 side, 1page

Include name, address, day-time phone number

Hand delivery, meet staff

How to Write Be positive . Don't get personal, attack. That's what Republicans & Democrats do Focus on ways America will be better with small government – don’t dwell on wrongs Sell liberty . Appeal to self-interest. Don't preach & expect sudden conversion

Be positive . Don't get personal, attack. That's what Republicans & Democrats do

Focus on ways America will be better with small government – don’t dwell on wrongs

Sell liberty . Appeal to self-interest. Don't preach & expect sudden conversion

Identify & Focus Identify with social goals of issue – show how those goals can never be achieved by government, but will be well served in a free society. Keep returning to the central point: how much better off the individual will be in a free society. Give practical examples. Show me.

Identify with social goals of issue – show how those goals can never be achieved by government, but will be well served in a free society.

Keep returning to the central point: how much better off the individual will be in a free society.

Give practical examples. Show me.

What to Write About Reply to editorials & op eds Best use: discuss a local issue. Pick issue important to you – don’t be afraid of passion If refuting article – do it now

Reply to editorials & op eds

Best use: discuss a local issue.

Pick issue important to you – don’t be afraid of passion

If refuting article – do it now

LTE Style State argument you're rebutting or responding to as briefly as possible Stick to a single subject Don't be shrill or abusive Logical organization: Define issue, give your argument, present evidence. Close Use facts, figures and expert testimony

State argument you're rebutting or responding to as briefly as possible

Stick to a single subject

Don't be shrill or abusive

Logical organization: Define issue, give your argument, present evidence. Close

Use facts, figures and expert testimony

LTE Final Thoughts Proofread carefully for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Sit on it 24 hours View letter from reader's perspective. Be persistent Write

Proofread carefully for spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Sit on it 24 hours

View letter from reader's perspective.

Be persistent

Write

Op Eds Expanded LTE Rebuttal op ed 500-800 words Same guidelines LTE “ Credentials” help Discuss with editor

Expanded LTE

Rebuttal op ed

500-800 words

Same guidelines LTE

“ Credentials” help

Discuss with editor

Press Releases Not college paper, thesis or speech A press release is a resume Source of information or news tip Be prepared for reporters questions Newspaper, TV & radio need different things

Not college paper, thesis or speech

A press release is a resume

Source of information or news tip

Be prepared for reporters questions

Newspaper, TV & radio need different things

Press Release Format Inverted pyramid Use newspaper style Slug Strong lead 5 Ws&H 400-500 words For more information information

Inverted pyramid

Use newspaper style

Slug

Strong lead

5 Ws&H

400-500 words

For more information information

Press Release Writing Tips Key points first Use quotes Use clear, concise, vivid language Short sentences & paragraphs Check grammar, spelling, punctuation Be timely, meet deadlines

Key points first

Use quotes

Use clear, concise, vivid language

Short sentences & paragraphs

Check grammar, spelling, punctuation

Be timely, meet deadlines

Working with the Media Be not afraid Nothing's "off the record" Don’t feel obligated to accept reporter’s facts and figures Don’t answer hypotheticals Don’t be afraid to ask a reporter to repeat a question Answer question reporter does not ask

Be not afraid

Nothing's "off the record"

Don’t feel obligated to accept reporter’s facts and figures

Don’t answer hypotheticals

Don’t be afraid to ask a reporter to repeat a question

Answer question reporter does not ask

Working with the Media Be friendly Interview is opportunity to educate Make your answer relevant Be honest, straightforward Use colorful language, clear examples Don’t be badgered or harassed Beware of buzz words. Don’t let reporter put words in your mouth

Be friendly

Interview is opportunity to educate

Make your answer relevant

Be honest, straightforward

Use colorful language, clear examples

Don’t be badgered or harassed

Beware of buzz words. Don’t let reporter put words in your mouth

Summary LTEs most effective way to communicate libertarian ideas Op eds are expanded LTEs Press releases are resumes Avoiding reporters does not communicate libertarian ideas Feed the media Be not afraid

LTEs most effective way to communicate libertarian ideas

Op eds are expanded LTEs

Press releases are resumes

Avoiding reporters does not communicate libertarian ideas

Feed the media

Be not afraid

“ Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter” - Thomas Jefferson