Handbook for Protests, Demonstrations & Focused Communications Radio | TV | Newspapers | Chat Rooms & NewsGroups | Representatives |
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access is more limited than radio because the time available to the local station is very
small. Many tv stations produce little more than their own news broadcasts. They
are not actually required to grant public access to the airwaves. When they do, it
will be because of local relevance. News people in general do not have time to go investigating what they report on. The day of the investigative reporter has nearly all but passed... deadlines and production are as important in news as they are in manufacturing. Their product is not the news, it is the story about the news. The easier you make it for them to take your story and turn it into a finished product, the more likely it is that they will use your story. Remember, you need to think of this like a political campaign. And your purpose is education. People really do make the right choices when they are informed and empowered. Therefore, there are two basic opportunities: 1) Packaging an event or issue for the news 2) Establishing relevance to the "Sunday Morning" public affairs programs. Understanding the Medium Television is sensual. Television is motion. You can hear it. It's so real, you can almost smell it. That is what you must consider when creating your "package for the camera". Think about the people who will be watching, and what they will think when they see you... when they see your group. Will they trust what you say? What can you say in 10 seconds or less that actually alters thinking or refers people to a source of information? Why 10 seconds? It's almost cinematic law that no camera shot shall be held for more than 10 seconds, preferably 3 or 4 seconds... It's the reason Billy Mays sells so much Orange Plus and Oxy Plus Orange cleaner... his hands are always in motion, and you're afraid to take your eyes off him because you might miss something. TV wants motion, action, things which compel you to keep your eyes glued and your ears open. They constantly use audio to draw you to video, and visa versa. People listen to other people more when they: 1) talk faster 2) have a slightly higher tone of voice 3) speak and repeat phrases that are easy to remember (short) and have rhythm (works on the subliminal level) Television likes to use shots from the waist up: keep your hands up at chest level. Watch car salesman ads... they don't often do it well, but they've all been trained to do it. And it works. Use home made buttons and signs in your hands to display web site urls and phrases in a size that fits a camera shot they'll be taking for other reasons. A huge sign won't fit in a shot of you from the waist up. Mention a website, because it's like leaving a calling card. Use as few words as possible. People will only see it for 1-3 seconds. Prepare quick, concise, descriptive explanations so that when asked, you can provide intelleigent answers. If they say, why do you protest, you'll be able to say - for these 3 reasons... maybe hand them a one page write-up stating the issues and referring them to a web site. If you present yourself as being informed on the issues you declare, are minimally organized and show an understanding and appreciation for opposing views, you will be taken seriously and credibly. For example, if asked "what is Corporate Socialism", my answer would be something like "Well, it's like when the government decided we didn't need national health care, and instead, passed laws so that insurance companie could control our health care... it's a nice idea, but the hmo's have everything to profit by NOT giving me health care. Corporate Socialism puts profiteering corporations in charge of what should be governmentally controlled resources and benefits, things that impact our daily lives and standard of living. I would never vote for Enron, but the government did. You can get more info on www.democraticfundamentalism.org "
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