HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO THE MEDIA
Published by Accuracy In Media 4455 Connecticut Avenue N.W. #330 Washington, DC 20008 Phone: (202) 364-4401 Fax: (202) 364-4583 www.aim.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Secrets of Writing a Publishable Letter...... …...3
Newspapers...... ….…...6
Networks...... 18
Magazines...... ….....23 Secrets of Writing a Publishable Letter
“To The Editor....”
How often do you see a TV newscast or a newspaper article that is reported in such distorted fashion that truth is knocked senseless and left by the wayside? Do you sometimes feel that the media have totally abandoned reality in the way they report the news?
Well, what are you going to do about it? Sit and fume or take pen in hand and let the people who run the media know that your are disgusted with distortions, inaccuracies and the intrusion of reportial opinion into supposedly “objective” news accounts?
The purpose of this booklet is to give you suggestions that Accuracy In Media has developed over the years on how to write an effective letter to the editor that will be published. Those last words are italicized for a reason: regardless of the merit of the letter you write, unless it is printed in the paper, or given serious attention by the media person to whom it is addressed, you are wasting your time and your postage.
AIM firmly believes in the power of the letter to the editor. Indeed, AIM had its genesis in such letters which founder Reed Irvine wrote to the media in the 1950s and 1960s, as a private citizen and as a member of a public affairs luncheon group. A friend of Mr. Irvine, Wilson C. “Chuck” Lucom, eventually suggested that the letters might carry more clout if they were on the letterhead of a media watchdog group, and in 1969 he paid the $200 necessary to incorporate Accuracy In Media, Inc. and get us started as a national membership group. The rest, as they say, is history.
Readership polls consistently show that letters to the editor are one of the better-read features of a newspaper. Readers enjoy controversy. Having a citizen take arms against an editor (even if in written form) spices up the day’s paper. Being given countering information and views instructs citizens that they should not take the media at face value.
Letters have several purposes (other than permitting you to blow off excessive steam). Let us summarize the two major purposes of letters:
--For publication. Your purpose is to provide a printable rebuttal to an error or a misinterpretation of a story that has appeared in the paper or on a telecast. Here conciseness and directness are paramount, for reasons I’ll discuss below.
--For information. Your purpose is to give the editor or TV producer facts, which can be used in subsequent news reports. These letters, of necessity, will be longer than those intended for publication. Of course, even an “information” letter can be supplemented by a shorter version intended for publication.
Accuracy In Media’s consultant on letter writing is a remarkable Ohioan named Walter Seifert, professor emeritus of journalism at Ohio State University. Mr. Seifert’s Herculean feat of having more than 1600 letters published earned him an entry in the 1990 edition of the Guinness Book of World of Records. Although the category has been discontinued, AIM’s good friend Walt is now at what he calls “the 4600 mark and counting.” Here are Walt Seifert’s rules for writing an effective letter to the editor.
1- Be legible. Type your letter, double-spaced preferably. If you write it by hand, make sure the editor can read it. Check your spelling, and use proper grammar.
2- Be timely. React at once; if you wait a week or so, the issue that upset you might be long past. But don’t dash of to the post office immediately upon writing your letter.
Read it a few hours later to insure that you have expressed yourself well, and in language you really wish to see in print. In other words, “cool off.” Your subconscious might also inspire second thoughts of better words.
3- Be brief. Walt Seifert says it well: “If you can’t sell’em in three paragraphs, you won’t in 20.” Identify your complaint in the first sentence if possible, so that the editor knows why you are writing (“As your reporter Jane Doe wrote on May 23...”) Then expand on your theme using a factual source to make your case, i.e., The AIM Report or The New York Times. Many papers will require that you confirm the source, so anticipate their question by enclosing a copy of the article making your case. Many papers impose word limitations on letters. Abide by them, for an editor will enforce them (especially if he disagrees with you; “the other side,” of course, might be permitted a longer say). Meredith Oakley, who runs the letters column of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, in Little Rock, notes that her paper’s 250-word limit comes out to about seven column inches of type, enough to tell most stories.
4- Be simple. Most readers don’t like long sentences or fancy words. Keep paragraphs short. Use punchy words.
5- Be constructive. If you condemn, suggest a better way. If you indulge in abusive language or name calling, you will be less effective. There is nothing wrong with humor. You might suggest, for instance, “Your columnist’s knowledge of Russian history dates back perhaps a week in time,” but don’t write that “Columnist Roe is dumber than an egg-sucking dog.”
6- Give complete information. Most papers require verification that you actually wrote the letter which arrived in their office, so give your address and both work and home phone numbers. Some editors, but not all, will do you the courtesy of checking with you when they make deletions for space so that your meaning is not distorted. But don’t count on the latter point—an even further reason to abide by the word limit.
7- Ask for a response. If the newspaper or TV station has confidence in the accuracy and fairness of the report you challenge, they should happy to set you straight. A polite request for a reply shows that you are serious about your complaint, and that you want it answered. If the media outlet does not respond in a reasonable period, you have good reason to write a stronger version of your letter.
8- Send a copy of your letter to the reporter or writer about whom you are complaining. Many papers will send the letter to the reporter as a matter of routine, but common courtesy is also involved. Your mother probably taught you not to talk about people behind their back. So let the reporter know what you are saying about him, and directly, rather than relying on an intra-office forwarding.
9- Keep copies of all letters you write. Many papers have a bias against publishing letters from readers who do not agree with their editorial policy, or who criticize their news coverage. If you can document that your letters are consistently being “spiked”—journalistic lingo for killed—you will have direct ammunition to use in a direct confrontation with the publisher (or even advertisers)
10- If you send in your letter by FAX, use discretion and common sense. Try to keep a one or two-page limit. Generally, it is safer to mail correspondence to the media to insure that it reaches the proper person.
11- And finally, share your complaints or comments with Accuracy In Media, Inc. Send a copy to us at AIM, 4455 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 330, Washington, DC 20008.
Many papers limit the frequency of letters they’ll publish from a reader—once a month, twice a year, or so forth. I wouldn’t dare suggest outright that you violate a rule, which the media impose on the public. But if your dog happens to be literate, perhaps he would put his name on a letter to, say, The Washington Post. I’ve also heard reports that women resort to their maiden names to wiggle around the frequency restriction, and that men have been known to use their first and middle names.
These rules won’t guarantee publication, but they’ll certainly increase your chances of publication.
But, you might ask, “I have all these complaints, but I can’t write worth a hoot.” So, on behalf of Accuracy In Media, Inc., an offer: if you have something you wish to get off your chest, send the information to our office, along with supporting documentation concerning the point you wish to make. Within reason, we’ll draft a letter which you can use as you see fit. Our offer is not without bounds: for instance, don’t expect us to ghost any letters advocating the violent overthrow of the government, or cannibalism.
Enclose a stamped and self-addressed envelope so that we can get the draft back to you promptly.
Now, as is said among folks who make their living from the printed word.
Write on!
Accuracy In Media, Inc.
An acknowledgement: Special thanks go to Walt Seifert for his rules. MEDIA ROAD MAP
NEWSPAPERS
The Arizona Republic Phoenix Newspapers, Inc. 200 East Van Buren, Post Office Box 1950 Phoenix, AZ 85001 Tel: 602-271-8000 Fax: 602-271-8044 www.azcentral.com
Arkansas Democrat Gazette 121 East Capitol St., Post Office Box 2221 Little Rock, AR 72203-2221 Tel: 501-378-3400 Fax: 501-399-3663 www.ardemagaz.com
Atlanta Journal- Constitution Cox Newspapers 72 Marietta St., NW Atlanta, GA 30303 Tel: 404-526-5151 Fax: 404-526-5746 www.ajc.com
Austin American-Statesman Cox Newspapers 305 South Congress Ave., P.O. Box 670 Austin, TX 78767 Tel: 512-445-3500 Fax: 512-445-1707 www.austin360.com
The Baltimore Sun The Times Mirror Company 501 North Calvert St. Baltimore, MD 21278 Tel: 410-332-6000 Fax: 410-752-6049 www.sunspot.net
Birmingham Post-Herald Scripps Howard Newspapers 2200 Fourth Avenue North, P.O. Box 2553 Birmingham, AL 35202 Tel: 205-325-2261 Fax: 205-325-2410 or free 1-800283-4048 www.postherald.com [email protected]
Boston Globe The New York Times Company 135 Morrissey Boulevard, P.O. Box 2378 Boston, MA 02107-2378 Tel: 617-929-2000 Fax: 617-929-2098 www.Boston.com
Boston Herald One Herald Square, P.O. Box 2096 Boston, MA 02106-2096 Tel: 617-426-3000 Fax: 617-542-1315 www.bostonherald.com
Charlotte Observer Knight-Ridder Newspaper News Department, P.O. Box 30308 Charlotte, NC 28230-0308 Tel: 704-358-5040 Fax: 704-358-5036 www.charlotte.com
Chicago Sun- Times American Publishing Co. 401 North Wabash Avenue Chicago, IL 60611 Tel: 312-321-3000 Fax: 312-321-3084 www.suntimes.com
Chicago Tribune 435 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60611-4041 Tel: 312-222-3232 Fax: 312-222-4760 www.chicago.tribune.com
The Christian Science Monitor The Christian Science Publishing Society One Norway Street Boston, MA 02115 Tel: 617-450-2000 Fax: 617-450-7575 www.csmonitor.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer Gannett Newspapers 312 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202-2410 Tel: 513-721-2700 Fax: 513-768-8340
Cleveland Plain Dealer Newhouse Newspapers 1801 Superior Avenue, N.E. Cleveland, OH 44114 Tel: 216-999-4800 Fax: 216-999-6354 www.cleveland.com
Columbus Dispatch 34 South Third Street Columbus, OH 43215-4241 Tel: 614-461-5000 Fax: 614-461-7580 Advertisement 614-461-5540 www.dispathc.com
The Commercial Appeal Scripps Howard Newspapers 495 Union Avenue Memphis, TN 38103 Tel: 901-529-2345 Fax: 901-529-2384 www.GoMemphis.com
The Daily News 450 West 33rd Street New York, NY 10001-2681 Tel: 212-210-2100 Fax: 212-210-1942 www.mostnewyork.com
The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma Publishing Company 9000 North Broadway Oklahoma City, OK 73125 Tel: 405-475-3311 Fax: 405-892-1342 or 405-475-3463 (sale department) www.oklahoman.com
Dallas Morning News A.H. Belo Corporation 508 Young Street, P.O. Box 655237 Dallas, TX 75265 Tel: 214-977-8222 Fax: 214-977-8638 www.dallasnews.com
Detroit Free Press Knight- Ridder Newspapers 321 West Lafayette Boulevard Detroit, MI 48226 Tel: 313-222-6500 or 800-395-3300 www.freep.com
Fort Worth Star- Telegram Knight-Ridder Newspapers 400 West Seventh Street Forth Worth, TX 76102 Tel: 817-390-7400 Fax: 817-390-7789 www.star-telegram.com
Greenwich Times The Times Mirror Company 20 East Elm Street Greenwich, CT 06830 Tel: 203-625-4400 Fax: 203-625-4419 www.greenwichtime.com
Hartford Courant The Times Mirror Company 285 Broad Street Hartford, CT 06115 Tel: 860-241-6200 Fax: 860-241-3865 www.courant.com
Houston Chronicle Hearst Newspapers 801 Texas Avenue Houston, TX 77002 Tel: 713-220-7171 Fax: 713-220-2811 www.chron.com
The Idaho Statesman Gannett Newspapers 1200 North Curtis Road, P.O. Box 40 Boise, ID 83707-0040 Tel: 208-377-6400 Fax: 208-377-6449 www.idahostatesman.com
Indianapolis Star-News Indianapolis Newspapers Inc. 307 North Pennsylvania Street, P.O. Box 145 Indianapolis, IN 46206-0145 Tel: 317-633-1240 www.starnews.com
Investor’s Business Daily 12655 Beatrice Street Los Angeles, CA 90066 Tel: 310-448-6000 Fax: 310-577-7350 www.investors.com
Kansas City Star Knight- Ridder Newspapers 1729 Grand Boulevard Kansas City MO 64108 Tel: 816-234-4150 Fax: 816-234-4926 www.kcstar.com
Las Vegas Review- Journal Donrey Media Group 1111 West Bonanza Road, P.O. Box 70 Las Vegas, NV 89125 Tel: 702-383-0211 Fax: 702-383-4676 www.lvrj.com
Long Beach Press-Telegram Knight- Ridder Newspapers 604 Pine Avenue, P.O. Box 230 Long Beach, CA 90844 Tel: 562-435-1161 Fax: 562-437-7892/ 562-436-3676 www.ptcnnect.com
Los Angeles Times The Times Mirror Company 202 W. 1st Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 Tel: 213-237-5000 Fax: 213-237-4712 www.latimes.com
Louisville Courier- Journal Gannett Newspapers 525 West Broadway, P.O. Box 740031 Louisville, KY 40201-7431 Tel: 502-582-4011 Fax: 502-582-4200 www.courier-journal.com
Miami Herald Knight- Ridder Newspapers One Herald Plaza Miami, FL 33132-1693 Tel: 305-350-2111 Fax: 305-376-5287 www.miami.com
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 333 West State Street (P.O. Box 661- 53201) Milwaukee, WI 53203-1309 Tel: 414-224-2000/2919 Fax: 414-224-2047 www.jsonline.com
Mobile Press Register Advanced Publications, Inc P.O. Box 2844 Mobile, AL 36652 Tel: 334-433-5020 Fax: 334-434-8662 www.al.com/moreg/mob.html
New Haven Register 40 Sargent Drive New Haven, CT 06511-5918 Tel: 203-789-5200 Fax: 203-865-7894 www.newhavenregister.com
New Orleans Times- Picayune Newhouse Newspapers 3800 Howard Avenue New Orleans, LA 70140-1097 Tel: 504-826-3279 Fax: 504-826-3490 www.nola.com
New York Post 1211 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036-8790 Tel: 212-930-8000 Fax: 212-930-8611 www.nypostonline.com
The New York Times 229 West 43rd Street New York, NY 10036 Tel: 212-556-1234 www.nytimes.com
The News & Observer McClatchy Newspapers 215 South McDowell Street, P.O. Box 191 Raleigh, NC 27602-0191 Tel: 919-826-4500 Fax: 919-829-4529 www.news-observer.com
Newsday The Times Mirror Company 235 Pinelawn Road Melville, NY 11747 Tel: 516-843-4000 Fax: 516-843-2953 (631) www.newsday.com
Omaha World-Herald 1334 Dodge Street Omaha, NE 68102-1122 Tel: 402-444-1000 Fax: 402-345-0183 http://omaha.com
Orange County Register 625 North Grand Avenue Santa Ana, CA 9201 Tel: 714-796-7760/ 7000 Fax: 714-565-3681 www.ocregister.com
The Oregonian Advance Publications, Inc. 1320 Southwest Broadway Portland, OR 97201 Tel: 503-221-8240 Fax: 503-227-5306 www.oregonian.com
The Orlando Sentinel 633 North Orange Avenue Orlando, FL 32801-1349 Tel: 407-420-5411 Fax: 900-288-6397 www.orlandosentinel.com
The Patriot-News Newhouse Newspapers P.O. Box 2265 Harrisburg, PA 17105 Tel: 717-255-8100 Fax: 717-255-8456 www.pennlive.com
Philadelphia Inquirer Knight-Ridder Newspapers 400 North Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19101 Tel: 215-854-2000 Fax: 215-854-5099 www.phillynews.com
The Providence Journal-Bulletin A.H. Belo Corporation 75 Fountain Street Providence, RI 02902 Tel: 401-277-7261 Fax: 401-277-7346 www.projo.com
Richmond Times-Dispatch Media General, Inc. 333 Franklin Street Richmond, VA 23219 Tel: 804-649-6000 Fax: 804-665-8019 www.timesdispatch.com
Rocky Mountain News Scripps Howard Newspapers 400 West Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80204 Tel: 303-892-5000 Fax: 303-892-2447 www.denver-rmn.com
The Sacramento Bee McClatchy Newspapers 2100 Q Street, P.O. Box 15779 Sacramento, CA 95852 Tel: 916-321-1000 Fax: 916-321-1109 www.sacbee.com
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 900 North Tucker Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63101 Tel: 314-340-8000 Fax: 314-340-3050 www.postnet.com
St. Petersburg Times P.O. Box 1121 St. Petersburg, FL 33731-1121 Tel: 727-893-8111 Fax: 727-893-8675 www.sptimes.com
San Antonio Express-News Hearst Newspapers My San Antonio P.O. Box 2171 San Antonio, TX 78297-2171 Tel. 210-227-4210 Fax: 210-250-3150 www.mysa.com
San Diego Union-Tribune Copley Newspapers 350 Camino de la Reina (P.O. Box 191) San Diego, CA 92112-4106 Tel. 619-299-3131 Fax: 619-293-1896 www.uniontrib.com
San Francisco Chronicle 901 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94103-2988 Tel: 415-777-2600 www.sfgate.com
San Francisco Examiner Hearst Newspapers 988 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94102 Tel: 415-359-2600 www.examiner.com
San Jose Mercury-News Knight- Ridder Newspapers 750 Ridder Park Drive San Jose, CA 95190 Tel: 408-920-5000 Fax: 408-288-8060 www.sjmercury.com
The Santa Fe New Mexico 202 East Marcy Street, P.O. Box 2048 Santa Fe, NM 87501 Tel: 505-983-3303 Fax: 505-984-1785 www.santafenewmexican.com
Seattle Post Intelligencer Hearst Newspapers 101 Elliot Avenue West, P.O. Box 1909 Seattle, WA 98111-1909 Tel. 206-448-8000 Fax: 206-448-8166 http://seattle-i.nwsource.com
The Star-Ledger Newhouse Newspapers One Star-Ledger Plaza Newark, NJ 07102-1200 Tel: 973-877-4141 Fax: 973-392-5845 www.nj.com
Star Tribune 425 Portland Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55488 Tel: 612-673-4000 Fax: 612-673-4359 www.startribune.com
The State Knight-Ridder Newspapers P.O. Box 1333 Columbia, SC 29202 Tel: 803-771-6161 Fax: 803-771-8430 www.thestate.com
Tallahassee Democrat Knight-Ridder Newspapers 277 North Magnolia Drive Tallahassee, FL 32301 Tel.850-599-2100 Fax: 904-599-2295 http://web.tallahasseedemocrat.com
Tampa Tribune Media General, Inc. 200 South Parker Street / P.O. Box 191 Tampa, FL 33606-2395 /Tampa, FL 33601 Tel: 813-259-7600 Fax: 813-259-7676 www.tamatrib.com
The Tennessean 1100 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203 Tel: 615-259-8000 Fax: 615-259-8093 www.tennessean.com
Times Union The Hearst Corporation 645 Albany Shaker Road / New Plaza P.O. Box 15000 Albany, NY 12212 Tel. 518-454-5694 Fax: 518-454-5628 www.timesunion.com
Toledo Blade Blade Communications 541 North Superior Street Toledo, OH 43660 Tel: 419-724-6000 Fax: 419-724-6465 www.toledoblade.com
The Trentonian 600 Perry Street Trenton, NJ 08602 Tel: 609-989-7800 Fax: 609-393-6072 www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1697
The Union Leader Union Leader Corp. Post Office Box 9555 Manchester, NH 03108-9555 Tel: 603-668-4321 Fax: 603-668-0382 www.theunionleader.com
USA Today Gannett Co., Inc. 1000 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 22229 Tel: 703-276-3400 Fax: 703-276-5527 www.usatoday.com
The Wall Street Journal Dow Jones & Company, Inc. 200 Liberty Street New York, NY 10281 Tel: 212-416-2000 www.wsj.com
The Washington Post 1150 15th Street, NW Washington, DC 20071-0070 Tel: 202-334-6000 Fax: 202-334-7502 www.washingtonpost.com
The Washington Times 3600 New York Avenue, N.E. Washington, DC. 20002 Tel: 202-636-3000 www.washingtontimes.com NETWORKS
A & E Television Networks The Hearst Corporation, ABC, NBC 235 East 45th Street New York, NY 10017 Tel: 212-210-1400 Fax: 212-983-4370 www.aetv.com
ABC News Capital Cities/ ABC, Inc. 47 West 66th Street New York, NY 10023 Tel: 212-456-7777 Fax: 212-456-2381 www.7online.com
ABC Radio Networks 125 West End Avenue, 6th Floor New York, NY 10023 Tel: 212-456-5100 Fax: 212-456-5150 www.abc.com www.abcnews.com
ACTS/ American Christian Television System 6350 West Freeway Fort Worth, TX 76150 Tel: 817-737-4011 Fax: 817-737-8209
Associated Press AP Broadcast News Center 1825 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20006-1253 Tel: 202-736-1100 Fax: 202-736-1199 www.ap.org
Black Entertainment Television, Inc. BET Holdings, Inc One BET Plaza, 1900 W Place, N.E. Washington, DC 20018-1211 Tel: 202-608-2000 Fax: 202-608-2590 www.bet.com
C-SPAN/ C-SPAN 2 Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network 400 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 650 Washington, DC 20001 Tel: 202-737-3220 Fax: 202-638-5244 www.c-span.org
CBN The Christian Broadcasting Network CBN Center, 977 Centerville Turnpike Virginia Beach, VA 23463 Tel: 757-226-7000 Fax: 757-226-3968 www.cbn.org
CBS News 51 W. 52nd Street New York, NY 10019 Tel. 212-975-4321 Fax: 212-975-3247 www.cbs.com
CBS Radio Networks 524 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019 Tel: 212-975-3615 Fax: 212-975-6347
CNBC National Broadcasting Co., Inc 2200 Fletcher Avenue Fort Lee, NJ 07024 Tel: 201-585-2622 Fax: 201-585-6205 www.cnbc.com
CNN Cable News Network Physical: 100 International Boulevard Mail Address: P.O. Box 105366 Atlanta, GA 30348-5366 Tel: 404-827-1500 Fax: 404-827-3965 www.cnn.com
CNNfn Five Penn Plaza, 20th Floor New York, NY 10001 Tel: 212-714-7848 www.cnnfn.com
Courtroom Television Network 600 Third Avenue New York, NY 10016 Tel: 212-973-2800 Fax: 212-973-3355 www.courttv.com
ESPN, Inc. ABC, Inc ESPN Plaza, 935 Middle Street Bristol, CT 06010 Tel: 860-766-2000 Fax: 860-766-2213 http://ESPNET.SportsZone.com
Fox Broadcasting Company News Corp. P.O. Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213 10201 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90035 Tel. 310-369-1000 Fax: 310-203-1454 www.foxnetwork.com
Fox News Channel 1211 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 Tel: 212-301-3000 Fax: 212-301-4224 www.foxnews.com
Fx Network, Inc Twentieth Century Fox Television P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, CA 90213-9000 Tel: 310-369-1000 www.fxnetworks.com
Gannett Television Group 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 27th floor Arlington, VA 22234 Tel: 703-284-6000 Fax: 202-895-5999 www.gannett.com
The History Channel 235 East 45th Street New York, NY 10017 Tel.212-210-1400 Fax: 212-983-4370 www.historychannel.com
Home Box Office Time Warmer Entertainment 1100 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 Tel. 212-512-1000 Fax: 212-512-5517 www.hbo.com
Home Team Sports 7700 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 Tel: 301-718-3200 Fax: 301-718-3300 www.htsonline.com
Lifetime Television Hearst/ABC Entertainment Services 309 West 49th Street, 16th and 17th Floors New York, NY 10019 Tel: 212-424-7000 Fax: 212-957-4469 www.lifetimetv.com
MSNBC NBC/ Microsoft Corporation One MSNBC Plaza Secaucus, NJ 07094 Tel: 201-583-5000 www.msnbc.com
MTV MTV Networks 1515 Broadway New York, NY 10036 Tel: 212-258-8000 Fax: 212-258-8844 www.mtv.com
National Geographic Television Inc. National Geographic Society 1145 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-4688 Tel: 202-857-7680 Fax: 202-775-6590 www.ngs.org
National Public Radio 635 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20001-3753 Tel: 202-414-2000 Fax: 202-4114-3329 www.npr.org
NBC News General Electric Corporation 30 Rockefeller Plaza #280 New York, NY 10112 Tel: 212-644-4444 www.nbc.com
NBC News Channel 925 Wood Ridge Center Drive Charlotte, NC 28217 Tel: 704-329-8700 Fax: 704-329-8711
NET- Political News Talk Network Free Congress Foundation 717 Second Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Tel: 202-544-3200 Fax: 202-544-2405 www.freerepublic.com
Pacifica National News Service 2390 Champlain Street, NW, 2nd floor Washington, DC 20009-2620 Tel: 202-588-0999 Fax: 202-588-0896 www.pacifica.org
Showtime Networks, Inc Viacom Inc. 1633 Broadway, 17th Floor New York, NY 10019 Tel: 212-708-1600 Fax: 212-708-1212 www.showtimeonline.com
United Paramount Network 11800 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90025 Tel: 310-575-7000 Fax: 310-575-7260 www.upn.com
USA Networks 1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 Tel: 212-413-5000 Fax: 212-408-8228 http://usanetwork.com
Magazines
Newsweek The Washington Post Company 251 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019-1894 Tel: 212-445-4000 Fax: 212-445-4835 www.newsweek.com
Time Time Inc. Time & Life Building Rockefeller Center 1271 Ave. Of the Americas New York, NY 10020-1393 Tel: 212-522-1212 www.time.com
U.S. News & World Report 1050 Thomas Jefferson St. NW Washington, DC. 20007 Tel: 202-955-2000 Fax: 202-955-2049 www.usnews.com Other sites of interest
If you have access to the Internet, several offbeat sites provide swift access to information, which you might find of interest, many available with one-click ease.
Our own Accuracy In Media, Inc. homepage contains past issues of the AIM Report, newspaper columns, radio commentaries, and selected letters to the media.
There is also a section listing more than a score of newspapers and broadcast outlets. Access is via www.aim.org
Veteran writer/editor Joseph Farah maintains the Western Journalism Center Homepage, with links to many newspapers, U.S. and foreign, as well as selected magazines, news services and commentators. Access is via www.WorldNetDaily.com
For those of you who love conspiracies and scandals, the prime site is The Free Republic, which holds an assemblage of articles form a vast variety of sources on everything from Whitewater to the Vincent Foster death mystery and TWA 800. Access is through www.FreeRepublic.com
For fun, try The Drudge Report, although we don’t vouch for its credibility. Founder Matt Drudge says he passes along stuff that journalists are discussing around the water cooler in newsrooms; much falls into the gossip category, so beware of using The Drudge Report as a source. Access is www.DrudgeReport.com
For news about the U.S. intelligence community, the homepage for the National Counterintelligence Center provides access to agencies ranging from the FBI to CIA, the National Security Agency, and the Defense Military Agency. Don’t expect any top-secret documents to appear on your screen, but the spook pages are fun browses. Access is www.NACIC.com What is Accuracy In Media?
Now, if you please, a few words about the publisher of this brochure. AIM is the nation’s oldest (founded in 1969) and most prestigious press watchdog group. They do for the media what they do so vigorously for every segment of society save themselves: to act as the independent critic in terms of accuracy, fairness and completeness—that is, are all sides of the story being told, truthfully and without bias?
Our main publication is The AIM Report, a 3600 word analysis of media coverage (or non-coverage) issued 24 times annually; each issue includes an insert of 1400 words of press commentary by AIM Report Editor Cliff Kincaid. AIM does a weekly newspaper column and a radio commentary, which airs five times weekly. These radio commentaries are also for publication intended to engage editors, reporters and producers in debate about the way particular stories are handled. AIM meets regularly with media figures of all levels, from the chairman of The New York Times Company on down to reporter level, and attends annual shareholder meetings of many of the major media companies. At the latter, we address issues of concern to our members.
An important function of AIM is to serve as the “court of last resort” for individuals who feel they have a complaint about the way the media handled a story in which they were involved. On uncountable occasions, individuals call AIM and say when they tried to contact the media organization involved, “They wouldn’t even talk to me...”
Many journalists, unfortunately, use the First Amendment freedom of press protection to claim immunity form criticism. AIM takes up such cases with vigor, and even though we don’t always succeed in gaining satisfaction for the aggrieved persons, we put reporters and editors on notice that their work is not beyond challenge.
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