Media coverage of the ongoing
genocide in Darfur has been
woefully inadequate. The Center
for American Progress found that
during June 2005, CNN, FOX News,
NBC/MSNBC, ABC, and CBS ran 50
times as many stories about
Michael Jackson and 12 times as
many stories about Tom Cruise as
they did about the genocide in
Darfur.
To help rectify the problem
about paltry media coverage of
Darfur, activists are generating
their own press by writing
letters to the editor (LTEs),
opinion-editorials (Op-Eds) and
blog postings.
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the editor are one of
the most commonly read items in
a newspaper. They serve as a
forum to represent the voice of
the public. Since letters to the
editor are usually written in
reference to a recent article or
opinion piece, they are a great
vehicle to respond to breaking
news concerning Darfur and
generate additional coverage
about the conflict. Remember,
letters to the editor should be
short and concise; they rarely
exceed 150 to 200 words.
Opinion
Editorials
Op-eds are a powerful media tool
that allows activists to
advocate for Darfur in a way
that captivates and galvanizes
audiences. The best op-eds
simultaneously provide
background information on the
issue while evoking an emotional
appeal to the reader to help the
people of Darfur. While noted
community members are often
asked to write op-eds, many
newspapers will run well written
pieces by grassroots activists.
Before you write your op-ed, you
should approach your local
newspaper as they often have
specific procedures and rules
regarding the publication of
opinions pieces from the
community.
Blog Postings
Four out of ten internet users
now read blogs regularly.
Increasingly, for many of these
readers, blogs serve as their
primary source of news. You
can increase coverage of the
Darfur in the blogosphere by
posting about Darfur related
events you attend, offering
comments on articles and
editorials you read about the
conflict, or issuing you own
opinion pieces about the
crisis. If you do not have your
own blog, you can post blog
entries on community blogs.
Once you have posted an entry
about Darfur, continue the
conversation by urging others to
post their own comments and
asking other bloggers to
consider linking to your post on
their blog.
