the activîsts media toolkit

8/13/2019 The Activsts Media Toolkit

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There has been uch debate aon) carn0ai)n and direct action )rou0s about the use2or not3 o" the ainstrea edia, This booklet, not sur0risn)ly, is to hel0 those whowish to use the ainstrea edia, and to set u0 their own( ;hether we like it or not,the ainstrea is here to stay 2"or the "oreseeable "uture at least3( t=s the only way toreach hundreds o" thousands 2or even illions3 o" 0eo0le uickly and easily, so it=s

well worlh 0lannin) a strate)y "or how to do itD es0ecially as our o00onents wiil beusin) it to s0read their version o" events anyway, whether we choose to or not(Soe o" the covera)e o" events will be the ty0ical bi)oted knee co0roise,

risin) u0 a)ainst ultinationals who are 0ollutin) their local area,n the "ace o" it, this is a njw disadvnnta)e "or us, as our ai is to ake 0eo0leaw(nc ol bi), i0ortant and nsually l(iiily ni0lr! issues that can=t be suiiiiiF=d di3 in aG(oiindbilc(

Bias( Many outlets have a secondary ai* o" 0anderin) to the 0rejudices o" their0ro0rielors( Mosl lar)e news


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8layin) the )ae( A edia, but es0ecially broadcast, tend o have a set o" rules < a"orula "or what they rnistakerily believe to be baianced and reasoned re0ortin)( Eowany tirnes have you seen a besuited e!ec, 0olitician or =e!0ert= cally e!0lainin)why the latest McShellbury=s e)a drive thru has to 0yj be built, su00osedly "or the)ood o" the KL counity, while journos conduct in de0th interviews with

o00onents o" the schee re)ardini the di""iculties o" 0ersonal hy)iene while treesittini= n short, " the edia isn=t 0layin) 0olitics with 0eo0lr in suits then it=srldiculin) everyone else=s o0inion


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s0okes0erson or several but decide this in advance, and have a sin)ie 0ersonana)in) 0ress enuiries, 0assin) the on i" necessary( This 0erson ust alostalways be based o"" site, and 2sorry to state the obvious3 be con"ident at deatin) withthe edia( ot everyone is )ood at this, the ideal 0erson should be con"ident, sociableand not a"raid to o0en their outh(

5se contacts you already have( Call journalists you=ve ade "riends with and askthe " they=re interested or to 0ass you on to others( Activists o"ten say =never trust a

journalist=, but at soe sta)e you=ll have to( Althou)h it=s always di""icuit to talk u0 anaction without co0letely )ivin) the )ae away 2es0ecially on the 0hone3 you haveto try( therwise eet journalists you trust "ace to "ace( t=s in their interests not to tel3the co0s and s0oii the story( &et sy0athetic journalists and 0hoto)ra0hers to coealon) on your action in an e!clusive )rou0 2-


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ook at how they do it in llic 0(i0er,, llirn liy wntin) headlines "or jtn(inary (ulions7eebor* in this as in all writin), ,i sh(iihtloiw(itd, 0l(iin style is best( Take the Biiin)ii,i orthern 7elie" 7oad 0rotest, lor e!a0le( A headline like =8rotestersoccu0y rees alon) route o" new road= will consi)n a 0ress release strai)ht to the bin,as ost journalists will ia)ine they=ve heard it all be"ore( But =;orld=s lon)est

seron threatens to sto0 new road= 2tellin) the jTotes "or the editor1. Bayer Cro0Science was "ored in Nune ## when Bayer A& 0urchased AvensisCro0Science and er)ed it with with its e!istin) a)rocheical business(2. The blockade is located at Bayer Cro0Science just outside Eauscton on the A1#,west o" Nunciion 11 ot the M11,near Cabrid)e(-( ver .# o" the &M "ield trials conduc"ed in U##U involved&M cro0s now owned by Bayer Cro0Science( Should the 5F)oveent )ive the )o ahead, Bayer Cro0Science=s &Mherbicide 2olerant loddcr ai:e and oii seed ra0e will be aon)

>n A0ril U##- wo )rou0s ol 5F based activists 2one in he5F and one actin in &erany3 did wo actions on BayerA&, 0Wreri> co0any ol Eayer Cro0Science 2the drivin)i"orce "or the noniinoicul iiiXwnu ol &M Dro0s in the 5F3(The actions Jiculcil wilh 2X ooiit0any=s A&M boinc3 hcklNin Coio)ne E(=F l>X Enubers lor journalists( This was le"t with soeone not

j)oin) on the action, to send oul when the action started(jCo0ies o" the 0ress release and the 0hone contaets were>taken on the action alon) wilh n dedicatect =edia obile=0hone=( As soon as the blockade was u0 one 0erson started0honn) journalists to check they had received the 0ress

the "irst &M cro0s to be )rown coerciatly in the 5F(4. Bayer are currently ebroiled in a series o" ulS


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their re0ort on toota)e shot by an activist, This "oota)e also went u0 on 5FndyMediaThe action succeeded and we )ot "airly balanced local edia covera)e, thou)h notuch naIional covera)e( Thin)s that would have ade it better*1. Two 0eo0le doin) 0ress work on the )round* one )enerally chasin) u0

journalists and one 0honn) a hand"ulo" tar)eted journalists(2. &ettin) direct 0hone lines "or the journalists wXstory o" the vicar who has discovered that it=s ilie)ai to interru0t a 0riest durin) his serort, and intends to 0reach continualiy in "ront o" the threatened trees3 will akethe sit u0 and wonder what it=s all about( " you want to ention the tree


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have your o"" itiat il a 0aitu nl(it industry=s edia is advo"(ilintj ihaiFj", il=


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;orld, when asked "or their eail address were taken aback by the ere su))estionthey rni)ht use it> The rnajority o" individual journalists in a co0any use eail, so itakes sense to use this as weil where you can )et their individual addresses( t=s)enerally very 0roductive to s0end a "ew nutes talkin) to journalists by 0hone and)ettin) the interested in the story, develo0 these relationshi0s and you will bene"it

"ro this du rin) "uture actions( ;e=ve also "ound that news a)encies 27euters, 8ressAssociation, [ssodtated 8ress3 can be very use"ul in ters o" the nuber o" outletsthey syndicate the story to, so it=s always worth akin) sure they )et your 0ressreleases,A "a! ode is invaluable and eans you don=t need to sit by a "a! achine "orhours( There=s 0lenty o" "ree "a! so"tware available on the web that uses a database o"nubers and a ode to autoate your "a!in)(Always "ollow 0ress release rules and don=t send s0a( Snail rnail is vii tually useless(

/ollow u0&ive everyone ,i 2all to he k ynu=ve seni it n the li)hl nuber, oi ih(ii it h(r(n=i

been buned undei ,i 0ilc ol other 0a0erwork( hins olten )el lost in newsroos, be it0ress releases, journalists= eonierilialion or the essertce o" the story( ;e have ca liedeveryone n the database to check "a! nubers, but they can still )et chan)ed oroved around the buildin)( The 0hone call can be a uck one < =did you receive our

0ress release1, =will you be coverin) the action=, =do you need any oreinloration= Hon=t be 0ul oll by their rudeness < this is what they=re 0aid "or( Beruady to e!0and on the story, or to tell the why it=s such an i0ortant issue,es0ecially i" they don=t think it is( Be coise and 0oliIe(" the action is )oin) on tor lon)er than one day 2such as an eviction or occu0ation3then send out a new 0ress release every day < as lon) as you=ve )et soethin) to say i ed t iMstr\n)e when y, ir(i du ii (d 0i,] < il he((ido a real iniei view3, but on , il=ll suinul un< nyou don=l you=ll sound ll(il (ind lXiXnri ll=s (1 iJ

bWlaneiri2 (J, 0iojcdiiii3 weil wlnlsi si(iy=i( iiMake your 0oinls ,r( de(uly ,r( ((l1 (senioriei], (nul si0le Jnls lh i] =G XG^Xtei =0 snllie 0i i si in(il0ty i (il G i1( ^

si ni Xi ilby s Eli , ti s


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told the truth( Think o" yoie role as bein) to 0ut the ri)ht, rather than to 0ul thedown, and you=ll "ind that when you )o into the studio you=ll be a lot less tense( Andreeber < when you )o into a studio, you are there to tackle one issue and one issuealone, not o 0ut ri)ht the ilis o" the whole world( Concentrate ou one task, and you=llake li"e a )reat deal easier "oi yoursel"(

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[( Fee0in) u0 your contaetst=s a )ood idea to write down the naes and nubot , o" all the journalists you eet,and aybe ake (i brie" note o" what they=re ike and how they treab

B( Co0lainin)Activists are treated un"airly by the 0ress ore o"ten than any other )rou0 o" 0eo0lee!ce0t )y0sic( iavellers and asylu seekers( The reasons are noi bard to "atho*we=re challen)in) 0ower"ul vesler interests, ate 0re0ared to break the law and, aboviall, we can be discussed collectively without any "eai o iibel, as we do not belon) toincor0oralei or)anisations(So, "or e!a0le, the Suni"n Ties claied that Viu terrorist= tree


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l" you can bear to, talk to the journalist who stitehed you u0( Be ultra


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7eeber _i" they s"rtdi you u0 and you don=t co0lain, they=ll do it to you a)ain anda)ain(

ConclusionAll ca0ai)nincD is bard w k, and e!0loitin) he edia

is jusl as hani as any olbri ,r(0cd( ;e=ve tenderl toiit=23li deal with the local 0ress lirsl*i(((,,`((, These news0a0eis lend o use sta""lA9jjN 0hoto)ra0hers who ostly are coverin) cats u0 trees and )rannies receivn)

cheues( To stick ,i =sta""er= on a 0rotest o"ten takes u0 too uch tie and any o"these news0a0ers aren=t interested in the wider social issues, even thou)h the events inuestion are ha00enin) in the counity they are eant to be in"orin)( Fee0in)their advertisers sweet tends to be ore i0ortant than re0resentin) the truth(Eowever, it is worth sendin) 0ictures in < ai the very least it tetlsthe that you are onthe scene and i" you=re lucky you ay just ha00en to hav the 0icture they want(

OVO7 say you are (,^ ca0ai)ner or activist it=s the klss o" death( A )ood strate)y sto say that you are a 0hoto)ra0hy student and you are workin) in the area 2this avoidscoin) over as 0arIial3( 0artiality is the watchword o" the edia 2even thou)h theachine itsel" is run by cor0orate oney and rules3( Carn0ai)ners are =0arIial= and to

be avoided( Say you have soe )ood 0ictures o" a local issue they r)ra be interestedin and would they like to have a look with a view to the 0ossibility o" 0ublishin)the( /latter the 0icture editorQnews editor 2it costs noth=n) e!ce0t your 0ride3(


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H T )ive the ori)inals( Shoot on colour ne)ativi G and )et 0rints ade( r, i"you can )et a reasonable di)ital caera 2ca0able o" %b "ile si:e3 then eail the a

0icture( &et a si)ned delivery note i" you X , O!0ect to )et 0aid 2usually around U#-# 0ei Xu, but don=t )o cra:y i" they say they don=t 0ay lins o"ten beleve that i" you=rea student or EF ^^ 0hoto)ra0her then you will be )rate"u> "or the 0ubl! il, " the

ca0ai)n is the thn) then )ettin) it into X(( 0ress is what counts( OVO7 lose yourra) with ilie

< any sane 0erson "eels this way " they=re eotionally nvolved in an issue < stay cool(Rou can always coe back "or a second )o later in the ca0ai)n( Make sure you )et acredit 2also known as a byline3, es0ecially i" they aren=t 0ayin)( Rou will then have arecord o" 0ictures sold to the 0ress, akin) it easier ne!t tie(

The )olden rule is* i" they acce0t your 0ktures don=t e!0ect the to 0ub"eh the onesyou want( Oditors have their own take on the story and wil olten 0rinI a dero)atoryarticle usln) a )reat 0ktiiic hal you have taken(

Conclusion* t=s not all 0ot luck( The editor, are cynical( Be nice even i" they are thee0itoe ol everythn) you hate( n the whole they will be interested to have a look atyour 0ictures i" they are any )ood(((you=ll have to jud)e this "ro "eedback "ro your"riends and "ellow 0hoto)ra0hers, whlst 0iekin) u0 ideas "ro what is bein) 0ublisedalready(

ational ews < A whole di""erent ball )ae(These days all the naIional 0icture desks are acce0tin) their 0ictures di)itally 2via a

0hone line3* this has the e""ect o" censorin) any o" the aateursQca0ai)ners out o")ettin) 0ictures 0ubtished on s0ot news stories 2i(e( tie s0eci"ic ones3( The cost o" anadeuate di)ital caera can run to about a thousand uid( Eowever i" you do have

access to one o" these it will o0en u0 any avenues( Rou will also need access to aco0uter, 0icture editin) so"tware and eail( /or bi) s0ot news stories there willo"ten be an a)ency 2i(e( 7euters, S/, Associated 8ress3 0hoto)ra0her there who willhave all the di)ital )ear and you will not be able to co0ete on tie( These )uys alsohave a track record as an aceredited news source with the 0icture desk( " you are notworkin) on ur)ent news stories but are tryin) to )et an issue covered as a "eature2o"ten the best o0tion3 "ind out who the journalists are who are sy0athetic tosocialQenvironent causes and link u0 with the( Call the at the news0a0er havin)studied their "or "ro readin) their articles( /latter the


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0unt alon) ;Myuiii tont aci details( As a ie llieiu are - ways o" )ettin) 0iduies0ublished in the 0ress*

1.Bein) a "reelance who has a reco)nised nae to 0icture desks(

2.Eavin) a realiy stron) 0icture that no one else has( 2e()( Anne ;iddecobe bein)0ed3(

3.;ork alon)side a sy0athetic journalist( But above aii don=t rant about i the=cause=( O0athy is the nae o" the )aeD bearin) in ind that ost 0eo0le n this

"ield are under intense 0ressure coverin) any news stories and ake it "ee> like theyare doin) you a "avour coverin) the issue you are i0assioned about and don=t)ive u0 in the "ace o" tynic D


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ihe end it was the video caeras o" ndyedia and 5ndotc tirrents who hi)hli)htedthe real story o" violenl sl(ih< Mi00ression(

But l= not a 0ro"essional>The notion o" e!0ert news utherots is nonsense( 5ndercurrents have 0roved lh(il

anyone can learn how Ljto ca0ture the "ive basic ia)es that are N needed "or anynews broadeast( ;atch TV news with no sound < check how any di""erent ia)esake u0 each "eature, Eere is a recent e!a0le o" "ilin) a &M cro0 dired adion withTV in ind,1.Ostablishin) shot < A wide shot showin) the cro0 )rowin) in the "ield2.Close u0Qcut away < Hetalin) what the cro0 actually is3.&rou0 sho0 < a shot o" the 0rotest arch to show who the 0eo0le are4. nterview < Ask what is wron) with these &M cro0s5.Action< ia)es o" 0eo0le trashin) the &M cro0

Eow do )et the best recordin)s 0ossible

Stable ia)es are the key to )ood video work( Takin) dee0 breaths and holdin)while recordin) is a )ood techniue( A tri0od ay be use"ul "or soe shots butoverall it will be a hindrance( A caeorder lens is at its o0tiu when used at short dstances( t is uch better touse a wide an)le and )et in the "ace o" the adion rather than stand at a distance and tryto 0ick it out( The ost obviou istake is usin) the :oo 2)oin) in and out on asubjed3 and 0annin) 2turnin) the caera uickly leii to ri)ht or vice versa3( Rou also)et a steadier ia)o n close u0 than with a lon) shot( 8retend you are takin) a still 0hoto and let the adion oceur within your "rae, ratherthat constantly tryin) to"ollow the action, allowin) at least U# seconds "or each shot i"

0ossible, to allow "or edtin)( Most caeras have an autoatic ode that sets everythin) "or you( Eowever, soealso have a anual override( As video caeras are liited to choosin) =avera)e=settin)s, uality will i0rove by settin ihe e!0osure and "ocus rnanualiy, Sound( Hoestic caeorders are liited in then sound recordin) abilities but with a"ew 0recaution


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To e!clude the interviewer=s voice, ask 0eo0le to include the )uestion in theiranswers < so =;hy are you here= shouid )et the res0onse = a here because we needto sto0 the 0ollution= inslead o" the o0en ended and di""icult to use =because it=s

0oliuled and essyl=Hon=t ove the caera away "ro the 0ot soi> who is talkin)( Anythin) they re"er to

can be lilineci laiei, l" you are stuck "or uestions think ol he ;hy, ;hat, ;here, and ;ho 0ointers toensure you )el he enlire story( ce breakin) uestions can be =;hat do you ho0e toachieve= or =;hat wouid ike to see as an alternative= Try to be 0rovocative andthink o" what aHaily Mail re0orter would ask( This will )et the activist ore aniated in res0onse(P Choose where the 0erson bein) inter viewed shouid look, either strai)ht into the lensor o"" to the ri)ht or le"t o" the caera( t is better to )ive the an eye contad to talk to

just o"" the caera(^ S0eeches < &enerally they don=t work very well on video( t is uch better to listen,

take notes and then interview the s0eaker a"terwards( Eowever i" you do have torecord a s0eech, either 0lu) a cable "ro the 8A rni!irt"3 desk ltX the icro0honesocket or 0lace your iuo0hone near o a luuds0eaker( l" no sound sys"e isuvailuble, use ,in e!lension cable 2about "ive uul3 loi your u lo0hone and )et it asclose as you can o he s0eaker(

Eow do )et y ia)es onto TVnce all the ia)es are in the ba), kee0 an eye on the tie and work out which newsoutlet you are aiin) "or( There s no 0oint in "ilin) until 6,-#0 i" Channel % newsis broadeast at +0( Oach broadeaster has its own news desk and all the 0honenubers are listed in the book( t ay be worth 0honin) news desks be"ore an action,

tellin) the you are an inde0endenl journalist 2you do not need a =0ress card= oranythin) else to 0rove it(3 and you have* been invited alon) to a direct action as are0orter( Ho not )ive the locationD i" they are interested they will then have your naeto coe back to once the action has oceurred( nce you have your ia)es, uicklydecide i" it s a naIional or a local story, This can be tricky but stories will be 0assedon to the naIional news il anyhow( 8ensioners blockadin) the hi)h stieet ovei tra""icare )enerally a local story while a local 0rotest over &M cro0s is ot uc cin io thenation at lar)e so can "it into ihe naIional news a)enda( 8hone the leional news desko" BBC or T( This ay be Mencli(in, Rorkshire, South Today etc( Contad nuber,aio in the database( Salellile aud rable


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s0eakin)(Rou < Eello Harius, y nae is ane and have been akin) a docuentar y on)enetic en)ineerin) and have just recorded a di aatic direct action 0rotest, whichyou ay be interested n, ews desk < ;here was it Any violence Eow anyarrests

Rou < There were draatic scenes o" old and youn) 0eo0le trashin) &M cro0s be"orethe 0olice tui ned u0 with the l(irer( A lot o" chasin) around he "ields look 0lace anda nuber o" 0eo0le were arrested( have interviews with 0rotesters about why theytook this action in Strat"ord( ews desk < Are you su00lyin) the loota)e lor "ree Rou< o, as said a an inde0endent journalist but can allow you to broadcastnationally "or -?# 21?# local3 0er inute 2They larely use ore than a inute3 "oruniited U% ho or broadcast(

ews desk < Erri( that is a bit e!0ensive, a sure our own crew recorded the eventso we can )et it o"" the(Rou < o you can=t, was the only caera invited alon)(

ews desk < h((((how about ?# Rou < That wouldn=t even 0ay y travel costs,

but since you see to be stru))lin) "inancially will dro0 it to -##ews desk F brin) the "oota)e in and lets see it(

Eow do )et y ta0e to the ews 7ooThis can be the tnky bit( de(illy you want to )o with the ta0es but you ay be niilesaway without any trans0ort( Ask he news deslX o send their courier, arran)in) aneasy eeliiE3 0oinl o 0kk u0 the ta0e( " you don=l have laiilities to diib a ta0e, andase 5liable to )el o the newsioo yotliselt hen you willhave to let the touriei take youi oii)tnal ta0e( " you have a di)ital caeorder 2HV3and a =/irewire= cable you could ake u0 a du0licate ta0e containin) the ia)es youwant to )ive without losin) )uality( Rou would need another caera with HV


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/reuently Asked @uestionsCan we trust news editors not to 0ortray activists as

just troubleakerso, we cannot trust anyone in the edia "ully( This is a stron) 0ossibility and youhave to caretul about what ia)es you hand over( " you have ia)es o" 0eo0le

trashin) achinery who didn=t want to be "iled, then you have the res0onsibility o"either erasin) those cli0s or not trustin) TV news desks with the ta0e at aii( Rou ustconsider the 0it"alls and bene"ts o" )ettin) the ia)es seen(

Eow uch should ask "or use o" y video ia)esAlways tricky( /irst thin) is to OVO7 tell the news desks that you are s0littin) theoney with the a0ai)n( That is none o" their business( Rou EAVO to 0lay the)ae o" objectivity and a00ear to be inde0endent( oral "ees are around 1?# "orre)ional news and -## "or naIional but could also vary to hal" or double it( Bestadvice is to start hi)h and work down( ews desks like ha))lin) and they are )ood atit so be 0re0ared, Hon=t be a"raid to say no i" you "ee> the "ee is too low( ;e have to

0ush the into acce0tin) a decent 0rice "or our ia)es so thal a standard 0rice can bein 0lace "or "uture ties(

Should )et the to si)n an a)reeentRes, in theory but 0ossible in 0ractice so rely on verbal a)reeents(Should )ive an e!clusive to just one TV network

o, as this lits who sees the ia)es( " you are short on tie, it is always worthaskn) one news desk to wire t to other rivals( t is coon 0ractice between Tand BBC and saves you a lot o" tie( Rou still char)e each news desk that uses it(

;ho kee0s Co0yri)ht

Rou retain all co0yri)ht and it is worth tellin) news editors that they have the ri)hts tobroadcast "or % hours only( They ust contact you " they wish to use your ia)esa)ain, orally you can ask "or ?# o" the ori)inal "ee a)ain(

;hat do do with y ta0e a"terwards5ndercurrents runs a 0rotest archive and can duh yoii" ta0e and su00ly it to TVakers "or "uture docuentaries( ;e act as an a)ent "or you and s0lit the "unds(Contact us via www(undercurrents(or)Qarcliive;hen yet another TV channel re"used to broadcast a 0ower"ul docuentary aboutdeaths in 0olice custody, the akers hired a video 0rojettor( 5sin) the outer walls o"

the Channel % buildin) as a screen, =njustice= was screened to hundreds o" re0orters, Adocuentary was ade about the ost notorious court case in British history a)ainstthe McHonalds Cor0oration( Eowever it never ade it to British TV but thanks to theinvention o" the video 0rojector, Mc9ibel has been screened in thousands o" 0laces(There is nothin) sto00in) us "ro takin) back the airwaves>

;hat do needAsk around local counity resource "acilities and activist networks "irst be"ore

0ayin) to hire eui0ent( The list can shrink or e!0and aceordin) to your bud)et, butthe ites below are essential "or a stress


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The best way to avoid 0robles is to have a trial run the day be"orehand( There isnothin) worse than tryin) to sort out any technical 0robles with an audience waitin)"or the show to )et )oin)> l" you want to be sure o" coverin) every 0ossible syste itis worth investin) in a "ew assorted ada0ters( There are kits available n video sho0s,which enable you to convert every conceivable ty0e o" audio and video connector into

the desired 0lu), and these are worth the oney,Rou can screen "ro a 8C by hookin) u0 a standard data cable "ro he 8C to thevideo 0rojedor( Sound will be conncc "ed o he u0li"ier(

8rojector Screen*A kin) you have a bud)et, asi old s leens "ro coercial hiie "acilities aie )ieai( ld cine 0rojector screenswith tri0od le)s are 0o0ular and cbea0 as well(

Black


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darkness and then )oin) hoe( Rou could even have a uestionnaire to hand outaskin) the audience to coent on each video, This will hel0 you decide whal worksand what doesn=t "or "uture shows(8)Onjoy yoursel" and con)ratulate yoursel" on takin) direct action>

/or the latest alternative news videos and screenin) events check outwww(undercurrents(or)

;ritten by 5ndercurrents and Beyond TV( Condu www(beyondtv(or) "or advire onscreenin) you* wcQeo


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" you=re totally broke try lookin) "or a "r ee doan nae as well as web s0ace < do aweb search, there=s = 0lenty o" su00lers "or both(Most "ree web 0roviders will have hel0 "iies coverin) how to )et your 0a)es onlirieonce aii the above has been sorted(

j ;hat to 0ut on your site( 1( Rour contact details < on the "ront 0a)e or at leastone, clearly arked click away "ro the "ront 0a)e(

0hone nuber, "a!, e


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news)rou0 e!0ect lar)e aounts o" s0a( 2unsolicited eail3 There are other ty0es o")rou0s and "orus that are web


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very rirh and sel"


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anu"acturers, which ended u0 0rootin) Hyson=s 0roduc ts( Meanwhile, theyuiunu)ed to iss a "ew trivial stories o"" their hal" hour bullehn entirely*

^;orld bank )rants 5)anda .? relie" on its naIional debt( ^Children 0rotestthrou)hout Asia to end child labour( ^Britain=s lar)est teachers= union calls "or strike insu00ort o" a % day workin) week(^ British tourist attacked and blinded by British troo0s based in Cy0rus( ^Air tra""iccontrollers in Britain clai that near isses have doubled ^taly=s ost senior 0oliceo""icer is jailed "or corru0tion( ^/irst 5S McHonald=s sta"" walkout over workin)conditions( ^8olice li"t the 1# year ban on Hruids celebratin) at Stonehen)e onSolstice(

;hat 0ro0ted the editors to run this =story= over the rest is anyone=s )uess but it doesreveal soethin) o" ainstrea news values( The sad thin) is, any 0eo0le are takenin by the yth* =TV is truth, truth is TV= < look at the rash o" =docusoa0s= that are"loodin) the networks < now you can sit at hoe and enjoy the whole s0ectacle o" li"e,

without ever havin) to leave your chair( Rou have just becoe a 0assive consuer o"=7eal 9i"eK=, "iltered throu)h the hundreds o" channels now available( Nust as lon) asyou sit throu)h the seein)ly endless adverts as well(

And how uch relevance does this all have to you and the 0eo0le you know8robably none at all < even your local 0a0er is 0robably owned by a hu)e "acelesscor0oration such as these*

orthd=r""e &rou0 < 0art o" the Haily Mail &rou0


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At the sae tie, 7oad Alert>, a networkin) )rou0 "or anti < road ca0ai)ns started0roducin) a weekly "a!ed newsheet, )ivin) all the ca0ai)ns, the ainstrea edia,and anyone interested, their own suary o" events(

Schnews is read by a wide variety o" 0eo0leD activists, travellers, anial ri)hts

ca0ai)ners, alon) with any ore ainstrea readers


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;

e=ve talked about alternative edia < now the action < settn) u0 a localnewsletterQdod)y rant a) n your area( /irstly, have you )ot what it takes


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Ho a diary( Rou can 0lu) loads o" events in a sall s0ace and your loyal readershi0will )rab the latest issue "or the listin)s and ho0e"ully )et enli)htened at the saetie( &et )rou0s to send you their dates and kee0 your ear to the )round "or 0lanned

0rotests, eetin)s etc( nclude naIional stu"" i" it=s bi) enou)h, e()( May Hay, andde"initely include "un stu"" < )i)s by sound local bands, counity "ars, and anythin)

0ositive(Check your "acts( 8ost

esi)n( &et a sorted bod with a hal" decent 8C or Mac to desi)n it i" you can( 5se a0ro0er Heskto0 8ublishin) 0acka)e i" there=s one avalable it ay sound 0oncy, butit=s uch easii_ o tet all he te!l and 0ictures to "it to)ether and you will ,i>,n a ulore strai)ht readers with a soi ied loonn 0ublcation( Eowever, any 0eo0le slilltely on = ui and 0aste=, and 0roduce a )ood lookin) newslelte= willi a iniu o"skills( Ho try to use recycled 0a0ei 20ost tonsuer waste is best3 < it=s a lot oresustainable han dead trees(


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/ilthy 9ucre( Res, sadly you=re )oin) to need cash at soe 0oint < "or 0rintin), sta0setc at the very least( nitially this ay coe out ol youi 0oc kets, but issuin)subscri0tions 2e) 1# 0er yeai and ? "or or)anisations3 is a )ood way ol kee0in) lsustainable < hassle your local /OQstndeut union etc lor subs( Stalls at local eventsand in the li)h Street are a )ood way o" raisin) cash and your 0ra"ile at the sae

tie have lea"lets "ro other local )rou0s, 0ostcards, stu"l to sell and( osti0ortantly, a donation tin>

Histribution( bis ian be trie har des> 0ari ol lin )et to a lvely local newsletter( Try local 0ubsQsal3sho0sQcounhy tentresQcolle)es( &et soeone o or)anise thedistribution anddivide the list u0 between a "ew 0eo0le who can s0are an hour to deliver it( Thedistribution o" alternative edia is always the haidest bit( All those )lossy a)s in thenewsa)ents have a assive distribution network the ;E Sith ono0oly to send

then essa)e o" endless consu0tion "ar and wide( The ost clirec t way to distributeis to stand in the street stkkin) the in 0eo0le=s hands( Rou ay end u0 with Noc7etlnet k chuckin) it on the "loor, but don=t let hi 0ut you oll look 0eo0le strai)ht inthe eye and srnile( t always sees that woen are "ar ore rece0ivr ol alternativeliterature than en and will at least )ive your subversive 0ublcation a second )lante(

And "inally* Rou ay lind il a iiiinl( Rou ay all l(ill 5=( Soe ol you will le(ivi (rit li < shoiilcl take( But believe us il=s woi lli il( Rou nt(iy noi )et uch"eedback( ioni anyone hui loeber that you are slowly radii alis) he whole olyour local counity < it usl be woi th it(

;rilten by !yacetylene( Thanks to The "=oik Eoltei andSihnews "or in0ut to this article(_oTOTi

N Haity Mai> U Herry St, ondon, ;. ?TT( 0hone* #U#+ -. 6### news desk0honeD #U#Q -. 6-+U news desk "a!* #U#Q -+ %%6- news contact* Tony &alla)her2ed3 0idure desk 0hone* #U#+ -. 6#?U 0idure editor* 8aul Silva circulation 20er day,U##U3 U,%##(### Haily Star U%? Black"riars 7d, MMP l(ondon, S/1 N$(Gj/i8 8hone*@QXE.oo

news desk 0hone* #U#Q UU +- +- news desk "a!* #U#Q UU Q 6# news contart* 9isaEernnejtori3 0idure desk 0hone* #U#Q UU Q- .U

0idure editor* Mark Moylancirculation 20er day, U##U3 6?%,### Haily Tete)ra0h 1 Canada Suare, Canary ;har",9ondon, O1% ?HT( 0hone* #U#+ ?-. ?### news desk 0hone* #U#+ ?-. 6-?? newsdesk "a!* #U#+ ?1- U?#6 news contact* Charles @over 2erwiro=3 news contact "a! #U#+?-. 6U6. 0idure desk 0hone*#U#+ ?-. 6-6 0icture editor* 7obert Bodean 0idureeditor "a!* #U#+ ?-. +6 %# circulation 20er day, U##U3 1,##%,?##X.Q#"X,QlQl


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The O!0ress U%? Black"riars 7d, 9ondon( SOl 5$( 0hone* #U#+ U. .### news desk0hone* #U#Q U news desk /a!* #U#Q UU news conlad* ll(ivid cih 0icture desk0hone* (=#+ 0icture ecliloi* iel Mi 2,ilhycirculation 20ei day, U##,=3 UQ(###

/inancial Ties Soulhwark Brid)e, 9ondon SO1 E9( 0hone* #U#+ .+- -### newsdesk 0hone* #U#+ .+- %.?# news desk /a!* #U#+ .-+ -1% news conlad* /el( Carr(Onvironent* Vanessa Eolder

0idure desk 0hone* #U#Q .Q- %#% 0icture editor* Ctuis aw(on circulation 20er day,U##,=3 %.6(###rTCl The &uardian 11 " anclon 7d,iASN 9ondon( OC17-O7(

0hone* #U#+ U+. U--Unews desk 0hone* #U#+ U- ?+1 orQ


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The Sentinel 0hone* #1 +.U 6#U?U? news "a!* #1 +.U U.#+.1StokeQSta""ordQ5tto!eterQ 9eekQCrewe


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Shro0shire Star 0hone* #1?U U%U%U% news "a!* #1?U U?%6#? Shro0shireSouth ;ales Ocho 0hone* #U U# UU ---- news "a!* #U U# ?.- 6U% S ;alesSwindon Ovenin) Advertiser 0hone* #1 +- ?U.1%% news "a!* #1+- ?%U%-%Swindon surroundin) areaSouth ;ales Ovenin) 8ost 0hone* #1 +U ?1#### news "a!* #1+U %666? S ;ales Action 50date 8bo! 1TA, ewcastle O 1TAwww(eco


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F < nde0endent ews CollectlvelQ8oilobelo7d, london ;1 U"=B 8hone* #U#Q UU1 .1-Q www(ii ik,uk( E5Histribuitori network lot ^ill"iiwllvr inrcll(1 Monkev

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