Lesson #2 - We have a campaign, how do we publicize it?
Posted by: MS Staff in Advice, Blogging, Campaigns, Cyber activism, Internet, Lessons, MediaAfter you start your campaign (which you can learn how to do here):
- Contact international news services and agencies. We recommend:
Do not just request for this information to be on the BBC News website, rather ask them to include it in the news agenda so it can be mentioned on the BBC World channel as well. Provide screenshots of your campaign, preferably with pictures of the subject in the banner, in order for it to appear on the news channel. Make yourself available for BBC Radio interviews both in English and Arabic (or Farsi, Urdu, French, depending on the case and location.)
Contact Al Jazeera by e-mail at first and request that your information be provided on their website. Ask them to write back if they have further questions or if they request an interview with the campaign’s co-founders and staff.
Sample letter:
To whoever it may concern,
I am writing to you requesting your urgent help concerning a recent case that took place in [Country]. [Blogger's Name], my [friend/colleague] has recently been arrested and we would greatly appreciate it if this can receive some coverage in your news hour, if only briefly! This is a serious case and is a violation of human rights in [Country,] and reporting it is very important so that the world is aware of what is going on. [Blogger's Name]’s only crime is freedom of expression, and no matter how much one may disagree with [Blogger's Name]’s writings or opinions, free speech should never be considered a punishable crime anywhere.
We have started a campaign to Free [Blogger's Name], which can be viewed on [website.] The campaign’s founder can be reached at:
Name: Your full name.
E-mail: Your e-mail address.
Phone #: Your phone number.
Fax #: Your fax number.
Website: Campaign’s website.Please help us spread the word, and contact us for further information. We are available for media interviews.
Take a very brief video of you discussing the case and send it to Al Jazeera’s The Listening Post. They accept all formats, but .mpeg is preferable for ease and quality. Don’t just state what happened; ask for help! Remember to give the address of your campaign in the video or request that it appears on the bottom in order for people to know how they find your campaign.
[Here are their tips on how to start a video blog. You can scroll to the bottom of this page and "send it" using the links provided.] You may be required to register on YouSendIt in order to send the video file, but registration is free and easy. Direct the file to the following address:
listeningpost[at]aljazeera[dot]net (Note: Remember to replace the @ and . to the appropriate symbols, they were replaced initially in order to avoid spam.)
More networks to include in your contact list:
- Contact or refer to local aggregators for support or information on blogs within your country who may be supportive of this campaign, for example, in Iran, a good source might be Balatrin. In the Arab world, iToot is a place to start.)
- Contact Global Voices Online with your concerns and request that the campaign is covered.
- Create banners in your website for others to include on their blogs and websites. Eventually, create a page such as this one listing all of the different sizes (if possible, in several languages.)
After this, and after the basics of the campaign are ready (you included most of the information about said blogger through links, and explanations and updates on the case), start writing op-eds. Examples:
Jailed for Blogging - featured in the International Herald Tribune (contact us personally to put you through to some editors of international papers who may be interested in featuring your work.)
A prisoner of his own words - featured on Pajamas Media (sending info.)
- You need to always be creative! After spreading the word through the global blogosphere, through social networking websites, and through international media outlets, do the following:
Use your talents. Music, video production, and especially art!
Here is an interesting example of using creativity to get a message across:
(Projection project - Requirements: Laptop, projector.)
Click here for more information on the above project. You could try contacting the artist for a request to do this.
For more creative ways to spread the word, try blending original music and an effective video.
Good example - Save Nazanin Fatehi:
Try as many mediums as possible! From music, to radio, to videos/films to media outlets and blogs! Reach your audience on both a local and global scale for overwhelming support and added pressure. It will take much time, thought, and effort, but you can do it if you follow the steps!
Stay tuned for more lessons in the future.
Entries (RSS)
April 22nd, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Just wanted to say hi.
April 23rd, 2007 at 4:53 am
Hi Arash
May 5th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
[...] 2nd lesson offers some basics on how to initially market a campaign (we are still in the process of [...]
May 6th, 2007 at 7:41 am
[...] Our 2nd lesson on how to publicize a campaign can be found here. [...]
May 24th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
I just fully-read this articl, and the projection and graffiti things reminded me of this project a group of people who form the grffiti research labs posted on their blog, it’s called Interactive Architecture, which tells you how to make a projection and all that stuff, it’s a bit expensive, but IT WORKS! http://graffitiresearchlab.com/?page_id=32#video watch the video and browse through the site, it’s cool!
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Hello everybody, my name is Damion, and I’m glad to join your conmunity,
and wish to assit as far as possible.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
speeche famous speeche man