| Part I — The Basics |
| | 1) | Study up. | Know your issue. Focus on a theme. Review our background publications, Press Releases and Alerts. Have them handy, along with any timely news articles you may wish to quote.
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| | 2) | Pray up. |
Pray for wisdom — and boldness if you need it. Ask for the right words that will help "those with ears to hear" to truly understand the issues and principles which are at stake. |
| | 3) | Speak up. |
a) | Write, E-mail or Fax Letters-to-the Editor (Media Pt. II)
Your efforts can impact thousands of readers & significantly influence information "gatekeepers" all across the country!
- Compose your Letters-to-the Editor using our
Sample Letters and Talking Points.
- Communicate your comments, complaints and/or commendations on their news reporting and editorials.
- Suggest stories they should include in their News Coverage. Note what they fail to report;
- Confront liberal bias. – Then use this
Checklist as a reminder to ensure that all correspondence is
- Clear,
- Concise,
- Courteous,
- Cites specific examples for more authoritative writing, and
- Credits sources when utilizing direct quotes.
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| | * Internet links are provided below to news sites that allow you to write Letters to-the-Editor online. Remember to use the op-ed page as a forum to either commend or expose a Senator’s or Congressman’s vote/position on issues in both the national press & in their home state paper(s). Ask other readers to contact their representatives as needed. |
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b) | Call and/or E-mail/Fax Talk Radio & Talk TV (Media Pt.III)
Talk shows are perhaps the best way you can quickly disseminate
information to a wide audience and generate action among politically
aware and active listeners. For Court Reform education & activation,
conservative talk formats provide the opportunity to inform and/or
mobilize thousands, or even millions, of people with one phone call.
Find your ‘comfort zone’ and begin there. If you’re just starting out,
call local talk shows and/or e-mail and fax them with your comments—
many hosts sift through listener e-mail while on a break. They will
often read it on-the-air, (you may want to issue a challenge for them
to do so --depending on their point of view.) Even when you're un-able to call in, you can alert talk hosts about critical issues and Congressional votes by
e-mailing or faxing important news articles, action items and legislative briefs. As you gain confidence speaking on-the-air, begin calling the national talk shows — i.e. Rush Limbaugh, Mike Reagan, C-SPAN, Talk Back Live — where you can reach millions of listeners/viewers. Armed with the facts, you can both expose media bias and challenge the views of a liberal host and other listeners/viewers.
(A brief note about call screeners: When you phone in to a talk radio
or TV program, give the screener a general overview of your topic.
They may inquire what side of an issue you are on. Some may ask
more probing questions on behalf of their bosses, particularly when
you call in to a national show. You do not, however, have to reveal to
the screener everything you plan on saying to the host.)
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c) | E-Mail/Fax/Write TV Talk Shows & Media Networks (Media Pt.IV)
Give TV talk shows and news organizations your opinion about their reporting, their on-air hosts, programs, and sponsors--pro or con. The links to the web pages provided below often include contact information to specific shows or the network executives to which you can forward your comments. As with talk
radio hosts, there are some TV talk anchors who regularly read viewer mail/e-mail on-the-air. And shows such as CNN’s Talk Back Live, scroll e-mail postings and comments at the bottom of the screen while the show is in progress.
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| | 4) | Follow up. |
Make the most of your efforts.
If you write a Letter-to-the Editor that makes it into print, check in subsequent issues of the publication for additional comments on your subject from either the editorial department and/or other readers. You may have the opportunity to
clarify the facts, further substantiate your point of view, or challenge
another reader’s letter. Remember, our goal is to both raise and sustain public awareness about Court Reform and all its attendant issues. This rule holds true for talk formats as well. If your call, comment, fax/e-mail was considered controversial, unique or generated reaction from other
listeners, follow-up with the host, either by phone or in writing to
reinforce your point. Some hosts have rules on how often listeners may
call their shows, while others do not, particularly if the caller is considered a "good caller" – articulate, expressive, engaging and can interact well
with the host. Some talk shows prefer airing callers who can help get their
audience’s attention via lively debate with the host. But, whatever the individual style of the talk hosts with whom you interact, suggest that they dedicate an entire program to issues surrounding Court Reform, and be sure to send a note of thanks and encouragement to those that do.
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Eagle Forum
