activist media toolkit

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The Activists Media Toolkit is written by The Toolkits Collective in conjuction with Undercurrents 16B Cherwell St, Oxford OX4 1BG

[email protected] Tel: 07970 343486 Cover design by CounterFeet

@nticopyright for non profit making groups and campaigns only (please credit l J ~ ; ) for everyone else.

We have tried to ensure all information is up to date and accurate, but accept no responsibility fo r incorrect or inaccurate information

- if it's wrong - let us knowl And if you have useful contacts made through your media work let us know and we'll include them in the next edition

Printed and Published by Oxford GreenPrint 115 Magdalen Rd, Oxford 014 1RQ www.oxfordgreenprint.com

ISBN 095453140 X Printed on 100% post consumer waste ryded paper,

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enI 7=DI 7=Dc.::tMIas: IisIiIUS:Using the media.............. ....... 3 National newspapers ............. 26 How to write press releases ....... 5 Regional newspapers ............. 27 Interview techniques ...............9 National and regional TY. ........29 Complaining ........................ 10 News agendes ..................... 30Getting pictures published Police press releases ............. 31in the press ......................... 11 Local radio .............. .......... 32Selling your video image to National radio .............. .......32television ............................14 Organising a video screening ... 17 Trade press .......................... 33 Using the Web ...................... 19 Nlagazines ...........................34 What's wrong with the Alternative media................. 35 mainstream .... .... .... .... .... .... .24 Resources ...........................36 Setting up a local newsletter ... .24 I ~ ~ ~ ~ g ! - ~ I I I ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - - l

'"ThIra'. 1M haIe_

rising up against multinationals who are polluting theirWhat are we up against? local area, Triviality. Every media outlet shares the same On the face ot it, this is a aim: to expand its share of the rnarket. as ollr aim i', 10 flI.lk(' by seeking to grab ,md hold dlldattention, This is why the media concenlr,lll", '>0on events, especially tr ivial, flashy clnd (J)lollrllli niH''>,rather than issues. Most jOLlrnabts die (ollvill( (:d liI,1i Bias. Many outlets have a secondary ,Iilll: ofpeople can't concentrate tor rnore th,m a ew ~ e w l l d ' , pdndering to the prejudices of theirand really want to hear about some large news-gathering organisations areor Freddie Starr and advertised in by billionaires andmere trivia such as rrdHn,tinnals, which makes lite still harrlrrthe war or communities there are some outlets we ';illlply have IIJilI

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to avoid: there's no point in approaching The Sun orthe Daily Mail, for instance, unless you're appealling tonarrow mi rded knee-jerk nationalism or one of thefew issues they support - GM being a prime example.The Sunday Times has been waging war on protestersfor years, and has no qualms aboul peddling utterbollocks in order to discredit the movement. On milch Cdrp withmedia work as you doplanning - you want to educategreater support, not risk the mediayou even further. Out of the group of people who ~ ( ) [ I your mediawork you will need to appoint a

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Environmental Activists Blockade GM Crops Company Press Release for immediate use 25 April 2003 to GM crops this morning blockaded the UK headquarters of Bayel

CropScience [1] near Cambridge [2]. The blockade is timed to coincide with the Annual General Meetingof the firm's parent company Bayer AG in Cologne, Germany where UK GM activists are simultaneouslyholding a protest. Bayer CropScience is the company leading the rush to commercialise GM crops in theUK and Europe [3J

a safety and accountability record as poor as Bayer's [4J to introduce a technology as i"hArAnt!\IThe activists blocked vehicle access to the company's buildings by lockina themselves toaether with

metal tubes. One of the protesters, David Locke from Oxford, saidunpredictable and potentially dangerous as GM crops,"

Laura Nauder lrom London said "This year is going to be make or break time for GM crops. I think it isimportant to send a clear message to both the UK government, and biotech corporations like Bayer,

that the public still don't want GM crops, and that we will resist their introduction every step of the way,"Sarah Wise from Totnes In Devon said "would you trust the company that brought the world heroin,

sarin, VX and Agent Orange 15J to make your food? - Because, frankly, I don'!."For further information phone 07940 159979 (on site)

r-IIIIIIIrrrrI,rI,,,,III,IIIIIIIII

IIII

Notes for the editor1. Bayer Crop Science was tormed In June 2002 when Bayer AGpurchased Aventls CropScience and merged it With With itsexisting agrochemical business.2, The blockade is located at Bayer CropScience iust outsideHauxton on the A10. west of Junction 11 01near Cambridge.3. Over 80% 01 the GM field trials conducted In 2002 involvedGM crops now owned by Bayer CropScience. Should the UKgovernment give the go ahead, Bayer CropScience's GMherbicide lolerant fodder maize and oil seed rapc will be among

the first GM crops to be grown commercially In the UK.4. Bayer are currerrtly embroiled in a series mll:inlmltlon dollarlaw suits people died and many more suHered serrousside-effects after taking an ami-choleslerol drug made by Bayerknown as Baycol or Lipobay. The Bayeoi scandal has wipedmillions 01 pounds off Bayer's share price.5. For more inlormation orr Baye(s history seewww.bayerhazard.com,www.cbgnetwork.org and litaHarnischleger's recent article on Agent Orange in the FinancialTimes (Apr 15, 2003).

release and give additional information. Local TV, local radioand national news wires were prioritised. Several localpapers, local BBC and lTV sent reporters out A telephoneinterview with PA newswire resulted in several newspaperarticles. National newspapers were less successful. TheIrv news program based most of their report onlootage shot by an activist This footage also went up on UKInrlyMediaThe action succeeded and we got fairly halanced localmedia coverage, though not much national coverageThings that would have made it better

1, Two people doing press work on the ground onegenerally chasing up journalists and one phoninghandful of targeted journalists.2. Getting direct phone lines for journalistswanted, rather than newsdesk numbers,3. Having an agreed policy on giving video footage to 11"mainstream rnedia, e,g using a 'Copyleft' agreement

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------_ .

during his sermon, and intends topreach continually in front of the threatened willmake them sit up and wonder what it's all about. youwant to mention the tree-sit you [an do so further onin the text.

of the vicar who has discovered that it's illegal

is the most. The firstwhole is where you needThe second and thirdtheyandDon't write more than a sincjle page 01

Tell theto

the

where and when,arab theknowfourth

M, II YOIIneed to more factual information, do ',0 Oil .Iseparate called 'Notes for Fditol','break it up, as a large block of text willlJllt tlIC'1lI ol!Use numbered paragraphs or bulletacross facts and statistics,

the next two

6. Write the date at theAlways include awhere contacts areInclude a namethe contacts at bottom of the page.7. An embargo is useful put it at the top, above theheadline it means you are instructing journalists notto publish the information before a certain time, Thereare sever al good I easons for doing this:- lounalists know they won't be pipped at the post byother people getting the story before them,- It creates a sense of event.- A timeline concentrates a- You know when to publiCity and can plan yourmedia responseThis is the usual format:EMBARGO: 00,01 am, Friday 15th _00.01 is a good time, as the papers can keep up withthe broadcasters, and it's less confusing than 00,00,But be aware that because you put an embargoon the story, it doesn't mean journos won't be stupidenough to call the police or the company you'reoccupying to ask their opinion, So don't stick anythingin which you don't want to be generally known.For immediate news, iike the press release you sendto say you have occupied a buildina/worksite etc don juse an

is ayou could send out 'war ning'a week beforehand. If your actionan occupation or a lock-on) have

your off-site press officer send out arelease the moment you are successful.Who to send it to

~ n n n r ' + e a lot ofto: all thenewsroom, ITN/C44 (Today ProgrammeRadio 5 Live, Independent Radio News,ies (Reuters, PA, AP Look at your regionaland 8BC local radio as well.

YOIt ';hoilid also he aware of your local papers, newsdCj('[i( if:', ,mel i1ldependent local radio (most localI ddi(l (jet tlieir new', 110m IRN, but some do have thC'irown lo(,tI bllill'lill")

freelancewho seem interested

there isn't enouah SDace tothf'1lI ,III in lhe Toolkit, butdeldil:'. from the phone boGuide see resources section forinclude individual andcause.

You wil also need to tailor your press releases to the- ther-________________-.. rags will need Ittwrt's it : pack the loosea different headline earth CIt"CUKffrom the nationals

'Fulminster 'sbypass threatenedby protesters'interest, Fu I m iAdvertiser'

forget the trade press - many of them take aninterest in actions and campaigns affecting theirbusiness during the M11 anti-road campaiCJn in FaslLondon. press releases were always sent to Iheconstruction press as well as the national rnedi,l, Withsome of their journalists following events clo'>dy ,mdalways seeming interested in the alternative', weafter all. if we want rail instead of roadsstili be il. are alsoon thewith themedia is

,I mailer of time befm e!lOII( cd by those who need to keep thclJ1',wl'!'1 to c[]

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how vou"~ : t 'r.....:;#t-. ,: Il'j11'''

the alternative media and email lists - vitalup extra

How to send themGenerally the best way to send a press release hasbeen fax and often still is, However the media areemail more often, emdil, for newsrooms arewhere we've been them. If in doubt callthe newsrooms you want to wntact and ask how you~ h o u l d send them a press release, as at the time ofwriting the situation differs between companies forinstance, when updating the database we call all theto check their details. When asked for a faxthe Independent on Sunday said thatalw"ys use email and the fax rarely gets looked at,whereas the News of the World, when asked for theiremail address were taken abdck by the meresuggestion they might l l ~ , e illThe majority of individual j o u m l l i ' , I ~ in a useernail.soit makes sense to use this dS well youcan get their individual addresses. It's generallyproductive to spend a few minutes talki ngjournalists by phone and getting them intere')tcd inthe story, develop these relationships and you willbenefit from this during future actions,We've also found that news agencies (Reuters, PressAssocitated Press) (an be very useful interms of the number of outlets they syndicate thestory to, so it's always worth making sure they getpress releases.fax modem is invaluable and means you don't needto sit by a fax machine for hours, There's plenty oftree fax software available on the web that uses adatabase of numbers and a modem to automate yourfaxing. follow and don't sendspam, Snail 1l'.('lf l ()(;,Follow upGive evpryo!1l' d ' ,ill 10 (lit" knumber, PI '11.11 II 11.1,11, 1)1"11 IJlIII"d IlIl1h .I Dile ofother pdp('rWOI K. Ibe it pres', reled',!:!"essence of the story.database to check faxchanged or moved around the building, The phone callcan iJI' .I qllick one 'did you receive our pressrelease)', 'will YOII be covering the action7', 'do youneed any 11)()f (' ifltor mlltion7'Don't be put oil by tileir rudeness this is whatthey're paid for. Be Icddy to on the story, or totell them why it's Slllh ,lfI illlpor I,mt i

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viii. Turn hostile questions toare at le;d a (ouple of- De,,1 with the

yourrlnnonent as someone who has be. IIto be told the truth, Think of yowto put them right, rather than toand you'll find that when you go intostudio you'll be a lot less tense,And remember when you go into a studio, you ,ti l 'there to tackle one issue and one issue alone, not I,put right the ills of the whole world, Concentrateone task, and you'll make life a great deal easier h,1yourself,FOLLOWING UPA. Keeping up your contactsto write down the names and numb!'1 '.you meet, and maybe make "brief note of what like and how they treal,r!If you're going to be involved in a lOr!' I

ix. Leave YOlli flol(H, hcilinci. If what you want to say

keep the sympathetic ones informed abolilit every so often, so that when the next event COITH".up, they won't have forgotten what it's all about. Shal"your contact lists and experiences with people in oth('1campaigns: it could help them a lot. And send uscontacts so we can include then in the nextisn't in YOIH 111',111, YOII ',IHJlildll'l 1)(' in the studio.

to will your audience over,'"lIiric,ing your0ppollml'., 11"',llioll is oftenquite dl('( IIVI'. ('Wi'll, 1('1'stake a look .lIllII', ('lIlIilIY',lrieAlliance, Its rndillllll)(lr-I i', til,'Duke of Westminster, who,his name suaaests, I', dcmJ... ,ctinn HOllse, london W1A 1Mndependent TelevisionStreet, London W1 P 7LB,Tel: 0207 255 3000,

i. If you're fantastically rich, have been narned Inperson and have lots of free time, sue for libt'l. 11'., nolan option for most 01 us, but if you know OJ IdWYI'1prepared to work for free, it's wor th scndirllJ ,}threatening leiter, It might prompt the P.lI)t'1 orprogramme to issue an apology and C,ci! Ie 0111 IIIamiss,court: a few thousand quid for your ( a u ~ , e neverDon't try It without a IThere is no leaal aid lor libel cases.

your case,a leaflet/newsletter etc. and distribute theseintoan. We could not suggest you gonewsagents and stick a eaflet in every copy of the ragin question, But you could stand next to the streetpaper sellers giving them out, distribute to all thehOllses in an area affected by the story... but thisneeds time and bodies. Appeal to the Press Complaints Commission, It's avoluntary body set up by the newspapers Clnrl isuseless, even though most of It, rnernl)(,1 "from outside the press. Its code ill(to reDlv and iour nallsl';LondonFax: 0201 3538355. Tel: 0207 353 12118,III. It you've been stitched up by the broadcast media,your prospects are rather better. It's by laws

rlll,lil: 1 O ( ) n 1 . 3 ~ ) 15@compuserve,com FOI indl'I)('lldrnl radio: The Rildio Authority, lIolhlook 11011',1', I t1 (,IC,1I Queen Street, London WPP, ')DCI. FolX: OlO/ 1j(J'J !()G4. Tel: 0201 430 212t1. II YOII've (jot d malar complaint, contact !III' Bro,l(kasting Standards Commission, as well as one the above, BSe, 7The Sanctuary, London SWl P 3JS. Fax: 0207 233 0544. Tel: 0207 222 3172, ask for a copy of their regulations beforeis a validand date of thewait, and keep oncase. 1.------------,aboutin thebroadcast mediacan bespectacular lyworthwhile, as theproducers ofChannel 4'satrociousNature series

~ ! ~ " -.,.:.J..

to their cost.I n , j Q n ~ n , j ~ n + Television

verdicts in itsthat Channel 4 had to make aapology and the series director, Martinfrom the company he worked for.Remember: if they stitch you up and you don'tcomplain, they'll do it to you again and again.ConclusionAll

needs sp('(as it needs s[)('(rnore there are, the mort' ,11'.)[will corne across, and the nlOWwill be dttracted to our cause. This I'. hllw ',111.111rumblings turn into earthquakes, ThE" I ('volt It iOIl willbe televised, but that doesn't medii 11i.l1 itwon't also be live.

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gfttnpg i ~ j ~ : r : f e : : - j ~ h f t ~ () one can deny that thr press is deeplyIht' information they receive. Given that

toa a thousand words this same rule must However, everyone has N

-.,.. _ ....... -,,*up trees and receiving cheques, To stick .1'staffer' on a often takes up too much time andmany of these newspapers aren't interested in thewider social issues, even thouah the eventsthere are many photographers aroundwho cill their teeth on direct action and gained

youraren't goodyou're not closestill holds some truthdespite the surfeit ofirrelevant PR stunts

THE picturetheir hearts

as stories in the ;:::::::::::!:======:=:press.It's a

directiofl,There are 2 aspects to getting pic:tures in:

are happening in themeant to be informing,sweet tends to be more i mn ( ) r bn tthe truth. wort Ii

are .1stUdent andyou are working in tharea (this avoidsover asImpartiality iswatchword of the medi,1(even though thomachine itself is run bycorporate money andare 'partial' and to be avoided,have some good pictures of a ocal issuehe interested in and would they like to havea view to the possibility of publishing thellLthe pictu! e editor/news editor (it costsyour pride).

1. The savvv the psychology 01 (Jetting them toso you don't loseandonto theare notorious forthe oictures

Most news storie', Sldl I ()II d lo( allevel. so we'll dealwith the local press lif',I:These newspapl'I" 1('lId 10 l I ~ e staffI:Im photographers who 11I0S!lV drc (overinG cats

DO NOT give them

involved in an issue- any sane person feels this way if they'restay cool. You cana credit (also known as awill then

back for asecond go later in thearen't paying. You sold to the press,

The golden rule is:Editors have their own take on the storyprint a derogatory article using a

ifdon't expect them to

you haveConclusion: It's not allnice even ife

you hate. Oninterested to have a look atany good ... you'll have tofrom your friends and fellowpicking up ideas from what isNational News - A whole different ball game.These days all the national picture deskspictures digitally (via a phoneeffect of censor na manypublished onones). The cost of an adequaterun to about a housand quid. Howeveraccess to one of these it will open upYou will also need access to asoftware and email. Forthere -will often be anAssociatedthe digital gear andon time. These guys also have a track record as anaccredited news source with the picture desk.If you are not working on urgent news stories but aretrying to an issue covered as a feature (often thebest find out who the journalists are who arec;vnm::rthp!'!r to social/environment causes and link

Call them at the newspaper havingfor m from reading their articles. Flatter themdon't get much of that and they oe',frvp it if ttwyare any good, It won't make YOLI fed ',i( k 1)('( .111',(' ilwill be

is still employing. Here youare not white ilS the driven snow,is the thing to them ilnd most don't give twothe emeraino

have to be

Cilreer of a rookie

II If'(,jplioll Oetilll onYOIII {[Hilde! details.

Ill" 111(1 care 3 ways ofIn the press:

of feature

in contact withback of thl'getting DICUIW.

1. Being a freelance who has a name topicture desks.

3. Work alongside a sympathetic journalist. But aboveail don't rant about rl----------- ,theEmpathy isname of thebearingmostfield

On the

Written bv a news and feature

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offer your to WnewsrThe established have the power of mass disttil?ution and~ ' " H g y ~ ~ r to ignore it. Whifeit is vitally important to

alternative news videos and CDROM's as well as Internetm l ~ r e ~ T s a & ~ concentrate on creating outlets for our storiesbroadcast, we can utilise TV for rapid dissemination on the day.news with no sound - check how many differenlimages make up each feature. Here is a reeelilexample of filming a GM crop direct action with TVmind.1. Estahlishing shot . A wide shot showing the cropllidl growing in thewatching Z. Close up/cut Detailing what thecamcorders 3. Group shop - a of the protestresponse, Undercurrents tr ained activisb 10 record who the people areIhei r own to the best 4. Interview Ask what is wrong with these GM cropsof years we were, and 5. Action- imaaes of people the GM croprecorded on domestic carner as, fortransmission internationally. Today, most How do I get the best recordings possible?

and news crews use small camcorders, which are Stable images are the key to good video work.slightly better than domestic ones such as deep breaths and holding while recordina is "Ivideo (DVCAM). They cost much less than technique. Atripod may be useful for somemounted cameras. They may have been slow off the overall it will be a hindrance.mark in joining us but the camcorder revolution is now A camcorder lens is at its optimum when used dlin full swing. short distances. It is much better to use a wideand get in the face of the action rather than stand alWhy don't news channels send their own a distance and try to pick it out. The most obviOll'crews? Whal iJroddc1';lers call 'News' is mistake is using the zoom (going in and out on drv1.1110Il', ';Iunl

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seems to be the ru Ie of thenewsrooms so expect it and be oreoared. Phone TVstation and it will go somethingNews desk Hello, news desk, D i l r i ! l ~ Darius, my name ),lIIC ,lIld I havea documenlary Ofl genetic engineeringrecorded a dl dllIatic direct action

pr olest, which you may be interested in.News desk Where was it? Anv violence? How

more tnan a broadcast. News desk HmfTI. that is a bit expensive, I am sure our own crew recorded the event so we can get it ot! them. You No you can't. I was the onlv camera invited along. News desk .. hmm .... how about 50 ? That wouldn't even pay my travel costs, butsince you 'ieem to be struggling financially I willdrop it to 300News desk OK brill(l the footage in and lets see it.

How do I get my tape to the News Room?This (an be the hi( ky hll Id"oIlly you w,ml to go withthe tapes bul 1II.Iy Iw 11111," dWdY wilholll ,InyA',k IIt'W'. d,",h

1'1Ilt' ,01111111.11out of your iJdll(l', II ,the police.Label all tapes with Y()III II,IIIH' ,lIld dddll ".' .Generally newsrooms al C (,11 1'1111 w'II1I.1I)1''' .md don'tlose them. but make sure they po',1 il h,i( k .I', ',(JOII d' ,

Going to the newsroom yourself is useful as you canoffer more of an explanation of the action and newseditors are so out of touch that you will be abreath 01fresh air to their stuffy office. Ensureclips that you want to give, this is yourhave full control of it at this stage. Keepof who you dealt with and details of all "","",,,,monicmade. The news desks will nowfrom a 30 second to a 3from y o ~ u r images. Interviews areare invaluable for giving the narrator ; n f N r r > " t ; ~ n voiccover.What do I do now?Its time to sit watch the news bulletins and tap"them if possible so that you have a record of whoused it and in what context Send the news desksinvoice for the agreed amount as soon as possiblestating your name, address, amount, date ottransmission and the contact name you dealt with onthe day. If your images were not used, then youthem unless had an agreement tocover costs. Ensure that your tapes arc returnedASAP and edit your own story and distribute it.Frequently Asked QuestionsCan we trust news editors not to portray activists asjust troublemakers?No, we cannot trust anyone in the mediastrong possibility and you have to carefulyou hand over. If you have images ofmachinery who didn't want to beyou have the responsibility of either erasing thoseclips or not trusting TV news desks with the tape at ail.You must consider the pitfalls and benefits of gettingthe imaaes seen.How much should I ask fur use of my video images?is to NEVER tell the new"the money with thebusiness. You HAVEand appear toNormal fees are around 150 folregional news and 300 for national but could ai>.oto half or double it Best advice is to startwork down. News desks like haggling and ,u,'good at it so be prepared. Don't be afraid to say noyou feel the fee is too low. We have to push them illillaccepting a decent price for our so th.i! .Istandard price can be in place for future times.Should I get them to sign an agreement?Yes, in theory but impossible in practice c,O 1('Iv ,01verbal

Should I give an exclusive to just one TV network?No, as this limits who sees the images. If you are shorton time, it is always worth asking one news desk towire it to other rivals. It is common practice betweenITN and BBC and saves you a lot of time. You stillcharge each news desk that uses it.Who keeps copyright?You retain all copyright and it is worth telling newseditors that they have the rights to broadcast for (4hours only. They must contact you if they wish to usc

images again. Normally you can ask for 50% oifee again.What do I do with my tape aftelWards?Undercurrents runs a protest archive and (an dub YOUfand supply it to TV makers fordocumentaries. We act as an agent lorfunds. Contact us viaI ~ r g ~ p l ~ l ~ g f j l d . ~ ~ ~ ~ t i r u g - - - l Wen yet another TV channel refused to broadcasta oowerful documentary about deaths in policethe makers hir ed a video projector.outer walls of the Channel 4 building as awas screened to hundreds of reporters.was made about the most notoriousBritish history the McDonaldsHowever it never made it to British TV butto the invention of the video projector, McLihelhas been screened in thousands of places. There isus from takina back the airwaves!What do I need?Ask around localactivist networks first beforeThe list can shrink or expand according to yourbudget, but the items below are essential for a stress free screen ng:Video pi ayer or video (amer .\ TV or video screen Audio amplifier (Inc! " Connecting cables Blackout material Video recorder or Good video material,

Union of

hy r',/fJl 0' Connor. co-founde/ 0/1111i1111 1II1C'1;/5 alternative news. He has been(dlliCOIder images to TV networks worldwide for overten years. Contact him on undemi'i)an.c1Dc.ora withany questions or suggestions. July

screening is for less than 30 people use ainch or bigger) TV, as this is cheaper andvideo projectors. Put the TV at 5ttheads (and big hair) at the frontfor those behind. You can also have twoin the middle of the room with audience both sideand a cable that splits the signal and deliver:, HI('same imaae to both TVs at the same time.

model - flxf'd f()( 11', ,1!!tIdist,Hiu' IfIIlllIlIilllll,", III'.111.111"1 0111

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Video players:You can use a normal VCR buton VHS thanyou canAudio amps and speakers:Its best to amplify the sound so II y 10 get a VCR thathas separate audio Olltplil', 101 Its two soundAvoid VCRs Hid! 1i,1V!.: only an RF (aerial)as these are Iioubiesome if you want good',ollJld. For ot up to 30 people a domestichi-ti amp and is fine. Due to the amount of

on each video, sound quality is veryimpol tant and domestir we dOIl't h;weand there's plenty of anoraks out there who aretoo will na to share this information with you.

From an activist's point of view the web is anuseful tool, that gives people (bothand journalists) instant access to yournews without tying up your officeline. You also have a relatively level playing fieldto start on - much more so than with conventionalmedia (anyone can set up a web page with a minimumof dash and expertise, unlike starting daily papers/TVchannels).The first step - getting a web page - there are severalstages to getting a web site:

~ - - . " - - - .

-Produce the content of the pages and 'build' it intoa web site-Get some on the web to host your site-Get a a d d r p ~ ' ; ot your web site .e.g.For site of 'computeraround with articles onweb sites. They often Include a free CD-Rombuilding software. There is even a basicCommunicator (tree web browser

Otl IlIdrty (OWl (11'.(")' It is advanta(JPollS to havp',DIlI!'OII(, Oil YOIII ICdl1l who is able to edit YOII! ',Ii" ,',It up 10 dall' with accurate info strdirjili 110111wlie!!' ii'" Ii,lppening.These applications are comparable to using WOI Iiprocessing or desk top publishinq applications andthey have good help files. Keep il :;imple and youshould be up and running in a couple of days. Formore details have d look atwww,lInderclirrents.org/trainingDomain names are very cheap these days,org.uk domains work out about 6 for 2. yearsregistration, and will usually mean a more memorahleweb address try www.123reg.co.uk fordomain names.With regard to web there's l o a d ~ 01 freespace providers, the theyadverts, either as a pop-up window or apage. Alternatively you can pay for ayour web pages. This can cost as little asThe problem we've found with free space

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disappear with nofor web space themake sure your siteappears.

fiiesthe

IWhat to put on your site.11. Your contact details - on the front page or at leastone, clearly mJrked click away from the front page.phone ntlrnl)er, fax, e-rnilil, address contact names"Many ill'ople may be ace c"',inC] your site for thisre,NlJl ,ilulI(' so make it ed',y tor thcm,2, Campaign information - The what, where. how, why

3. AMailing list once someone has visited your website, it is much better if you can get them to join yourmailing list, so you can then send them emails withyour latest news, urgent calls for action etc, ratherthan relying on them looking at your site regularlycan also email Ihem to let them know if you'vethe site with illlflOl I,m!emailemailsthan on the wd),time on-linethat you can

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And when they're not World bank grants Uganda 85%peddling their politics to the relief on its national debt.masses, you find endless Children protest throughout Asiatrivia (Freddie Starr ate my to end child labour.hamster was one front page Britain's largest teachers' unionon the Sun) and thinly calls for strike in support of a 4 daydisguised adverts appearing working week.as articles or features British tourist attacked and blindedrecently, ITN's News ,11 Ten by British troops based in Cyprus.IJro,ukast a 4 minute piece Air traffic controllers in BritainaiJout disputed claims by claim that near misses have doubledvacuum cleaner Italy's most senior police officer ismanufacturers, which ended jailed for corruption.up promoting Dyson's First US McDonald's staff walkoutprOdll( h. Meanwhile, Ihcy over working conditions.1Il.1l1d

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media - now the

Some practicals:Gel ' ,0 / I,'d with an a d d r e , , ~ , ,mel bank account - use10( .. 1 action centre a

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Whole of Scotland &northernEnglandDerby Evening Telegraph phone: 01332 291111 news fax: 01332 253027 most of Derbvshire/oart of Daily Times 230023 nr.ws fax: 01473 324 1776

' , ' , ! ~ X and Suffolk

Eastern01(;03news fdX 01603 623872Notlolk I northern bit oJ SllffolkEdinburgh Evening News0131 6208620new,> fax: 0131 620 8697Edinburgh and surrounding areaBrighton Evening Argusphone: 01273 544544news fax: 01273555046Whole of E+W SussexEvening Chroniclephone: 0191 2327500news fax: 0191 232 2256Berwick to Carlisle to TeesideTeeside Evening Gazette01642245401news fax: 01642 232014Teeside - Stockton on

Evening Standard0207938 6000news fax: 020 7938 II i ,.,7London + SE FnglandGlasgow Evening Times0141)O? J()()Onews fax: 01'1 I i l l, ' (,h'l(jAll of ScotlandGrismby Evening Telegraphphone: 01472360360news fax: 01472 372257Grimsby/Cleethorpes area (sisterpaper for S( Ilnthorpe)Glasgow Heraldphone: 014 I )(),' 1000news fax: 0141 ll),' IO() 1All of ScotlandGIoucestershire Echo01242271900news fax: 01242 2/18'11:1[ ~ ] j ( 1 N Gloucs+ Cotswolds

The Gloucester Otizenphone: 01452 424442 news fax:01452 420664Gloucester/Forest of DeanlS GIOllCSHull Daily Mail014823271new,> fax: 01482 584353599477

News028 9032 2226 news fax:90337505NI + border + DublinLancashire Evening Telegraphphone: 01254678678 news fax:() 1, ' ~ ) 4 680429Nr 1,lfIc,/Burnley/BlackburnLeicester Mercuryplione: 0116751 2512 news fax:0116 ?r)i O[)'15LeicsUverpool Daily Postphone: 0151 22/ 2000 news fax:0151 236 46823 editions

Echo2272000news fax: 0151 236 4682N Manchester Evening News0161 832 7200news fax: 0161 8343814Greater Manchester + CheshireNewcastle Journal0191 li ? 1'J00flt'w'.I.lx: 0191 7G1 8869Nt'wt d',II!' I ',III rOlllldlrl

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______________________________________________________ _________________________________________

( ~ I e a s e aboul any event they have had any involvement with.on avoiccbank in reality an answerphone that is updated several timesinto and get the latest info, This also allows us to dial in and listen to the polleeof events, and, if appropnate, respond with our own. Many journos will take the police version asgospel and use this as the basis fOI their story, with a few snippets from the campaign.

not listed, they don't have one - you need to call the headquartersthey will then read the current press releases over the phone to allwho call them, The Met have done away with their voicebank number and now email out presswhen jounalists call and request them,

Angrla - East of England phone: 01603 615151 news fax: 01603 622 574 Border Television - LakeDist/bordersllOM01228 525101 news fax: 01228 594 229 Carlton Television - London &Southwest Mon-Friphone: 02072404000 IIl'W,) phone: 0207 827 7100 Ilt'W:, lax: 0207 827 7710 Central Broadcasting (Carlton- KKllands0121 6439898 0121 634 4 IOi 0121 63446Q()

GMTV - National Breakfastpholle: 0207 827 7000 I I ( , W ~ fax: 0207 827 7309 Grampian Television - NorthScotland01224846846news phone: 0122484671news fax: 01224846802Granada Television - North West England phone: 0161 832: 7211 news fax: 0161 953 0290 KJV -Wales029 20 59 0590

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p ~ ~ ~ ~ g ~ p ~ ~ ~ ~ news phone: 0208 5500 The main nation.11 onl''> dl e Ii"ted her (' in.lall\ In ( ' w ~ iax: 0208 ??2larger towns have oJ ';flIdll news t l('e ,)CVOthe Guardi;1I1 Mt'di" (,uid(' 01 Ihe hook London Office ofPA have a f1ll!1lb,:r 01 reqiollal the US news network

1.. . -____________-----11 APTN - AssociatedReuters0207 250 1122 0207 542 7947 news fax: 0?07 542 7921 Worldwide IH'W', .HWncy - supplies 200 broad( ,)',11'1', wor Idwide 24hrs (mark 1

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I

Note that all BOC nCl'lSl"ooms

~ h O O a r d

have to be cnntacted by phO!1e the Broadcasting House ' nnnc of them have national radio IFIN -IndependentRadio Newsdirect fines (or so 0207 430 4090 BBC Radio 1 SBC Radio 5 live 0207 430 4814 phone: 0201 C,1l() :]!J(,R pilorll': 0101 ')80 :]:]G8 0207 4304834 news fax: O?OI 1(,', ,':] I I IH'W', I,)x: O/OR (,II) fax: 01483 3049':l2news phone: 01452 307093 SBC Wiltshire Soundnews fax: 01452 309491 phone: 01793 513626BBC London Live news phone: 01793 513 652 0207 224 2424 news fax: 01793 513650 news fax: 02086249144

SBC Asian Network (Leicester) phone: 0116 251 6688 news fax: 0116 251 1463 BBC Radio Cambridgeshire 01223 259696 news fax: 01223 460832 SBC Radio Derby phone: 01332 361111 news phone: 01332 375001 news tax: 01332 290794 BBC Radio Essex phone: 01245 616000 news phone: 01245 616066 news fax: 01245 492983 BBC Hereford &Worcester01905748485 news phone: 01905 337290 news fax: 01905 748006 BBC Radio Leicester

0116202 1555 news01162516688

tax: 0116 2511463 SSC Radio Lincolnshire phone: 01522 511411 news fax: 01522 511058 SBC Radio Norfolk 01603617411 news fax: 01603 284488

SBC Radio Northampton phone: 01604 239100 news phone: 01604 737666 news fax: 01604 230709 SBC Radio Nottingham phone: 0115 955 0500 news phone: 0115 902 1931 news fax: 0115 902 1984 BBC Radio Shropshire01743248484 news phone: 01743 237008 news fax: 01743 271702 BBC Radio Stoke01782 208080 news phone: 01782221294 news fax: 01782289115 SBC Radio Suffolk phone: 01473 250000 news phone: 01473 340707 news fax: 01473210887 BBC Three Counties (Beds, Herts &Bucis) phone: 01582637400 news phone: 01582 637441 news fax: 01582 401467

BBC Radio WM (West Mkllands) phone: 0121 432 8888 news fax: 0121 4329929 BBC Radio Cleveland

news phone: 01642 340666 news fax: 01642 211356 SBC Radio Cumbria phone: 01228 592444 news fax: 01228 511195 BBC GMR Talk (Manchester)0161 2002000 news phone: 0161 7443035 news fJx: 0161 nb )804 BBC Radio Humberside 01 :]iV l(')? 17 news l,iX: [) I" R) ? ;(,:]()

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r ~ ~ - - - - ~ - - - - - - - ~ - ~ - ~ - - - - - ThisH.stisbynQmeansexhaustive. !-'--------- . . . , . . . , - - . . " . . . . , . . . . ,l l 1 e r e ~ , a s e l e c t i O ! l of the more : . .. : ~ . \ ~ .;tiia. 9 a . U ~ . e

I .i ; . ~ o ~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ a : ; e lmagaZI.08...sthey.ofteo geL all the local .magazines and newslettersdonated:- - - - - . - - - - - This is...to thQit periodicals section J nd : New Statesman browse the shelves of YOllr nearest : phone: 0207 828 1232 greeny bookshop. : news tax: 0207 828 1881________________________ www.newstatesman.co.uk

Private Eye Weekly lefty political mag0207 437 4017 New Internationalist the ureatest ...news fax: 0207 437 0705 01865728181news tax: 01865 793152The original satirical fdnl Ili

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c2003 Edi t ionr-----------j r ~ ~ ~ ~ r ~ ~ ~ r-------------l The

I I! Anything else we think Is usefull !I '! ktIYists' I..egaI Project Produces activists guide 10 GM, INK ndependent News !! 16b Cherwell Streel. oil, how to research Collective i! Oxford, OX4 1BG corporations etc. large unline 110 POIlohdlo HI!, !I Phone: 01865 ?43772 database londonWll/fB I i " ','email: [email protected]:lGreenPrintPllofl(':(J,'O/(?1 81] / ' J.Training and advice on legal 115 Magdalen Rd. WWW.illk.llk.(olll I ti lissues around nvda Oxford.OX4 IRQ Dhlrlhtlilufl f I ~ f w m k 101 ! ISubvettlse Phone: 084!> 345 1398 .dl!'llhllivl' IlIl'dl.1 j

PO Box 68, Oxford. OX'i IYS www.oxfordl)reenprinUolII M o n ~ W r e n d I Gntphbt iwww.subver I i ~ , e . o r q , fthilal ,mIl e!O friendly PO Box 1/80;. iOnline .uc.l1ive 01 .lI1li 101 pnf.llr lion pfOlil print wtnlliln)' Idlnllllfqh nil r)117 !i m a g e ~ , ar fides and 1.1f hXIII', The Phone Co-op www.. l U l o f l { ) r n o u ~ . u r C J u k / m o n k e y iGuardian MedIa Guide \,' WI",I rlid, C"hlflpitlq Nwloll, IIr,.lqn 1J1.'flhll" Iv print T-shirts I119 Farringdon Hd, Oxon, OXII,I X S4.wtN Screenprlnt Workshop Ilondon. lC1R ,fR PliO/II': 08/0 III, 1000 IIII' Old 'i, huolhuuse. Klrkton of IPhone: 01483 ?044'l'l, w w w . p h u l I l ' ( I I { ) I W I I I , t I Mrl1llllllr. hy R,tlchln, Angus. 'The main guid!' 10 r n i l i n ~ , 1 r ,.1111 Ilhll.11 pllOl1!' I (I up IIlrllp 'ilOtlilfid. UOI} IRNmedia contacts IId,1 hy In,IIIY pholl!' (,iiI'. 10' lIullvhlthtl', ,mel WWW.Ulf.llIl1ulr.mq.uk/5unrise/libraries qllltIP,. I ..hit t" wllh tl( o/ilnimalSchnews l-Contict video networt rlIIIIt"/,II""( I I I ~ , 1 c1f!slgns.c/o on the liddle, PO Box HIOO, I /11 /I, MIII,' 1M, 'll Wl'liIUHlli'" Will dr..lI/n Iv pllnllorBrighton BN? ?DX BtI',lof B ' ~ , ' 'I1X "llIIllilhlmiPhone: 01?n 611'>')1 www.vhll'ofll'twOl lkgIIk HamIIh,www.srhnew'.,IH I 1111 vldrll ,I( 1111,1, Ilful h 1 pili! IIf .'" rXflerlenced

datal)'!',!' of (,lIllp.III1I1" (,111111.1111"1'1', '1IlI',llIt,lIlI Y'illt!c.lfknlly lormed and IiiI'll Indymedli UK 10 -,lliIt I' '.klH!l dnd provide a ull annuall>ook' llltl 011 Illr Wt'i>',11f' www,ltlilymrdl.l,tlll"uk ',prl tr 11111 01 I.t Services to the Undercurrents Wrh I w , r l l l " i 1 . ~ , u l I l , Irjlll' IlIuI P' 0\1' r-.'1tvl' lommunlty, 16b Chl'lw(!1I St, (lxlolll OX4 lI\e, 1111 rl 0/'.1 H141 111'1111 I' I'lljur', 'lllf'l hdl..r" In ( ~ ) t l n source ! 'f'"'ir,;I.Phone: 0 1 8 n ~ ) ?(nh!. I r.111 ,I Itvr wr"II,..1 III 118 \lIlIwfll' dnd 'l('ClIIII')I \ . ~ w w w . u n d e r ( l I I r e n t ..1II1J "'-'NIt IIllrnl.h@l1l1 kmln ( ) ~ ( ) I t ,(Om (Video news maqa/inf', .III Illv!', NOli pi ullt I ullrl IIvr fllUvldhHI training and slIppor! 10' vidrll 11111'1111'1 "rl III1'1, ~ t l f J l l H l I 111,,1 http://WWW.ethIcalntemet.co,uk ! activists hll "\11111111\ IIfIIl rllill 11 Inlrr Ill'! '.Nvice provider ICorporate Watch 1 I 1 I I I v l l l u " l ~ Will klllllllll (lrllil', ,'lld wI'!!)';I'III!' '.IJ111}licr I 16B Chc'lwl'il SI, 11111111111 IllIltt .. 111111 IhI' , IIOxlord OM IB(' ""'11111111111'11'" www.prbbuiter.org.uk Phone: 018(,', It) I I'll WWW.lflll1fll.1I11J OM', ()1,',4011 WI,rll' 10 hllY 1 1 I 1 ~ x p e n s l v e video www.corporah'wa!( I.IPI", I i

L. __________________________________ ___ _____________ . _ ~ . ___ ________________________________ II

Activistsedia001kit

How to use the mainstream media How to sell pictures/video to the media Whats wrong with the mainstream media Alternative media what exists and howit works How to start your own local newsletter Books and publications list Resources and reference library