Posted on 02/22/2009 6:42:25 PM PST by diefree
SOME ADVICE ON FUTURE “TEA PARTY” PROTESTS, from a media producer who attended the Overland Park affair:
I attended the invigorating protest outside Congressman Dennis Moore’s Overland Park, Kansas office yesterday.
I hoped 10-15 souls might show up. I was thrilled to see hundreds. Here are some suggestions. I don’t really want my name used. Sadly, it could really hurt my business, which is already hurting.
As a professional media producer, here are my concerns:
1. Incoherent message - the signs were all over the place. There were lots of agendas. That’s fine. The color and signage look good on TV.
But, when it came to the microphone - the overall message was tepid and unsure.
2. Create a theme - like “We want Senator So-and-So to resign for voting for this bill.” Or, “We want the Stimulus Repealed!” “Start Over.” Have a definitive purpose to your Assembly. A central theme will also help public speakers to focus. And don’t be afraid to personalize this. Put it on your Senators, Congress people, and the President. That’s what they are doing to anyone who objects.
3. Speakers not prepared for the media - the organizer was asked to name some specific objectionable items in the stimulus. She couldn’t do it. I doubt many of us could.
If you are an organizer, or the “face” of the event - take an hour to prepare. You don’t need to know everything about the stimulus. Just find 2 or 3 things - hard facts - you can point to and credibly say - these are wrong, wasteful spending items. Or, these items grow government, not the economy. It is critical.
4. Pass out talking points, just in case Joe or Jane Protestor gets buttonholed by a reporter.
5. This is all about image. If we don’t present the media with a professional, organized and, unfortunately, scripted image, they are going to make their own, and it won’t be favorable.
6. Recruit some help to pack the area around people being interviewed for background. God love the guy in the crazy Uncle Sam suit, and we certainly need the Minute Men, but these folks will quickly become THE story because they are colorful or controversial i.e., Good TV. Welcome their support. Maybe give them a minute on the mic. But I recommend trying to pack in mainstream, boring looking, and diverse Americans around the camera. No offense to anyone. Anytime a TV camera comes out, a certain number and type of attention seeker will flock to it. Now is the time for Grandma and Grandpa, the Plumber, the Young Executive, and the Homeschooling Mom to flock to the camera as background. Don’t be shy. Remember, how do you want your cause to be presented by the media? As crazies? Or as Concerned Neighbors?
7. Have an Agenda and a Time. We’re going to Assemble at this Time. We’re going to have a Sign-In Table. We’re going to have a Sign-Making Area. We’re going to have speakers at 10:30. We’re going to March to the Senator’s Office at this time and demand she resign. We’re going to end with Chants, and a Call-to-Action for the next Protest. That, and Protestors want to know what’s going on. If they become unsure, they leave. Organization wins, and it also intimidates the opposition. And the opposition is going to start showing up.
8. Share the Day’s Agenda with the Media. You have to create your own press. The event in Overland Park was HUGE, but only one news station came out to cover it, and there’s not even a photo in today’s Sunday paper. Sell it to them. They love good stories.
That’s it. I hope this helpful. These things are only going to get bigger, and people need to realize that a great responsibility comes with this wonderful opportunity. Get a Message. And Get It Out.
Pass to the appropriate conspirators
I think this is important for the Tea Party in MI.
“Nuts” to ACORN.
I’d bypass the media. If you are coherent they will still lie. True grass roots and word of mouth is the ticket. Go around these media fools. They’re blockers. The truth will prevail.
These are excellent suggestions!
Even if we do,.....
You KNOW what to expect from the ENEMEDIA.
Isn't one of the goals of a revolutionary takeover, obtain control of the media?
They sure have our major media outlets under their thumb!
How about subversive gas pump stickers?
Like... How's your pie?
Did you get caviar and lobstah with that?
As a person who has spent decades working in the media, I think that this point is very important. If the press doesn't know that you are going to be there, they won't show up. Put together a simple press kit, and pass it out to the media a couple of days in advance. They will come.
I’m so happy to hear there was such a great turnout at the OPKS rally! I wasn’t able to go because I had two sick children and husband had to work.
absolutely correct, don’t rely on or wait on the media, they will screw it up for you if they can...seen them ignore hundreds of demonstrators to focus on a dozen or so misfit musicians who didn’t even know why they were there.
The media will minimize and marginalize your efforts every chance they get while doing all they can if they can’t ignore it altogether.
The Media really is the enemy, but they can be handled, even to one's advantage.
Having just spoken at a few public hearings, know some facts, know and declare the message, and don't be shy.
It's one of the things for which GWB or his administration had no clue.
“God love the guy in the crazy Uncle Sam suit, and we certainly need the Minute Men, but these folks will quickly become THE story because they are colorful or controversial”
You’ve got to have someone in a PIG costume with the sign:
“I (heart) obama\cause he loves me”
(it’s all about the pork)
Excellent points!
a lot of people could just plaster them everywhere, when they get gas, grocery store, 7-11, Stop-N-Go
Be real discreet about putting them out and they will not know for a while.
bttt
Nice list. Thanks.
One suggestion for attention-grabbing: big punchbowl with punch, toss a bunch of Baby Ruth bars in there and stir, then have someone wearing a mask of your targetted politician try to serve people. You can come up with your own lines from the obvious "turd in the punchbowl" concept; can personalize with little toothpicks with a message flag on them, e.g. "Stimulus / Porkulus Package of 2009" shoved into each candy bar.
But once you've gotten attention, GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT. Keep it simple, concrete, name names, and STAY ON MESSAGE. The attention-grabbing stunts are fun window-dressing that can be used to advantage, but don't let the stunts obscure the message.
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