PRESS – THE BUTTON

You don’t get anywhere in life unless you press buttons and the media is just another button for you to press. Generally speaking the Press is hostile to (white) racial nationalism. In their eyes you are the wrong kind of radical. Let’s face it, they are the establishment and besides, they are heavily dependent upon advertisers many of whom are hostile to your views. Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas. But does this mean that the media can never be used to your advantage?

The media is your most powerful tool if you look at it in a positive sense. Radical organisations attack the media but constantly use it to gather news and re-package that information for their own readers.

So how would you react if as a crusading journalist you had gone to great trouble to unearth corruption among sleazebag politicians then find the radical white-right has hijacked and re-cycled your story in their chosen format?

With the exception of the BBC and Daily Mirror, which slavishly toe the party line, most of the media can be used free of charge to bring us news we can put our own slant on. Every day they pay news agencies and journalists a fortune for something you get for free. Don’t knock it - use it.

Don’t assume all journalists are flint-hearted unscrupulous bastards just because most of them are. Be Christian about it, most of them simply aren’t aware of their shortcomings. You certainly won’t turn them into friends by telling them a few home truths even if it does make you feel better for it.

Try the diplomatic approach first, and never politicise your letter otherwise it will categorise you and will make them hostile before they even read it. It is a mistake to assume that journalists get more letters than they can read. Unless it is hostile, offensive or anonymous journalists always read their mail. Provided it is politely put they will invariably write a nice letter back even if it is critical.

"Dear Sir / Madam, I found your article quite enlightening but with respect you must be aware by now that a substantial and informed readership question the unproven figure of six million and qualified research questions whether the holocaust took place at all other than in the minds of the victors propagandists."

"Dear Sir/Madam, Excuse me but you mentioned the death of Anne Frank nearly sixty years ago. Are you the same journalist who turned a blind eye when Jewish snipers were picking off Arab stone throwers, some of them children not in their teens?"

I am not suggesting that such a letter will turn the journalist into a holocaust denier or hostile to Israel’s terrorism but it will make him aware that there are doubts and they are being increasingly aired. It will begin to open a previously closed mind and even if he is a dyed-in-the-wool holo-hoaxer or Jewish boot-licker it will if nothing else unsettle him.

It is a step in the right direction. It is a positive approach rather than a negative one. If you don’t draw his attention to controversy and dissent he can’t possibly know that an opposing opinion exists.

National, regional or local, journalists are human too. Remember there was a time when you believed the holocaust too and how bad the Nazis were, and how THEY started the war and the rest of the garbage. As they are in that same mind warp think yourself lucky and lead them out of it, gently and politely.

Who knows? The article that (as far as he dares) throws light on the six million controversy or rejects for publication holo-hoax propaganda might have its origins in your softly-softly approach.

The better educated the journalist is the more likely he is to reject or soften his views or dilute your opposition’s propaganda press releases and information. You might have planted the seed!

It is worth bearing in mind too that journalists like everyone else have to watch their backs. If they step one foot out of the politically correct zone their job has gone. Be understanding unless you too would risk your own job for a principled outspoken statement.

Finally even if they are sympathetic towards you and your cause don’t expect them to trust you enough to advertise the fact in a personal letter of reply. That letter could be dynamite.

Separate national newspapers from regional and local newspapers. They are not the same. National newspapers are interested only in big stories, letters and contributions that are likely to interest readers wherever they live. Your opposition to refugees being bussed to Leicester will interest only readers in Leicester so write to the Leicester Mercury instead.

Remember too that the Daily Mail national newspaper will typically receive two thousand readers letters and e-mails in a single day but have space to publish only about twenty of them.

It is a bit of a lottery but provide you know what is likely to appeal to the selection panel you improve your chances of publication. I have had at least six letters published in the Daily Mail out of about twelve forwarded so provided you know the tricks of the trade you can get them published. Each time you do you have about 6,00,000 readers. You don’t get that on Hyde Park corner.

Local newspapers are not as political as the nationals and they are more inclined to publish letters or comment on controversial subjects, especially those with a local slant. They operate in a much more competitive marketplace so they actually relish controversy. Obviously they receive far fewer letters from readers and they thrive on ‘sparklers’. A regional newspaper will receive about eighty letters a day, a more local suburban newspaper far fewer. But where else could you get an audience of say twenty thousand?

Dear Sir /Madam "I think I speak for most when I say that I object strongly to ratepayers money or taxpayers money for that matter, being spent on re-housing economic refugees. The local authority has no mandate to do so and I await with interest to see if their generosity with OUR money is published on their election leaflets in ... months time. Is there any chance of local so-called democratic politicians asking our opinion first?"

The trick to getting your letters published is to follow the five golden rules of journalism. Who, What, Where, Why and When. You will see this formula followed in everything you read in any newspaper, national or local.

Don’t allow your letter to ramble and don’t miss essential points. Just keep to the issue and when you have written your letter do not post it until you have cut its content by at least twenty-per cent. Have a look at the letters that are published and learn from them. Get someone else to check your letter out before 20,000 readers do.

Short, polite but concerned letters on local issues likely to interest local readers will invariably be published.

Don’t worry about being identified and threatened. Newspapers are unlikely to publish letters controversial enough to attract a strong reaction. Keep your letters polite and free of abuse and the world will respond likewise. Besides few newspapers publish sufficient detail for a letter-correspondent to be identified unless you are already a publicly recognised figure in which case it hardly matters.

Newspapers never publish anonymous letters or those of doubtful authenticity. This includes letters with a box number.

A Press Release is a public statement or announcement such as you might pay a town crier to announce, but these days we use newspapers. The more professionally presented the better its chance of being taken up. It is after all your organisation’s shop window. If you want a scruffy illiterate image then fine, send an untidy illiterate press release.

These days with computers there is no excuse for unprofessional letterheads or press releases. Typically yours might be:

A demonstration opposed to the local authorities plans to re-house refugees bussed into Carlisle from London and the South East is to take place at . . . .

Present your case in written form remembering those golden rules

Who, What, Where, Why and When.

Keep to the point and get a friend to check the layout looking for faults.

For Further Information Contact

Cathy Dowling or John Smith

0386 333333 or 0161 333 3333

MORE INFORMATION: If you could use a directory of newspapers then you will find a copy of Willings Press Guide and others like it in the reference section of your local library.

Better still why not pick up a copy of The Writers’ and Artists’ Year Book at your local bookstore? It costs about £10, is published by A & C Black (London) but all booksellers are familiar with it. Just ask for it by name. It is a fascinating encyclopaedic volume listing hundreds of Britain’s (and other countries) newspapers and magazines. These include radio and television media addresses. Good luck!