Interacting with the Media

Interacting with the Media - Chat

On Thursday October 7th at 9:00 pm EDT, please join us for a workshop on Interacting with the Media with Free State Project President Amanda Phillips, followed by Q&A.

Please join us with your questions and ideas!

Free State Chat
9:00 EDT Thursday, October 7th 2004
http://chat.freestateproject.org

Other chats

Here's a transcript of the chat that took place:

21:02:32 [amanda42] if y'all are ready, we can get started

21:02:42 [katdillon] Amanda will be speaking about interacting with the media, and answering questions

21:03:07 [amanda42] welcome, everyone!

21:03:17 [Remnant] i have 9.03 now

21:04:12 [amanda42] i like to keep training sessions as interactive as possible. i have a lot of things that i can talk about, but i think it would be better if i first find out whay y'all are interested in hearing about.

21:04:41 [amanda42] generally, this is a training session on interacting with the media.

21:05:12 [amanda42] i'd like to go around the room and find out what specific topics (if any) y'all are interested in hearing about

21:05:31 [amanda42] (related to media interaction, of course)

21:05:35 [timba2112] Given the topic is interacting with the media...is this the approriate place to ask if the media database that was developed can be obtained by the local groups?

21:05:56 [Blain] I think the most important topic is figuring out how best to recruit 20k members

21:06:16 [svillee] no specific topics for me - just listening

21:06:33 [mantispid] What is an effective way of dealing with negative media coverage?

21:06:34 [Michael_Ed] I'm with Blain.

21:06:41 [Blain] How much would it cost to air a commerical of the FSP on CNN?

21:06:46 [amanda42] timba - great suggestion. i've added media database to tonight's agenda :)

21:07:40 [amanda42] blain, we're scheduled to first talk about handling the media. recruiting, which is inherent in everything we do, would be a good topic for general q&a after we talk about media interaction.

21:08:53 [amanda42] mantispid - negative media is a great question. i think the best way to handle negative media is to avoid getting it in the first place. :) i'll add that to the agenda

21:09:28 [amanda42] anyone else with specific topics you'd like to cover?

21:09:37 [amanda42] (specific topics related to media iinteraction)

21:09:51 [katdillon] How about ways to get free media coverage?

21:10:24 [amanda42] kat - great suggestion. i'll add that to the agenda, too. :)

21:11:00 [amanda42] hi jason - i was just asking everyone for specific topics they'd like to cover tonight. anything you're interested in?

21:11:01 [lone.wolf] how can we initiate media coverage outside of NH? beyond letters to the editor, i mean...

21:11:12 [amanda42] (related to media, of course)

21:11:14 [mantispid] As college campuses are full of people who will be considering life-plans after graduation, are there any specific techniques for approaching campus media organizations?

21:11:35 [Michael_Ed] Item: What is and is not considered "media."

21:11:41 [Blain] I think the best way to get media coverage is to run a few commercials on CNN

21:11:45 [jsorens] hi all...i was just thinking another good topic to cover might be the sorts of questions reporters ask that can be tricky, or where people have made mistakes before...

21:12:07 [jsorens] we need tim c here :)

21:12:21 [amanda42] lol... we do need tim c here. :)

21:12:57 [jsorens] heh heh i tease him about his foot in mouth syndrome... ;)

21:13:03 [svillee] If the subject hasn't been beaten to death, how about what went wrong in Grafton, and specifically how to avoid it in the future.

21:13:12 [amanda42] dr e - when we're talking about media, i'm talking about any kind of news coverage

21:13:48 [timba2112] svillee....sounds like your suggestion goes under the topic of "negative press"

21:14:04 [amanda42] ok, lets start with the media database, and how local groups can use it

21:14:06 [svillee] agree

21:14:15 [amanda42] how many local group leaders are here tonight?

21:14:21 [jsorens] me

21:14:22 [amanda42] (raise your hands. :) )

21:14:29 [timba2112] one

21:14:45 [amanda42] timba - what region do you have?

21:15:06 [timba2112] Milw/Chicago (how do I raise my hand?)

21:15:31 [katdillon] *raises hand* NH Monadnock region

21:15:50 [Michael_Ed] timba: you can type "raises hand."

21:15:52 [amanda42] coolness. we have a media database that our volunteers spent hundreds of hours developing

21:16:32 [amanda42] we have printed media (newspapers, magazines), radio, and tv stations for the entire country

21:17:12 [amanda42] the media tree has e-mail, fax numbers, and snail mail addresses for many, many media outlets

21:17:34 [mantispid] I wouldn't mind becoming a regional leader, if my region's position is currently vacant.

21:17:47 [amanda42] anyone who wants access to it for their local group, please sens me an e-mail (aphillips@freestateproject.org) and i'll send you the info on how to access it

21:17:51 [Remnant] regional leader?

21:18:00 [Remnant] Hello. =)

21:54:25 [Michael_Ed] CNN asked Harry Browne:

21:54:42 [Michael_Ed] "Are libertarians anarchists?"

21:54:49 [amanda42] tricky media questions = those that are designed to get us to put our foot in our mouth

21:54:58 [amanda42] haha... great one, dr e!

21:55:06 [lone.wolf] mantsipid, until immigration laws are changed there isn't much point

21:55:13 [amanda42] i get that one a lot about thew FSP... is the FSP an anarchist group?

21:55:15 [PatK] any thing about guns dope or hookers

21:55:31 [timba2112] Tricky question: "But how can you be liberty-oriented and want to 'take over'?"

21:55:33 [amanda42] guns, drugs, and hookers, oh my!

21:55:42 [Blain] or privitized schools and/or roads

21:55:49 [amanda42] "taking over" - good one

21:56:27 [jsorens] innocuous questions like "what are some things libertarians disagree on?" could be messy

21:56:34 [S/A] katdillon> Thanks.

21:56:44 [jsorens] you dont want to say, eg, "private ownership of nuclear weapons"

21:56:46 [amanda42] best thing to do is to find a funny answer and repeat it every time you get that question

21:57:11 [amanda42] make sure we speak in "soundbytes" - think of the answers ahead of time so it rolls off your tongue

21:57:12 [Blain] Harry gave a good response to that question

21:57:26 [Michael_Ed] Yes.

21:57:28 [Blain] I think it went something along the lines of, "Well, it depends how dangerous your neighborhood is" or something

21:57:41 [katdillon] Better than the government owning them!

21:57:45 [amanda42] things to remember about the FSP when answerinig these tricky questions:

21:57:48 [S/A] Heh... what DON'T libertarians disagree on? The lil l term covers a lot of people.

21:58:03 [jsorens] a general rule of thumb is that if theres something you dont want to say, dont concentrate on that, concentrate on what you do want to say

21:58:17 [Michael_Ed] HB: "Anarchism means chaos and that's what we have now."

21:58:19 [jsorens] dont say, "lots of people think we're all about cannibalism, but of course that's silly"

21:58:24 [amanda42] 1) the FSP doesn't support any specific legislation - we only exist to get 20,000 liberty-loving people to move to NH. what they do when they get there is up to thewm

21:58:47 [Michael_Ed] Great point, Amanda!

21:59:28 [Michael_Ed] You don't have to answer the q you're asked (politicians never do).

21:59:35 [amanda42] 2) the FSP is made up of people across the political spectrum - what unites us is that we believe in liberty - we have democrats, republicans, libertarians, greens, and (gasp) anarchists)

22:00:20 [amanda42] 3) like jason said... turn the conversation around to something you want totalk about, and don't dwell on things that are wicked negative

22:01:10 [amanda42] are we anarchists... well, i'm an anarchist, so i would look pretty silly if i said "no we're not anarchists" - that question is a big trap for me

22:01:47 [Blain] hmmmm

22:01:54 [S/A] mantispid> You're in Columbia?

22:02:05 [amanda42] here's what i came up with: "the FSP aims to reduce the size of government by approximately 2/3. personally, i think it should be 3/3, but i'm not going to argue about that extra 3rd."

22:02:22 [amanda42] there might be a better answer, but i finid that one usually makes them laugh

22:02:36 [amanda42] any other suggestions on how to deal with the anarchist question?

22:03:05 [Blain] just say we have all types of political idealogies in the group

22:03:22 [Blain] anarchists, libertarians, liberals, conservatives, secessionists

22:03:22 [margomaps] It can't be dealt with honestly, because 99% of people have no idea what anarchism means.

22:03:23 [amanda42] in my answer, i downplay my anarchism, note that i am not representative of the fsp, and turn the topic back to the fsp and away from me

22:03:36 [margomaps] Therefore we have to sugarcoat, divert attention, or give a cutesy answer.

22:03:47 [jsorens] "i think we should increase the scope of voluntary interactions as much as possible"...how does that work? a bit open ended...

22:03:52 [amanda42] blain - that's right - we have all types. i find that i have to repeat it over & over to them.

22:03:53 [Michael_Ed] Ask them what they mean by "anarchy." What they mean and what we mean are two entirely different things.

22:04:08 [amanda42] i like it jason.

22:04:16 [amanda42] dr e - great point

22:04:25 [Blain] I wouldn't even answer the question, just say "all types" and maybe elaborate a little on the types

22:04:45 [amanda42] it also depends on the reporter's political inclinations. the french tv reporter really likes anarchists :)

22:05:29 [Blain] and the south like secessionists

22:05:43 [amanda42] good question... is the fsp a secessionist movement?

22:06:04 [Michael_Ed] No, it's a recruitment movement.

22:06:17 [Blain] not initially, but maybe later if the fed gets too repressive

22:06:26 [amanda42] gold star for dr e! :)

22:06:34 [katdillon] migratory movement

22:06:43 [PatK] well we are secessionst from at least 49 other states

22:06:54 [Blain] yep

22:06:57 [Blain] good answer

22:07:08 [amanda42] what people do when they get there is up to them. but we are not a secessionist movement. they tried that in 1865, and it didn't work out so well

22:07:17 [Michael_Ed] I better quit while I'm ahead--I'd better go. Bye, everybody!

22:07:26 [jsorens] bye michael!

22:07:34 [katdillon] night Michael!

22:07:37 [Blain] but it worked out well in 1776

22:07:40 [amanda42] patk - a reporter could truncate that and quote you as "we are secessionist" :)

22:07:48 [amanda42] g'night dr e - thanks for joining us!

22:07:53 [lone.wolf] so long mike

22:08:33 [katdillon] I like to tell people that what happens when we get there is like a free market of ideas. The fringe ideas aren't held by many members, and so wont find enough support to be enacted

22:08:44 [PatK] I know don't worry I would not say it to a reporter

22:09:21 [amanda42] just something to always keep in mind. i've had my share of bad quotes, and i learn from every single one of them

22:09:36 [amanda42] kat, that's a good one, too

22:09:51 [amanda42] guns, drugs, and hookers - that's another tricky one

22:09:53 [MikeLorrey] hey, sorry folks, got side tracked with a customer call

22:10:01 [amanda42] my answer "

22:10:15 [amanda42] my answer " all at the same time???"

22:10:22 [PatK] LOL

22:10:24 [amanda42] just kidding

22:10:36 [MikeLorrey] Guns: American citizens own more guns than cars, and use them more responsibly

22:11:24 [MikeLorrey] Drugs: we are seeing terminally ill patients, quadrapelegics, and other very ill people being sent to prison for using the only drug that treats their condition.

22:11:50 [amanda42] again, we want to attract libertarians to the movement, so go ahead and talk about gun rights - just keep the audience in mind, and make the points that will resonate

22:11:52 [Blain] hookers - would you rather have someone rape or go to a hooker?

22:12:11 [amanda42] um, i wouldn't use that one balin

22:12:20 [PatK] hookers we only have the ones with hearts of gold :)

22:12:31 [Blain] ?

22:12:36 [MikeLorrey] Hookers: sex workers are citizens and taxpayers too, and deserve police protection from exploitation and abuse

22:12:53 [katdillon] I tell people about drugs: the violence / cost of the drug war is much worse than the drugs themselves

22:12:59 [timba2112] Nice one Mike

22:13:02 [PatK] that would work too

22:13:05 [amanda42] again, remember that the FSP is just the migratory movement, so we can't speak for the entire movement when we speak to particular issues like this

22:13:30 [S/A] Someone who rapes someone doesn't do so b/c of a lack of hookers...

22:13:37 [amanda42] when asked about prostitution, i generally talk about protecting women from abuse

22:13:49 [amanda42] i'm hoping that blain was being facetious

22:15:03 [timba2112] ......cricket, cricket......next topic?

22:15:11 [amanda42] the statement of intent says that the maximum role of civil government is the protection of life, liberty and property - how individual people interpret that is up to them. but generally, we don't believe that we need the government to protect us from ourselves. adults should be responsible for the

22:15:14 [MikeLorrey] We do, however, have to hit these smear issues head on with arguments that turn liberal arguments on their ear

22:15:51 [amanda42] or speak to the "smear" issues briefly & turn the conversation around to something positive

22:15:51 [MikeLorrey] if you can package your arguments in "its for the children" or "fair shares" etc they can't make you look bad

22:16:01 [amanda42] what are some posaitive issues that we can focus on?

22:16:32 [amanda42] (that was positive)

22:16:40 [MikeLorrey] Positives: we want to help create jobs, build businesses and reduce taxes

22:16:42 [katdillon] Ew Mike.

22:17:03 [PatK] Idon't think the hookers for children line will work

22:17:08 [amanda42] well, we don't want to use the government to create jobs :)

22:17:08 [MikeLorrey] what?

22:17:10 [svillee] Yes, reducing taxes has pretty broad appeal.

22:17:18 [MikeLorrey] of course, amanda

22:17:21 [katdillon] We want less gov't intrusion in people's lives

22:17:36 [amanda42] getting government out of people's lives

22:17:57 [MikeLorrey] We do it the libertarian way: Getting the government out of people's way

22:18:01 [timba2112] Mike - The "its for the children" is actually a good one.....the positive is that our goal is not to saddle future generations with the debt of large govt.

22:18:17 [MikeLorrey] as that lady at the LPNH convention stated, every government regulator costs 150 American jobs

22:18:20 [katdillon] ah

22:18:26 [amanda42] good one, tim!

22:18:43 [margomaps] I don't think the "getting government out of people's lives" argument works on liberals; they believe more government will be better

22:19:04 [Blain] tell them that more government means more measures like the patriot act....is that what they REALLY want?

22:19:10 [amanda42] as a single mom, i need to be able to defend myself and my family - gun rights are a feminist issue :)

22:19:14 [MikeLorrey] Yeah, thats the ticket. The fair share thing is to apply to sex workers right to a fair share of police protection

22:19:43 [amanda42] margo, we're not really interested in convincing liberals :) we want to convinice libertarians to join the FSP

22:19:46 [timba2112] oooh---gun rights as a feminist issue----very nice.

22:19:50 [amanda42] (outside of NH)

22:20:23 [amanda42] sorry for my poor grammar... this live chat thing drives me nuts because i can't edit myself

22:20:40 [amanda42] more positive issues?

22:21:09 [amanda42] private charity instead of government charity

22:21:14 [MikeLorrey] no foreign entanglements

22:21:18 [margomaps] I was away for a while...did we talk about warmongering?

22:21:22 [margomaps] right, what Mike said. :)

22:21:27 [MikeLorrey] NO DRAFT

22:21:49 [amanda42] mike, libertarians are pretty divided on the war issue - i usually don't touch it. we're the free *state* project :)

22:21:54 [katdillon] that's what to talk to liberals about...no war

22:22:21 [MikeLorrey] as you know, I'm pro-war myself, but firmly anti-draft

22:22:21 [amanda42] another point - the FSP is about state-level politics, not national politics

22:22:43 [katdillon] Hi dan

22:22:44 [amanda42] well, really it's about a migration of freedom-lovers who are interested in state-level politics. :)

22:23:02 [MikeLorrey] that is right

22:23:16 [danhynes] Hello :)

22:23:25 [amanda42] what are some other positive issues?

22:23:30 [amanda42] (hi dan!)

22:23:41 [timba2112] I saw one local FSP group (NY?) making comparisons of their state's poor comparisons to NH. Positive for NH

22:23:42 [MikeLorrey] BTW: the 'freedom lovers' term has got to go

22:23:49 [margomaps] well, it's also an opportunity to possibly get a libertarian senator elected

22:23:58 [amanda42] that would be cool

22:23:58 [danhynes] hello again :)

22:24:03 [margomaps] and in that sense it goes beyond state-level politics

22:24:04 [danhynes] timba, i like that comparison

22:24:07 [katdillon] oh yes Tim...it's a great idea

22:24:10 [MikeLorrey] I've heard people refer to us mockingly as the "Free Love Project"

22:24:17 [danhynes] i lived in NY all my life until last year, now i want to move to NH

22:24:28 [katdillon] like 101 reasons to leave your state

22:24:42 [danhynes] i can give 101 reasons to leave ny easily

22:24:46 [amanda42] very good idea to focus on quality of life in NH - that really helps people on the fence to hurry up and make the decision to join :)

22:25:03 [danhynes] cant smoke in bars...

22:25:14 [timba2112] Actually Kat, I would like to use the 101 reasons to compare against IL and WI and accentuate the NH postives

22:25:27 [mantispid] Need a way to counteract the 'too cold' complaint.

22:25:33 [margomaps] Mike: what can we use instead of "freedom lover"? "freedom fighter"? :D

22:25:36 [amanda42] the 101 reasons are very convincing - i keep them on hand all the time whenever i talk to a reporter

22:25:46 [amanda42] 20,000 friends to keep you warm!

22:25:50 [mantispid] I know several libertarians who say they would move "if only NH weren't so cold!"

22:26:02 [amanda42] (that was alan weiss' comment - i stole it from him)

22:26:08 [MikeLorrey] cold? ha ha ha

22:26:17 [amanda42] 4 months without yardwork!

22:26:32 [svillee] Tell them it's the cold that helps keep the statists away.

22:26:36 [danhynes] they can have two houses, and make sure they are in NH during November so they can vote, then they can leave

22:26:37 [margomaps] mantis: "too cold" was far and away the most common complaint we got from potential members at a gun show last month

22:26:40 [katdillon] chains of tyranny if you stay are even colder

22:26:42 [PatK] no one hates cold and snow more than me

22:26:45 [amanda42] how much is freedom really worth to you?

22:26:57 [Blain] AMEn, KATDILLON

22:26:59 [Blain] Bravo

22:27:02 [MikeLorrey] margomaps: How about "pro-liberty" or "liberty minded"

22:27:04 [amanda42] dan, we don't want to commit vote fraud

22:27:16 [Blain] the fed does it

22:27:27 [danhynes] well if they were there more than 6 months in the year it should be fine

22:27:29 [amanda42] we want 20,000 people to move to NH and

22:27:30 [MikeLorrey] The two weeks I spent in Palm Beach in August were colder than September here in NH

22:27:40 [margomaps] "liberty minded" works for me

22:27:42 [MikeLorrey] cause I spent it all in air conditioning

22:28:37 [amanda42] ok, have we exhausted all the media topics? i went through everything that you guys brought up at the beginning of the cha tsession.FONTP

22:28:55 [amanda42] i have to fly to arizona tomorrow for freedom summit :)

22:28:57 [mantispid] NH is barely colder than MO on average.. and that's really only in February. I think 'too cold' is often used as a final excuse.

22:29:24 [katdillon] is *is* colder than tx

22:29:29 [katdillon] it

22:29:41 [mantispid] I really wanted to go to that freedom summit. Oh well. Maybe you can tell Claire Wolfe that Mantis says hi. =)

22:29:47 [S/A] It is cold. I hate snow. But anyone who'd let weather stop them is prolly not someone who'd really be committed to going anyway.

22:30:13 [MikeLorrey] Cold keeps the rattlesnakes, cicadas, giant cockroaches, alligators, termites, and killer bees out

22:30:24 [PatK] LOl

22:30:44 [amanda42] mantis - i'll tell her you said hi :)

22:30:53 [S/A] But it doesn't stop the mosquitos....

22:31:03 [mantispid] Thanks! :)

22:31:05 [margomaps] I don't see what the big deal about cold and snow are, but maybe because I grew up in MN.

22:31:10 [margomaps] I like cold AND snow.

22:31:15 [MikeLorrey] The mosquitos are managable

22:31:21 [amanda42] ook, i'm going to sign off. i hope everyone who wants to stick around and chat will do so.

22:31:22 [margomaps] Lots of fun winter sports to do in the snow.

22:31:39 [timba2112] Yep Amanda.....it seems the media topics have been exhausted.

22:31:40 [margomaps] 'night Amanda

22:31:40 [katdillon] We're going to try and build an igloo

22:31:43 [amanda42] jason has been quiet... i know he has a lot of good media tips, too

22:31:46 [danhynes] is there a geographic part of the country that libertarians typically belong to

22:31:50 [katdillon] Thanks amanda!

22:31:54 [MikeLorrey] Rather get bit by a mosquito than a rattlesnake, a gila monster, or a gator

22:31:56 [S/A] Margo I came to MO partially b/c I hate the snow and cold I got living in Cleveland, Detroit, etc

22:32:10 [amanda42] feel free to contact me with any ideas, suggestions, questions, etc

22:32:35 [amanda42] thanks, kat, for starting these chat sessions. they are both fun and useful

22:32:37 [jsorens] actually, most of the tips i had have been covered i think

22:32:42 [amanda42] 'night!

22:32:49 [timba2112] Good night all.....thanks for the exhange..I needed the motivation.

22:32:52 [S/A] Mike I just really hate mosquitos. =) I'm one of those people they seem to prefer so I get eaten alive.

22:32:53 [jsorens] thanks for doign this amanda, good night!

22:33:03 [katdillon] My daughter's excited about seeing snow. She was asking in July when it was going to start snowing

22:33:17 [jsorens] i need to take off too actually, getting late on the east coast :)