Organizing for America

Barrage

Barrage is an effective organizing tool for online media sources. It brings together supporters of Senator Obama to highlight his courage and vision. Barrage is for people who understand online media and are committed to waging a positive, strategic, pragmatic campaign. Read about Barrage in our blog.

Homework assignment!

By Rick Beaule' - May 22nd, 2007 at 9:49 pm EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

In looking at many of the posts of the groups I am a member of, I often see expressions of concern regarding Obama's message getting out and it's being understood. As a educator, I am always in favor of researching ideas and/or subjects. So I came up with an idea.

Let's have volunteers take a subject or issue listed on the Obama website. If you haven't already, gain a thorough understanding of the topic. Then go to at least two other candidate websites and research THEIR stands on the issue. Post the comparisons either as a reply to this post, or as one of your own. This way we gain perspective on the other candidates, and arm ourselves with concrete knowledge with which to discuss with people why we should elect Barack Obama as the next President of the United States.

As a teacher, I would LOVE to take "Improving Our Schools", though anyone else who wants to take a crack at it is welcome to, as not everybody will pick the same two candidates or the same issue.

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Answer Center on BarackObama.com and a Happy Problem

By Kevin - Apr 13th, 2007 at 12:35 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

There's a nifty new 'Answer Center' which you can access from the "Learn" link on the BarackObama.com home page. In essence, it's a well-developed FAQ that covers the waterfront: ranging from policy questions (and, of course, Barack's answer) to donations to Barack's life experience to the store on BarackObama.com.

There is one question in the Answer Center that presents a happy problem:

"Question I support Barack and want to donate to his campaign, but I live in another country. Can I donate?

Answer Thank you for your support. If you are a U.S. citizen living abroad, you can donate via the website.

If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, federal election law prohibits you from donating to political candidates."

I can't imagine seeing a question like this on other candidate sites. Can you? Doesn't the fact that this question exists in the Answer Center speak volumes about the level of interest in Barack outside the United States? Not only do we want Barack as our President: we need him as an exemplar of America's best to show to the world.

Kevin

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The Obama campaign has a hidden weapon .

By Joe Schulte - Apr 11th, 2007 at 5:16 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Last night I viewed a taped C-span recording of Michelle Obama speaking in Manchester New Hampshire on April 4 . I am 61 years old and followed politics all my life . I have never witnessed a wife of a candidate for president as intellegent and articulate as Michelle . I did not know of her ability to lend a real hand in campaigning for her husband . If she continues , it will be as if Barack can appear in two places at one time . Watch how long it takes the news media to pick up on this hidden surprise . She is fantastic !

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Barrage for Barack

By Corey Bennett - Apr 4th, 2007 at 1:00 am EDT

Also listed in: 4 groups

Join Barrage, a group utilizing a great organizing tool! Read on for more info and check out the Barrage page for a quick 5-step how-to Barrage model.

Barrage: An Organizing Tool

Who?

Supporters of Senator Obama with the following skills:

Understanding of online media, both national and local
Appreciation of campaign strategy
Pragmatism and good judgment
Effective writing skills

What and How?

One-hour meetings at which supporters scour national and local online media sources, including:

Mainstream media websites
Blogs
Local media websites
Popular interactive media, (e.g. YouTube, MySpace, etc.)

Barrage has two essential components:

Highlight the positive
Bury the negative

Supporters respond to articles and blog posts by leaving positive, concise and constructive comments, and by writing emails to authors
See the model barrage below for more detail

Join the “Barrage” group on My.BarackObama.com

Get blogging tips and techniques
Host or attend blogging workshops

When and Where?

At least once a week, but more often is better

Supporters can hold a barrage at their homes, coffee shops, libraries, schools…any place with internet access

Why?

Senator Obama already has widespread support on the Internet. Most influential people – those who can change minds and raise funds – get information from online media. The media coverage in recent weeks is just a glimpse of things to come. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure Senator Obama and this campaign are represented positively and accurately across the spectrum of online media.
Many positive stories have been written about Senator Obama. We should always be eager to echo these sentiments. With short, carefully-crafted comments, writers and readers will take wider notice of the strength behind this campaign.
As we have also seen, there are skeptics, cynics, and lunatics who write everything from critical columns to offensive blog comments. We shall not engage those who are hateful or cynical. Barrage is intended to bury them, not with negativity, but with the audacious, hopeful, positive messages Senator Obama espouses.

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We need to contact Matthew Dowd , former presidential aide .

By Joe Schulte - Apr 1st, 2007 at 11:06 am EDT

Also listed in: 18 groups

This mornings front page New York Times interview by Jim Rutenberg of Matthew Dowd revealed at the end he would be open to Barack Obama and his message of unity . Anyone else out there interested in this man comming on board ? Is this a bad idea or one that should be worked on ? He lives in Austin , Tex.

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If you are asked "Where is the beef ? " at your House Party

By Joe Schulte - Mar 30th, 2007 at 1:23 pm EDT

Also listed in: 19 groups

Please read Peter Slevin"s March 25 Washington Post piece " For Clinton and Obama , a common ideological touchstone ." From the article..........." The Alinsky method , which Obama taught long afterward , is centered on one-on-one conversations . The organizer's task is to draw out people's stories , listening for their goals and ambitions......the stuff that makes them tick , one of his teachers told him . There he would find the self interest that would spark activism ." Also............" It's time for politicans and other leaders to take the next step and to see voters , residents or citizens as producers of this change , " Obama told Hank De Zutter of the Chicago Reporter . " What if a politician were to see his job as that of an organizer , as part teacher and part advocate , one who does not sell voters short but who educates them about the real choices before them ." To me this means large scale plans in health care , social security and other issues will not be drawn up by a small committee in the Obama campaign , it's not his style . It appears he is going to use his traveling campaign to get a grass - roots feel of this country's most pressing problems as described and outlined by the people of America , in town hall meetings . The article ends with.........." we're going to have a government that's more responsive to the ordinary people ."

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If anyone asks what to bring to your house party.............

By Joe Schulte - Mar 29th, 2007 at 8:14 am EDT

Also listed in: 17 groups

Tell them a friend , bring another person . We are building support and need more people to hear about Barack Obama . And keep in mind donations through the website on that day will be recorded on March 31 , within the quarterly statement . The news media will focus on amounts and the number of contributers . Good luck , house party on..................

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Barrage - An Organizing Tool

By Corey Bennett - Mar 28th, 2007 at 12:44 pm EDT

Also listed in: Barrage

Join Barrage, a group utilizing a great organizing tool! Read on for more info and check out the Barrage page for a quick 5-step how-to Barrage model.

Barrage: An Organizing Tool

Who?

Supporters of Senator Obama with the following skills:

Understanding of online media, both national and local
Appreciation of campaign strategy
Pragmatism and good judgment
Effective writing skills

What and How?

One-hour meetings at which supporters scour national and local online media sources, including:

Mainstream media websites
Blogs
Local media websites
Popular interactive media, (e.g. YouTube, MySpace, etc.)

Barrage has two essential components:

Highlight the positive
Bury the negative

Supporters respond to articles and blog posts by leaving positive, concise and constructive comments, and by writing emails to authors
See the model barrage below for more detail

Join the “Barrage” group on My.BarackObama.com

Get blogging tips and techniques
Host or attend blogging workshops

When and Where?

At least once a week, but more often is better

Supporters can hold a barrage at their homes, coffee shops, libraries, schools…any place with internet access

Why?

Senator Obama already has widespread support on the Internet. Most influential people – those who can change minds and raise funds – get information from online media. The media coverage in recent weeks is just a glimpse of things to come. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure Senator Obama and this campaign are represented positively and accurately across the spectrum of online media.
Many positive stories have been written about Senator Obama. We should always be eager to echo these sentiments. With short, carefully-crafted comments, writers and readers will take wider notice of the strength behind this campaign.
As we have also seen, there are skeptics, cynics, and lunatics who write everything from critical columns to offensive blog comments. We shall not engage those who are hateful or cynical. Barrage is intended to bury them, not with negativity, but with the audacious, hopeful, positive messages Senator Obama espouses.

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Let's Build Barrage on Saturday!

By Corey Bennett - Mar 28th, 2007 at 12:43 pm EDT

Also listed in: 17 groups

This Saturday thousands of supporters will gather across the nation to strengthen the movement behind Senator Obama. Let’s take this opportunity to get others involved with Barrage and multiply the impact we can have on this campaign. While we’re waiting to listen to Senator Obama address his supporters online, get your friends to log in to My.BarackObama.com and join the Barrage group. Then make a plan to Barrage in the coming week.

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BE SOMEWHERE FOR OBAM MARCH 31

By FIRST TIME VOTER SUPPORT - Mar 25th, 2007 at 3:58 am EDT

Also listed in: 197 groups

IT’S ABSOLUTELY NOT TOO EARLYBE SOMEWHERE FOR OBAMA MARCH 31Live webcast at 1 p.m. Pacific, Saturday March 31st via BarackObama.comThe likely Presidential nominees of both parties will be decided by February 5, 2008, (if not earlier), when more than a dozen states, including the largest five, may hold primaries. The frontloading of the primaries suggests that only candidates with a sizable bankroll of $100 million or more accumulated this year will be able to compete in January and February of 2008. On the Democratic side, this means that Chris Dodd and Joe Biden might as well check their oversized ambitions in the Senate cloakroom, and give it up. Bill Richardson, who is undoubtedly a capable and experienced candidate for national office would probably be better off telling the world he will accept the VP slot if offered.

Hillary Clinton has spent 2/3 of her life preparing for this moment, and she has a fundraising machine and a husband who is a very savvy political strategist, both of which will propel her forward despite certain grave inadequacies as a candidate. Barack Obama may be deified before he is elected President, but he is clearly the flavor of the season, and people are seeing in him what ever they choose to see. He has the legs for a long race, despite his inexperience (two years removed from the Illinois State Senate). This is a fundraising contest, and the media is all about Hillary and Obama.

CHOOSE AN EVENT MARCH 31 AND BE THERE

The following states have either already moved their primary date to February 5th or are in the process of doing so:

New Jersey
New York
California
Florida
Texas
Illinois
North Carolina
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
New Mexico
Utah
West Virginia.

Michigan may move up its date even earlier to join South Carolina, which will follow the first three states out of the gate: Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada.While the frontloading of the primaries to February 5th means that some states that typically get little or no attention in the nominating process, such as California and New York, will get more of a say the earliest contests, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, will likely still be decisive if one candidate runs the table, or wins most of them. If the race is undecided going into February 5th, much of the money raised during 2007 will be spent on media buys in the big states that weekThe real national primary will be the money primary this year, and probably not the February 5th primaries. Early Campaign Communication Priorities (Abridged)The perfect tool for this communication is to send personal emails to your friends. They are many times more effective than broadcast emails from you or any mass communication from the campaign. Your personal email with an address recognized by your friends will never be blocked by a spam filter.1. Inform the Unaware.With all the hype about Senator Obama it may seem like everyone already knows about him but unfortunately this is not the case. You'd be amazed how many people are completely disengaged. For example the receptionist at the Hilton hotel where I attended a grassroots group meeting last week had never heard of Barack Obama. The manager at the Sheraton next door would not let us meet there because she thought we were supporting a "Muslim." This obviously would never happen with HRC or Edwards.2. Spark the Interest of the Disengaged.Most people by now have at least heard of Barack Obama but don't know very much other than he is a candidate for President with a funny name who is black. They may have heard he gave a good speech at the convention that they missed. It's great to have name recognition, but it's our job to help these people get to know what Barack Obama is all about. 4. Persuade the Undecided.While everyone has common interests, each person also has hot button issues. Once we have introduced our friends to Barack, we need to learn what is important to them and help them to understand why Barack Obama is the right person to make the changes they believe in. Here is what I suggest:1. Send the video of Barack on the Daily show to everyone you know. It's so good even your most conservative friends will thank you for it. You can follow it up with or include other fun ones like Barack on Jay leno or the Monday Night Football spoof:Jon Stewart's Best Daily Show Interview ComebackBarack Obama on Jay LenoBarack Obama on Monday Night Football 2. Send a personalized message to introduce your friends to Barack.Another favorite of mine for introducing Barack is this 5 minute Today Show interview:Barack Obama on The Today ShowAnd this 14 min. clip of his CBS 60 Minutes interview is one of the best intros. to Barack but be advised of its length and the fact that it is preceded by a commercial (not everything is free.)Barack Obama on CBS 60 Minutes Beyond these intros. the wealth of Barack video is incredible!22 videos from the campaign on YouTube: Link videos from Barack's Senate site including his 2004 Convention Speech in its entirety:Link even more?Go to youtube.com and search Barack or ObamaAnd the video library grows every day! How about setting yourself a modest goal of sending one email per day. What are you waiting for ? Let's get the word out! LETTERS TO THE EDITORSEE: Link “HOT” site will give you all you need to know about using the media for campaigning. Read it. Then do it.FLYERS & MOREobama-materials-sharing@googlegroups.com PETITIONS & MORECirculate letters to state & local politicos urging their endorsement or asking for their help. Don’t stop with the Congressman or the Senator. Get down to city government and the precinct committee person PCP. I am recruiting, Seniors, Librarians, Teachers and Nurses. They are people with one-on-one clout. KEEP US IN THE LOOP WE CAN HELP!Link

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Democracy for America

By Misty F - Mar 20th, 2007 at 4:13 pm EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

Democracy for America has a Primary Poll up. I would really encourage everyone to go vote there. As is shown in the email below, they will use this as part of their selection process for who they will endorse.   Read More »

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OBAMA ELECTION RESOURCES

By FIRST TIME VOTER SUPPORT - Mar 20th, 2007 at 3:40 pm EDT

Also listed in: 137 groups

SHARE YOUR RESOURCES From the 70-year-old White Guy and the Home Care Nurse.Dick & C.C. Landis dlandis888@aol.comBlog Site: OBAMA ELECTION RESOURCES We recently sent out a blog requesting fellow Obama bloggers to share some of the campaign techniques they are using to help Obama become our next president. Meet-ups and petitions were tops on the list but we also received some great “Writing Op-ed and Letters to the Editor” guidelines. See the CCMC OPED.ORG web site for an example of instructions for both planning a communications campaign and “How To Do It” guidelines for writing and getting published. Some of the more politically experienced bloggers offered ideas that will empower all of us to do a more effective job. The most important advice was to develop a way to hold blog members accountable for their chosen project(s). It’s not going to work if we just read this material and file it away. You have to develop a communications plan … implement it … and evaluate it. Let us know what works and what doesn’t Our contribution was the local organization and communications role we played in the Kerry campaign. We rented a motel meeting room in our town of Woodburn, OR (22,000) and had guest speakers or campaign DVD’s for fundraisers each month. We also used the gatherings to write personal notes to prospective Kerry/Edwards recruits. It’s a lot more fun when you work together. When the election got closer we organized phone bank teams to drive to Salem to make calls. Because the meetings were held regularly we were able to invite potential converts each month for a date certain, distribute window signs by the hundreds, raise a reasonable amount of money. We even had to move to a larger room toward the end of the campaign. The motel setting allowed us to have a large screen TV for campaign DVD’s, as well as conveniently and comfortably seat and feed (potluck) 20 to 30 people. The donations easily paid for the room and we always had some left over to jump-start our next meeting and give to the state campaign. What we were hoping for in our request to the blogs was a list of action ideas that would help give direction to the average citizen. We were looking for Internet strategies and ways to use RSS feeds to share data and a way to use other blog sources to expand our base.
We got that and more.

If you keep sending OBAMA ELECTION RESOURCES innovative ideas we will keep sharing them with you. We are all in this together and even the smallest blog membership can have an impact in their area of interest and expertise.
BLOGGING BASICS 1.   Create a profile on my.barackobama.com. The first step to getting involved with the campaign is creating an online presence. Sign up for my.barackobama.com and share information about who you are and why your support this campaign. 2.   Invite your friends to join the network. Using the invite tool to get your friends to check out the campaign website is only the first step in getting them involved with the campaign. Send them an invite, but make sure to tell them personally why you think they should sign up. Continue to share news articles, videos, blogs, photos—anything that you find online that you like—with them. Let them know why you support Barack so they can understand the value in his candidacy. 3.   Keep a blog. Yes, you can. It’s not just techies who keep blogs, but everyday Americans who care. Your blog can fit your own style. While some people like to write formal, news like posts, others prefer to just collect all the interesting things they’ve seen that are related to the campaign—links to good videos, news articles, other blogs, photo albums, groups, or events. Still others simply like to share personal experiences or responses to the candidate or campaign. Figure out what fits your style the best and then make sure to share it with the people who might be interested.
4.   Create a fundraising goal. You can help the campaign raise money by setting a goal for yourself and then encouraging your friends and family to donate. Keep in mind that a bit more is required than sending out a form email asking for money. Talk about why you support Barack, what you think is unique about him and this campaign, and share content that supports your view.
PETITIONSLink />
Dear Politician:

Today, we, your constituents from the great state of Oregon, are writing you in regards to the upcoming presidential election in 2008. This election will, no doubt, be the most pivotal election in the history of America as we currently stand at a crossroads. With the war in Iraq taking a turn for the worse, and violence in the region seemingly increasing each day, we need a president that will take a stand to bring our troops home. With partisan bickering at an all-time high, we need a president that will find areas of common ground and bring both parties together, to work towards common goals for the American people. With political action committees and lobbyists corrupting our government we need a president that will create an honest government; an ethical government that answers to its citizens.

Today, POLITICIAN, we are asking you to publicly endorse Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. America is in need of a new direction and we believe that Senator Obama is the only candidate with the ability to take this nation in that direction. It is a new generation, a generation that should be built around the citizens of this country. We need a new type of political leader. One that is ready to put aside partisan politics and work towards making this country what it can be and what it once was. We need a president that can build bridges and not burn them. We need a president that is respected in the world and can bring sensible solutions to Washington. We need Barack Obama.

POLITICIAN, once again, the residents of OREGON are asking you to go on record and publicly endorse Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. Sincerely, EXPAND YOUR BLOGGING BASE Advertise the existence of your group on Craigslist.com, under their politics section. You don't have to post your name or email address on Craigslist. Just indicate that you're starting a group in your area to support Obama, and people will join. Obviously, include the link to your group's URL and list the date/time of your meeting. Recruit on MySpace, Facebook and Meetup as well as Google, MSN and Yahoo blog networks.. Develop your own strategy that doesn't have to include help or direction from the official campaign. You can organize your precincts with or without them. Print and distribute recruiting flyers for every window and bulletin board in town. Knock on doors, hold fundraisers, publicity events, working fairs, meeting with like minded groups, churches, lending your manpower to groups like habitat for humanity (for the good of the community as well as coming into contact with potential recruits and potential good publicity), educate yourselves on everything Obama. Use the age old techniques of recruiting from friends you grew up with, or college and high school reunion directories. Use Zip Codes to search the Obama blog sites in communities you lived and worked in throughout your life. You may even run into some long-lost and forgotten friends. FUND RAISING PRIMARIESIf people are asking why we are starting so early explain the new primary and caucus dates that may mean the nomination will be decided by Iowa, Nevada, NH, SC. That's why it's important that Obama supporters also vote in the four fundraising primaries: March 31, 2007; June 30, 2007; September 30, 2007; and December 31, 2007.. - BarackObama.com - is the official website of Senator Obama's presidential campaign. Any money you donate through this website should get credited towards his campaign, and be acknowledged by the media each quarter.

The media tracks both total donations, and number of donors for ever 3 month period. That’s why one of our contributors recommended voters donate as much as they can afford to, no later than March 31st, and then at least $5 before each of the next 3 fundraising primaries. Since Senator Obama is not accepting PAC money, every individual donor becomes that much more important to his campaign.

Some voters like Senator Obama, but worry that he doesn't have enough support to be electable. Some pundits believe Obama is just a media creation. Both groups will give Obama a second look after April 1st, if the media reports that Obama did strongly in the first fundraising primary. PRECINCT CAUCUSESAlso, research your precinct. If it doesn't have a PCO (Precinct Committee Officer). plan to attend the District meeting and apply for the appointment. As with any meeting, the guy with "the gavel" has some clout. An allocation of delegates is given to each presidential candidate based on the preferences of the attendees in each precinct caucus. Each precinct also elects delegates to the County Caucus which elects delegates to the State Convention.

For people who have never been. the Precinct Caucus is how many Obama delegates get to be in Washington's Democratic National Convention delegation. It's where the whole game can be won or lost. Join Barrage, a group utilizing a great organizing tool! Read on for more info and check out the Barrage page for a quick 5-step how-to Barrage model. Barrage: An Organizing ToolWho?Supporters of Senator Obama with the following skills:Understanding of online media, both national and local Appreciation of campaign strategy Pragmatism and good judgment Effective writing skillsWhat and How?One-hour meetings at which supporters scour national and local online media sources, including:Mainstream media websites Competitor Blogs for both parties Local media websites Popular interactive media, (e.g. YouTube, MySpace, etc.) Barrage has two essential components:Highlight the positive Bury the negativeSupporters respond to articles and blog posts by leaving positive, concise and constructive comments, and by writing emails to authors See the model barrage below for more detail Join the “Barrage” group on My.BarackObama.comGet blogging tips and techniques Host or attend blogging workshops When and Where?At least once a week, but more often is betterSupporters can hold a barrage at their homes, coffee shops, libraries, schools…any place with internet accessWhy?Senator Obama already has widespread support on the Internet. Most influential people – those who can change minds and raise funds – get information from online media. The media coverage in recent weeks is just a glimpse of things to come. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure Senator Obama and this campaign are represented positively and accurately across the spectrum of online media. Many positive stories have been written about Senator Obama. We should always be eager to echo these sentiments. With short, carefully-crafted comments, writers and readers will take wider notice of the strength behind this campaign. As we have also seen, there are skeptics, cynics, and lunatics who write everything from critical columns to offensive blog comments. We shall not engage those who are hateful or cynical. Barrage is intended to bury them, not with negativity, but with the audacious, hopeful, positive messages Senator Obama espouses. HOW TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR AND MOREOp-ed columns and letters to the editor give you the opportunity to communicate directly to the public, including influential decision-makers, and shape or frame a debate in your own words. Op-Ed Quick Tips An op-ed is a column or guest essay published in the opinion section of a newspaper (Opposite the Editorial page). Most are between 500-750 words, and most outlets will take submissions by fax, e-mail or mail. View submission criteria for the top 100 newspapers. Op-eds should be timely, lively and present strong arguments. Editors want readers to say, "Wow, did you see that piece today?" They are looking for an unusual or provocative opinion on a current issue, a call-to-arms on a neglected topic, bite and wit, or an expert take on an issue by a well-known name. Op-ed page editors are not looking for event announcements, promotional materials or generic ideas. Determine your goal and audience. It could be starting a grassroots campaign, passing legislation, increasing funding, or educating the public on a crucial issue. Who could best help you in your goal? The general public? Teens? Seniors? Teachers? Nurses? Elected officials? Then, determine which news outlet can best deliver your op-ed to your targeted audience. Maybe it's a local weekly paper or a professional journal, a state newspaper or a competitive national paper like the Wall Street Jurnal, USA Today, The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, LA Times or Washington Post.. Realize that these papers accept Letters from people in small towns from across the country because it shows how broad their readership base is and helps attract regional advertising revenue.Figure out what you want to say and who can say it. Be able to summarize your point in a single, clear sentence. "By ratifying CEDAW, the U.S. can become a full partner in the effort to secure basic human rights of women and girls everywhere." Find a well-known person – your group's president, a political leader, an expert or clergy member – that can sign the column's byline. Make your points compelling. The first sentence should grab the reader's attention, and everything that follows should keep it. Illustrate your case with vivid examples and memorable facts. Defend it with a few strong arguments. Be short and specific. Use a lively, active voice. Give readers the minimum background they need to understand your case. Don't bog them down with jargon or too many statistics. Mention your opponents' claims and dismantle them with common sense, past history, contradicting facts, moral outrage – whatever is needed. Make it timely. Link your op-ed to a holiday or anniversary, a newly-released report, or any relevant upcoming event. Make it short. Aim for a first draft of about 1,000 words. Go over what you've written. Eliminate unnecessary words, repetitious or stray ideas. Trim words, not ideas. Give the op-ed to a colleague and ask for suggestions and comments. Include those that make sense and edit it down to 750 words. Restate your key argument at the end. Submit the piece. E-mail and/or fax are the cheapest and fastest methods. Include a short cover letter with your name and title, affiliation, address, e-mail, and day and evening phone numbers. Op-ed contact information at the top 100 newspapers are listed here. Follow up and wait. Once it's been sent, don't call the newspaper or magazine repeatedly. If they're going to publish your piece, they'll call you. Be ready to make updates and revisions just before publication, especially if several weeks have passed since you submitted it. Don't be discouraged. If your op-ed is rejected, don't be discouraged. Newspapers and magazines receive a huge volume of submissions, all competing for space on the page. Send your op-ed to another news outlet. Keep writing and submitting pieces. Often, it is just a matter of your op-ed being at the right place at the right time. Leverage your success. If your piece does get published, send copies to funders, board members, reporters, elected officials, colleagues and other allies. An op-ed can serve as a springboard to talk-show appearances, panel discussions and a host of other opportunities. Letters to the Editor Quick Tips Letters to the editor allow you to offer a short rebuttal to an article or commentary, or add a crucial missing perspective. Most letters should be 150-250 words. Specific guidelines by news outlet are listed here. Keep it short. Respond quickly to the article you've read (note the headline and date it ran). Make your points short and specific. It's better that you edit your words than the outlet cut what you consider to be your key point. Be factual but not dull. State important facts that back up your point. Humor helps. Pick a messenger. Find a well-known person to sign the byline. Identify the author's expertise and/or affiliation. Include full contact information and day and evening phone numbers. Timing is everything. Because of the volume of submissions at national newspapers, getting in a letter the same day will increase your chances of getting published. Send it by e-mail in the body of the text, not as an attachment. Use alternate forums to respond. Many media outlets have online reader forums and interactive online discussions with reporters. Some news magazine shows encourage viewers to respond while a show is on air, and then read selected e-mails in real time. These e-mails should be short, clear and punchy – only a few sentences will be used. How to Write A Letter to the EditorLetters should be short and concise, typically 150 words, or about three short paragraphs. For a news magazine or a radio news show, they should be even shorter, about 100 words. Letters should be written with passion, using strong but not strident language. Be sure to consult guidelines before writing a letter to any news outlet. Most newspapers will post guidelines on their Web site on the same page as the letters to the editor or in the "contact us" section. At least once a week, newspapers will print guidelines on the editorial page for submitting a letter to the editor. If you are not able to find the guidelines in print or online, you can simply call your paper's editorial desk to request guidelines.Small-circulation newspapers usually print most of the letters that they receive. It is more challenging to get a letter printed in major metropolitan newspapers, as they receive a much larger number of letters. However, if you can tie your letter to a recent article, editorial or column, you will greatly increase your chances of being published. In addition to submitting letters to your local daily newspaper, consider other newspapers in your area. Most major metropolitan areas have free weekly community newspapers that go to tens or hundreds of thousands of homes. Consider sending letters to religious publications, both national and regional; your message could reach thousands of church people who may never have heard of an Offering of Letters. You may submit letters to Hispanic and African-American newspapers, which are often interested in issues which affect Africa, Latin America and low-income people in the United States. Finally, you can send letters to national newspapers, magazines and radio programs.When submitting a letter to the editor by regular mail or fax, don't forget to sign it, as many newspapers will not publish a letter without a signature (letters sent by e-mail obviously cannot be signed). Also include a daytime telephone number in case the newspaper wants to verify that you are the author. Bear in mind that it may take a week or more from the time a newspaper receives a letter before it gets published. Weekly papers and news magazines take even longer.With a little practice, writing good letters to the editor is neither time-consuming nor difficult. Your own letter will be more effective if it is not copied from a sample letter or media alert, because it comes directly from the heart. No other form of communication can match the impact of a thoughtful letter written by a concerned community citizen.How to submit an op-edAn op-ed is an opinion piece usually published opposite the editorial page, hence its name. Op-eds are frequently written by columnists, public officials or heads of organizations. However, anyone can submit an op-ed.Before writing an op-ed, check the Web site or call your local newspaper and ask for the name of the op-ed editor (verify that you have the correct spelling) and guidelines for submission. Your op-ed should be longer than a letter to the editor; 750 words is usually a good length. Be sure to type it double-spaced.After you have written the op-ed, submit it along with a cover letter addressed to the op-ed page editor. Follow up with a phone call a few days later to confirm that he/she received it and to ask if it will be published. Be sure to submit the piece at least two weeks prior to the time you want it to appear because space for op-eds is often planned in advance.It takes a little longer to write an op-ed than a letter to the editor, but the extra effort is worth it. Op-eds are more widely read by policy-makers than letters to the editor, and they are much more influential. EPIC: A format for powerful writing"EPIC" is a format you can use to develop a well-written opinion piece. Use EPIC to organize your ideas and clarify your message. This format makes opinion-writing much easier and less time-consuming. Instead of spending a lot of time trying to figure out where to begin, you may try using the EPIC outline, and your letter to the editor or op-ed will almost write itself!Engage: Engage the reader with a startling fact, a visceral image or a strong statement of a serious problem. Propose: Make a specific proposal regarding the Offering of Letters or a piece of legislation.Illustrate: Illustrate how the proposal would work and why it's important. Give a few details or examples to make it concrete.Call to action, or Commitment: Call on your legislators and/or readers to take a specific action or express your commitment to alleviating hunger."Engage" grabs the reader's attention. "Propose" makes it clear what you are advocating for. "Illustrate" fleshes out your solution and gives reasons why it's a good idea. "Call to action" ends your piece with a request, or "commitment" ends your piece with an inspiring statement of your vision.
Sample EPIC Letter to the EditorEngage: Half the world's population lives on less than $2 per day, yet less than half of one percent of our federal budget is dedicated to helping people in poor countries. Propose: An increase of only one percent of our nation's vast resources could make a huge difference. Illustrate: For only one percent, we could prevent 10 million children becoming AIDS orphans. We could provide water to 900 million people around the globe. We could save almost 6.5 million children under 5 from dying of diseases that could be prevented with low-cost measures like vaccinations. The world is waiting for its most powerful nation to take the lead in building a better, safer world for all of us. Call to action: If you want to make a difference, let Senators Byrd and Rockefeller and Representative Mollohan know that dedicating more of our resources to poverty-focused aid is your priority and should be theirs, too.Guidelines for e-mailing a letter to the editorSend letters as text only. Do not use attachments.  Be sure to include your daytime telephone number and your "snail-mail" address.Do not cc: your letter any other organization or individual. If you want someone else to see your letter, copy the letter into a separate e-mail.If you are submitting your letter to more than one newspaper, send your letter to each newspaper one at a time. Do not type more than one e-mail address in the recipient field. Do not create a distribution list of newspaper e-mail addresses.Multiple submissions of the same letter to the editor are acceptable only for local newspapers. For national newspapers, each letter you submit must be unique.Do not send the same letter to two newspapers in the same city.Write your own original letter. Keep it real! Your own voice is much more compelling than a canned message. It is okay for a newspaper to receive letters from two different people on the same subject – as long as the letters are not identical.If you get published, SHARE the news! It inspires people to use their voices as well. Email or send a copy of your letter or op-ed to OBAMA BLOGS.

Maximize the political impact of your letter by sending it to your Senator or Representative. Members of Congress subscribe to local newspapers in their districts. If your letter or op-ed mentions your legislators by name, it is likely that they will see it. However, you should still mail or fax them a copy, along with a brief cover letter, to reinforce your message. Read examples of published Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor written by OBAMA BLOG members and media activistsLETTERS TO THE EDITORKey Points for SuccessIntroduction:Letters to the editor are known as “guerilla publicity,” because they cost nothing. Their importance cannot be underestimated. The “Letters” column is one of the first areas that newspaper readers turn to. Not only do ordinary citizens avidly read the Letters column for news and opinions about matters of current importance, but, in addition, representatives from the districts reached by the newspaper assign staff to monitor and clip the letters. The representatives themselves focus on the letters of importance to them, often paying attention to them to the same degree that they would a letter penned directly to their official office, and more so.Successful Letters:1. FocusEach letter should cover one issue succinctly and not stray from the point.2. Ease of Publication· Carefully edit and type the letter (no-handwritten letters to the editor).
· Editors sometimes are forced to reject letters, even though they are inclined to be sympathetic with them, because of the difficulty that their letters editor will have in deciphering the handwriting.3. Letter Format· Place your full name, address and the date at the top of the letterInclude your telephone number for verification· Address the letter itself to:Letters to the Editor
Name of Newspaper
Full Address of NewspaperDear Editor:· At the end of the letter, sign it and type your name below the signature.4. Letter Style· Write clearly. Develop your theme so that an individual who is not familiar with your issue will understand the point you want to make.· If you are writing in response to an earlier article, get the letter in quickly and make a clear reference to the preceding article near the beginning of your letter.· LengthKeep the letter within the length limitations set by the newspaper to which you are writing. This is the most common error of citizens’ letters. Just be cold-blooded about keeping your letter short enough; it’s a lot less effort than editing it later after telephoning the newspaper to find out where your letter is.If you have the ability and expertise, and your submission might be of interest to the newspaper, you might try your hand at an Op Ed piece for the Editorial Page. An Op Ed may reach as high as 700 to 800 words, or longer.· Know your facts and be accurate.· Do not slander individuals, including government officials. In fact, avoid negatively using the names of individuals who are not government officials.· A succinct quotation from a historic figure or a classical literary figure is often effective to hone your point. However, a letter dominated by references to the scriptures will often cause your letter to be rejected.· To make your writing interesting, try sometimes using an unusual angle or hook to draw the reader into your letter. But don’t get way-laid.5. How to SendCreate a media list with addresses, fax numbers, and/or e-mail addresses.Choices of how to send the letter include all options:
· Regular mail
· Fax
· E-mail: Many newspapers will ask whether you can send the letter electronically, even if you have already mailed or faxed it. (Do not send “attachments.”)
· Hand delivery6. Use the letter again afterwardsEnclose a copy of the letter to the editor with your next letters to your members of the legislature. As a general practice, think of as many uses as possible for all the material that you have published, of whatever nature.Identical Letters to Multiple Newspapers1. With the aid of a computer and a handwritten list of names and addresses of newspapers, you can easily send an individually addressed letter to each of the editors of 10 - 15 dailies and weeklies in the region, and, if you computerize the names and addresses, to many more throughout the entire state, if appropriate.2. Even identical letters should be individually addressed, and, of course, signed.3. Where Newspapers Require Unique LettersIf you write the same letter to every newspaper in the vicinity, realize that some have the policy to solely publish unique letters. Comply with this policy for those newspapers. If they inquire whether a common letter is unique, be honest and offer to send them a letter that is individually composed about your important issue.A Campaign of Letters to the Editor· If desirable, get a number of individuals to write their own letters to the editor about your issue.· Don’t send multiple, identical letters to the editor signed by different people.· Continue the letters over a period of time, if necessary.· If you hold a letter-writing meeting, be realistic that these seldom produce many letters during the meeting, especially for letters to the editor. Sometimes a group is more successful at such a meeting producing letters to a member of the legislature. Bring paper, stamps, and envelopes, in any case, and temporarily set aside the standard of typewriting the letters. However, some more letters may result later.Special Uses of Letters to the Editor1. The “Open Letter to the Editor”· Some newspapers will publish an “Open letter to the editor,” which is really a letter to a member of the legislator (and so stated), or the like, written for publication.· After the letter is published, be sure to send copies to the legislators you would like to influence.2. A Publicity Letter· An effective device is a letter to the editor letting people know when your big meeting is going to be held.· Although newspapers will not allow their Letters column to be used for publicity announcements, sometimes, if people send concise letters on issues and include the date, time, and place of their big meeting, the letters will be published in full.3. Letters Giving Public RecognitionA very useful little essay is the letter to the editor expressing public appreciation or recognition to an individual, especially a public official, for something that person has done to advance the cause of private property rights, including your particular issue.Special Forms of Letters to the Editor1. Ghostwritten lettersYou may ghostwrite letters at times for individuals who, because of time limitations or weak letter-writing ability, cannot do their own letters. Make sure that they personally read, sign, and mail them. Don’t forget that newspapers usually telephone to verify the authorship.2. Co-signed lettersCo-signing can attach a level of weight and prestige to the letter. In addition, the problem may arise that a local newspaper will not publish a letter from someone from outside of the readership area. Co-signing the letter with a local person, perhaps with his organizational affiliation, may solve this problem.Your ThemeNo matter what issue or topic you write about, never lose track of your theme of support for BARACK OBAMA and why.. This theme should be both implicit and explicit, wherever possible, in each letter to the editor.Media Contact ListNetwork/Cable TelevisionABC News
77 W. 66 St., New York, NY 10023
Phone: 212-456-7777
General e-mail: netaudr@abc.com Nightline: nightline@abcnews.com
20/20: 2020@abc.com CBS News
524 W. 57 St., New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-975-4321
Fax: 212-975-1893 Email forms for all CBS news programs CBS Evening News: evening@cbsnews.com
The Early Show: earlyshow@cbs.com
60 Minutes II: 60II@cbsnews.com
48 Hours: 48hours@cbsnews.com
Face The Nation: ftn@cbsnews.com CNN
One CNN Center, Box 105366, Atlanta, GA 30303-5366
Phone: 404-827-1500
Fax: 404-827-1906
Email forms for all CNN news programs Fox News Channel
1211 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 301-3000
Fax: (212) 301-4229
comments@foxnews.com List of Email addresses for all Fox News Channel programs Special Report with Brit Hume: Special@foxnews.com
FOX Report with Shepard Smith: Foxreport@foxnews.com
The O'Reilly Factor: Oreilly@foxnews.com
Hannity & Colmes: Hannity@foxnews.com, Colmes@foxnews.com
On the Record with Greta: Ontherecord@foxnews.comNBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-4444
Fax: 212-664-4426 List of Email addresses for all NBC news programs NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw: nightly@nbc.com
NBC News' Today: today@nbc.com
Dateline NBC: dateline@nbc.comMSNBC
One MSNBC Plaza
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Phone: (201) 583-5000
Fax: (201) 583-5453 CNBC
2200 Fletcher Ave.
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
Phone: (201) 585-2622
Fax: (201) 583-5453 List of Email addresses for all MSNBC news programsHardball with Chris Matthews: hardball@msnbc.com
MSNBC Reports with Joe Scarborough: msnbcreports@msnbc.com

PBS
1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-739-5000
Fax: 703-739-8458 The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer: newshour@pbs.org National Radio ProgramsNational Public Radio
635 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001-3753
Phone: 202-513-2000
Fax: 202-513-3329
E-mail: Jeffrey Dvorkin, Ombudsman ombudsman@npr.org All Things Considered: atc@npr.org
Morning Edition: morning@npr.org
Talk Of The Nation: totn@npr.org List of Email addresses for all NPR news programsThe Rush Limbaugh Show
1270 Avenue of the Americas, NY 10020
Phone: 800-282-2882
Fax: 212-563-9166
E-mail: rush@eibnet.com Sean Hannity Show
E-mail: Phil Boyce, Program Director phil.boyce@abc.com National NewspapersThe Los Angeles Times
202 West First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 800-528-4637 or 213-237-5000
Fax: 213-237-4712 Letters to the Editor: letters@latimes.com
Readers' Representative: readers.rep@latimes.com L.A. Times Contact Information by Department
The New York Times
229 W. 43rd St., New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212-556-1234
Fax: 212-556-3690
D.C. Bureau phone: 202-862-0300 Letters to the Editor (for publication): letters@nytimes.com
Write to the news editors: nytnews@nytimes.com New York Times Contact Information by Department
How to Contact New York Times Reporters and Editors USA Today
7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, VA 22108
Phone: 800-872-0001 or 703-854-3400
Fax: 703-854-2165 Letters to the Editor: editor@usatoday.com Give feedback to USA TodayThe Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty St., New York, NY 10281
Phone: 212-416-2000
Fax: 212-416-2658 Letters to the Editor: wsj.ltrs@wsj.com
Comment on News Articles: wsjcontact@dowjones.com
The Washington Post
1150 15th St., NW, Washington, DC 20071
Phone: 202-334-6000
Fax: 202-334-5269 Letters to the Editor: letters@washpost.com
Ombudsman: ombudsman@washpost.com Contact Washington Post Writers and Editors MagazinesNewsweek
251 W 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-445-4000
Fax: 212-445-5068 Letters to the Editor: letters@newsweek.com
Time
Time & Life Bldg., Rockefeller Center, New York, NY 10020
Phone: 212-522-1212
Fax: 212-522-0323 Letters to the Editor letters@time.com
U.S. News & World Report
1050 Thomas Jefferson St., Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 202-955-2000
Fax: 202-955-2049 Letters to the Editor letters@usnews.com News Services / Wires Associated Press
50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020
Phone: 212-621-1500
Fax: 212-621-7523 General Questions and Comments: info@ap.org Partial Contact Information for the Associated Press by Department and Bureau Reuters
Three Times Square
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: 646-223-4000 Reuters Editorial FeedbackUnited Press International
1510 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: 202.898.8000
FAX: 202.898.8057 Comment and Tips: tips@upi.com Some news magazine shows encourage viewers to respond while a show is on air, and then read selected e-mails in real time. These e-mails should be short, clear and punchy – only a few sentences will be used. Communications Plan Quick Tips Developing a communications plan is essential to clarify priorities, target audiences, identify resources and make day-to-day assignments. Your communications plan should be clearly written, easy-to-read, updated regularly, and supported by staff and board members. Laying the Groundwork ·         Create Goals . Make them specific and measurable. If you want to attract new members, say how many. Other goals might be: to change attitudes on your issues or increase support for certain policies. Make sure your communications goals reinforce your group's core vision and values, as expressed in the mission statement. ·         Identify Target Audiences. Whom do you need to reach in order to achieve your goals: Journalists? Elected officials? Identify ways to reach each group. What do they read, watch on TV or listen to on the radio? Get audience data from media outlets, including marketing information for advertisers. Develop a profile for each group, along with media activities aimed at them. ·         Research Media and Public Opinion. Conduct a media analysis of your group and its issues. Which outlets cover your issues? Are the stories positive, negative or neutral? What public opinion polls have been done on relevant topics? Is there a misperception or lack of awareness? An opportunity for action? Determine what areas need attention. ·         Develop a Message. Create a short phrase that you want reporters to use every time they describe your issue and use it each time you talk with them (for example, "International family planning saves women's lives by…"). Develop three or four short "message points" for spokespeople to use when talking to the press. Include basic facts about your issues/group and draw from public opinion data any messages that resonate with your target audiences. Review the message points before media appearances or interviews. No matter what questions are asked, all answers should include the key points. ·         Produce Background Materials. Your group's media "tool box" should include the following: a well-designed logo and stationery; a one-page fact sheet describing your group; a more detailed brochure; short bios of spokespeople; relevant news clippings, studies or reports. Your group should also have a well-designed, easy-to-use Web site. Your materials should be neither too slick, nor too amateurish. Strive for respectability and good taste. ·         Itemize Resources. Determine what resources you'll need to carry out your communications plan, including press lists. Be specific in terms of staff, budget, equipment, consultants and volunteers. Develop a realistic budget that includes staff time, as well as outside services (graphic design, Web management, media training, etc.). Developing a Plan ·         Devise a Strategy for Positive Media Coverage. Develop a calendar of media events to highlight your group's projects, such as the release of a report, timed with ready-made news hooks like International Women's Day. Include info. on which reporters you will target. Cultivate relationships with members of the press, suggesting ideas for feature stories, "expert" responses to breaking news or guests for their shows. Write and submit opinion columns to newspapers and magazines. Be on the look-out for creative opportunities to link your group to cultural events, such as TV shows (an episode might cover your issue) and movies. ·         Attract Editorial Endorsements and Columnist Support. Set up meetings with editorial boards of local papers to encourage them to take a stand on your issues. Send columnists ideas for op-ed pieces. Encourage local newspapers and TV stations to endorse walkathons and other events that bring publicity and funding to your issue. ·         Build Media Skills of Staff and Spokespeople. Provide media training for your spokespeople. Make sure they practice before a video camera, honing their message and image into a persuasive, articulate presentation. Provide media-readiness and message training for staff and board members so that they can be strong advocates for your group. Develop profiles of individuals willing to share their stories with the press – have guidelines to protect their privacy and make sure they have media training beforehand. ·         Develop a Crisis Control Plan. Be prepared for a sudden media backlash or controversy, no matter how moderate your group and issues are. Put in place a crisis coordination team and create a plan to respond quickly to the press. Institute damage control procedures for your constituents. These precautionary steps will let you get control of events before they control you. ·         Include Evaluation Methods. Make sure your communications plan includes mechanisms to evaluate your media activities and goals. Evaluation methods might include: tracking shifts in public opinion or government policies; measuring increases in membership, funding or visibility; or improved institutional capacity.

Below are details on how to place an op-ed or letter to the editor in the top 100+ newspapers in the United States by circulation:
1.
USA Today
Op-Eds: 600-800 words. Fact-based approach. Include background information--qualifications for writing about subject, basic contact information. E-mail the Forum Page Editor at theforum@usatoday.com (No attachments).

Letters: 250 words or less. Include name, address, phone, and submit online at asp.usatoday.com/marketing/feedback/feedback-online.aspx?type=18 or e-mail editor@usatoday.com.
2.
Wall Street Journal
Op-Eds: 600-1200 words, double-spaced. Must be strong argument about issue in news, not response to Journal article. Exclusive use of your article is required and the paper reserves 10 working days to keep it under consideration. Include cover letter, name, address, phone, fax, e-mail. E-mail edit.features@wsj.com or fax 212/416-2255.

Go to opinionjournal.com/guidelines/ for more information.

Letters: 300 word limit, must relate to story or editorial in WSJ--include date, headline and page number of article, city where writer is located. E-mail wsj.ltrs@wsj.com or fax 212/416-2255.
3.
New York Times
Op-Eds: Suggested length is 650 words, but articles of any length will be considered. The Times will respond within one week if the op-ed is to be published. Cannot return unused submissions. Op-eds can be on any topic, but not a response to Times article. Please include name, title, phone number, and address. Op-eds can be e-mailed (in body of e-mail) or faxed. Fax: 212/556-4100, E-mail oped@nytimes.com or The Op-Ed Page, 229 W. 43 rd St., New York, NY 10036.

For further guidelines go to nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/opedsubmit.html or call for recorded instructions: 212/556-1831.

Letters: 150 words or less, exclusive to Times, refer to article within past 7 days, include author’s phone numbers, address e-mail to letters@nytimes.com or Letters to the Editor/ The New York Times, 229 W. 43 rd St., New York, NY 10036. Fax: 212/556-3622.
4.
Washington Post
Op-Eds: Submissions are received via their web form at Link only. Op-eds must be 600-800 words and must be submitted exclusively to The Washington Post. Exclusive op-ed submissions will be reviewed by an editor within six business days. Non-exclusive submissions are not reviewed; with close to a hundred exclusive submissions coming in each day, there simply is not time to consider non-exclusive submissions as well.

Because there are countless factors that might affect whether an op-ed works for their page, they are not able to provide any guidance on op-ed ideas or proposals. The newspaper needs to see full text of the op-ed before determining whether they might be interested in publishing it. Authors' requests for anonymity cannot be honored and the use of pseudonyms is not permitted. If the author has particular expertise in the subject of the op-ed, or if there are multiple authors, please elaborate in the comments field. There are no minimum author credentials required in order for submissions to be considered.

All op-eds should be submitted using the web form as submissions by any other method is not guaranteed to be reviewed. Please type or paste your op-ed into the form as plain text, not HTML. (No brackets, please.)

Authors of declined submissions are notified by e-mail of the decision; however, due to the high volume of submissions, only authors of accepted op-eds can be guaranteed to be contacted. No calls, please. Authors should understand that accepted pieces often are not published right away. The time between acceptance and publication varies depending on the time sensitivity of the piece and available space on the op-ed page.

As long as you send your submission using the form below, the piece will be given every consideration.
5.
Los Angeles Times
Op-Eds: 700 word limit. Exclusive use required. Please give the newspaper 5 days to consider the submission. Manuscripts cannot be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Submit by e-mail at op-ed@latimes.com or fax: Nicholas Goldberg, 213/237-7968. Call 213/237-2121 for complete submission information.

Letters: 250 words or less, must include mailing address, phone number, signature. Letters must be written in plain text without attachments. E-mail letters@latimes.com. Call 800/LATIMES ext. 74511 for more information.6.Christian Science Monitor (Boston, MA)Op-Eds: Prefer less than 750 words; more than 1,200 words risks being disqualified purely out of lack of staff time to edit it. Exclusive use required; if chosen, you will be called to verify, and you will be included in the editing process. If you haven't heard back within 48 hours for articles pegged to news events, or within 2 weeks for articles without a news peg, feel free to submit your piece elsewhere. Submit to Clara Germani online at csmonitor.com/cgi-bin/encryptmail.pl?ID=B2B0B0B4B0B1B0B8B1B1B5B9B5B6, or via fax to 617/450-2317. Prefer completed submissions rather than queries.

For further guidelines, go to csmonitor.com/aboutus/guidelines.html.

Letters: 200 words or less, include your first and last name, city and state, and telephone number. All letters to be published are subject to editing/condensing. Submit online at csmonitor.com/cgi-bin/encryptmail.pl?ID=CFF0C5E4.
7.
Philadelphia Inquirer (PA)
Op-Eds: approx. 700 words, include phone number, mailing address. Submissions by e-mail: oped@phillynews.com, or by mail: Commentary Page Editor, Philadelphia Inquirer, Box 41705, Philadelphia, PA 19101 or fax: 215/854-5884.

Letters: approx. 200 words, same contact information as above. If about specific regional issue, refer to inquirer.philly.com/opinion/edweb_e-mailaddresses.asp for more detailed information. For general letters, submit by e-mail: Inquirer.Letters@phillynews.com, fax: 215/854-4483 or mailing address above (addressed to Letters Editor).
8.
Chicago Tribune (IL)
Op-Eds: Manuscripts may be submitted to the op-ed page by fax: 312/222-2598, or e-mail: ctc-COMMENT@tribune.com.

Letters: include phone numbers, address. Submit by e-mail: ctc-TribLetter@Tribune.com, fax: 312/222-2598, mail to Voice of the People, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60611 or online at chicagotribune.com/news/opinion.
9.
Daily News (New York, NY)
Op-Eds: 550 words or less. Include address and phone numbers. Submit by fax: 212/643-7828, e-mail: nobrien@edit.nydailynews.com, or mail: Daily News, Attn: Robert Laird, 450 W. 33rd St., New York, NY 10001.

Letters: the shorter the letter, the more likely to get published. Include name, address, phone number. Submit by e-mail to voicers@edit.nydailynews.com.
10.
New York Post (New York, NY)
Op-Eds: 500 words or less. The Post prefers op-eds to be faxed or mailed. Mr. Cunningham also encourages individuals to call and discuss their ideas for op-eds with him. The Post very rarely uses info. from PR-type organizations. Be selective in what is sent because he stops considering pieces if he's "received too much junk." E-mail: cunningham@nypost.com; mail: 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036-8790 or fax: 212/930-8542.

Letters: submit online at nypost.com/postopinion/letters/letters_editor.htm or e-mail letters@nypost.com. Include name and basic contact information with all submissions.
11.
Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
Op-Eds: 800 words or less. Prefer writers exclusive to the state. Submit to Eric Ringham, Op-Ed Editor, via e-mail: opinion@startribune.com; fax: 612/673-4359 or mail: Opinion Editor, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 5548.

Letters: 250 words or less, include all contact information and a signature. All letters become the property of the Star Tribune and if chosen, will be published within a month. Send to Editorial Department at same address above.12.Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)Op-Eds: 650-700 words. All items submitted should have a local connection. E-mail: letters@RockyMountainNews.com. Send both plain text and attachment. Include name, basic contact info.

Letters: The shorter, the more likely it will be printed. Include all contact information. Mail: Letters to the Editor, Rocky Mountain News. P.O. Box 719, Denver, CO 80201. Fax: (303) 892-2568. E-mail: letters@RockyMountainNews.com.13.Houston Chronicle (TX)Op-Eds: 600 words or less. The subject matter of the article should be of specific interest to the local area. The writer should have a demonstrated expertise in the subject matter area. Attachments accepted, include full contact and byline information. E-mail: viewpoints@chron.com, fax: 713/362-3575 or regular mail (address below).

Letters: 250 words or less, must have all contact information. Submit by e-mail: viewpoints@chron.com, fax: 713/362-3575 or mail to: Viewpoints, c/o Houston Chronicle, PO Box 4260, Houston, TX 77210.14.Newsday (Long Island, NY)Op-Eds: 700-800 words. Viewpoints occasionally publishes unsolicited opinion essays. Include name, phone numbers, address and e-mail. Submit as open text to oped@newsday.com. Editor will contact you if essay is to be published.

Letters: 250 words or less. Must mention relevant political, financial or other interest in subject, Newsday does not return submitted letters or accept e-mails as attachments. Include all contact information. Submit to letters@newsday.com or by fax 631/843-2986 or 718/793-6422 or send to Letters Editor, Newsday, 235 Pinelawn Rd., Melville, NY 11747.15.Dallas Morning News (TX)Op-Eds: Less than 750 words. Include daytime phone number and mailing address. Submit by e-mail: viewpoints@dallasnews.com.

Letters: Less than 200 words. Include address and phone number. Submit via e-mail to: letterstoeditor@dallasnews.com, online form at dallasnews.com/cgi-bin/lettertoed.cgi, fax: 972/263-0456 or regular mail: Letters from Readers, The Dallas Morning News, Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265.16.Chicago Sun-Times (IL)Op-Eds: 650 word limit. Topic must relate to an issue currently in the news and be exclusive to the Chicago area. Please include full name, address and telephone number. Send plain-text e-mail to shuntley@suntimes.com or fax submissions: 312/321-2120.

Letters: letters@suntimes.com. Include full name, phone number and address.17.San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Op-Eds: 650 words or less. Contact Op-Ed editor John Sullivan. E-mail is the best way to submit: forum@sfchronicle.com or fax: 415/543-7708. Subject line of e-mail should read - "For Open Forum." No attachments.

For further guidelines, go to sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions.

Letters: 200 words or less. Editor prefers e-mail submissions, does not accept attachments: letters@sfchronicle.com or fax: 415/543-7708.18.Arizona Republic (Phoenix) Op-Eds: To submit My Turn Columns under 600 words for the main Opinion page, mail: My Turn, The Arizona Republic, PO Box 2244, Phoenix, AZ 85002; e-mail: my.turns@pni.com; fax: 602/444-8933. For more information, call 602/444-8499.

Letters: 200 word limit, must be signed, include daytime phone number, mailing address, submit online: Link or mail to Letters to the Editor, The Arizona Republic, P.O. Box 2244, Phoenix, AZ 85002. Letters may also be faxed to 602/444-8933 or e-mail: opinions@arizonarepublic.com.19.Boston Globe (MA)Op-Eds: 750 words or less. Marjorie Pritchard is responsible for the content of the op-ed page. She can be contacted by phone, mail or fax. Boston Globe, PO Box 2378, Boston, MA 02107-2378 Phone: 617/929-3041 fax: 617/-929-2098. E-mail: m_Pritchard@globe.com.

Letters: limit 200 words. Include all contact information. E-mail: letter@globe.com or mail to Letters to the Editor, Boston Globe, P.O. Box 55819, Boston, MA 02205-5819 or fax to 617/929-2098. For more information, go to bostonglobe.com/newsroom/Editorial-Opinion/letterstoeditor.stm.20.Miami Herald (FL)Op-Eds: 600 words or less for weekly editions of the paper. Longer pieces may be utilized for the Sunday edition but rarely if unsolicited. Published submissions are to be used exclusively for the Miami Herald. E-mailed submissions are preferred. You will only be notified if the paper will be using your piece. E-mail: HeraldEd@herald.com or oped@herald.com.

Letters: include name, address, phone number, e-mail to HeraldEd@herald.com (no attachments), mail to The Readers’ Forum, The Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132-1693 or fax 305/376-8950.21.Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ)Op-Eds: 800 words or less. Include name, address, phone number. Submit by e-mail: oped@starledger.com or fax 973

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Join Barrage - An Organizing Tool

By Corey Bennett - Mar 20th, 2007 at 2:58 pm EDT

Also listed in: 18 groups

Join Barrage, a group utilizing a great organizing tool! Read on for more info and check out the Barrage page for a quick 5-step how-to Barrage model.
Barrage: An Organizing Tool

Who?
Supporters of Senator Obama with the following skills:
Understanding of online media, both national and local
Appreciation of campaign strategy
Pragmatism and good judgment
Effective writing skills

What and How?
One-hour meetings at which supporters scour national and local online media sources, including:

Mainstream media websites
Blogs
Local media websites
Popular interactive media, (e.g. YouTube, MySpace, etc.)

Barrage has two essential components:

Highlight the positive
Bury the negative

Supporters respond to articles and blog posts by leaving positive, concise and constructive comments, and by writing emails to authors
See the model barrage below for more detail

Join the “Barrage” group on My.BarackObama.com

Get blogging tips and techniques
Host or attend blogging workshops

When and Where?

At least once a week, but more often is better

Supporters can hold a barrage at their homes, coffee shops, libraries, schools…any place with internet access

Why?

Senator Obama already has widespread support on the Internet. Most influential people – those who can change minds and raise funds – get information from online media. The media coverage in recent weeks is just a glimpse of things to come. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure Senator Obama and this campaign are represented positively and accurately across the spectrum of online media.
Many positive stories have been written about Senator Obama. We should always be eager to echo these sentiments. With short, carefully-crafted comments, writers and readers will take wider notice of the strength behind this campaign.
As we have also seen, there are skeptics, cynics, and lunatics who write everything from critical columns to offensive blog comments. We shall not engage those who are hateful or cynical. Barrage is intended to bury them, not with negativity, but with the audacious, hopeful, positive messages Senator Obama espouses.

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Get Barack's Message Out, Push Media for A New Day

By Mike Barako - Precinct #195150091A Captain - CA CD 29 - PasadenaForObama.org - Freethinkers & Friends For Obama - Mar 20th, 2007 at 9:56 am EDT

Also listed in: 132 groups

Upload your video: Link th Word through Speeches: Link

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Reasons for Supporting Senator Obama for President

By Jill 4 Obama - Mar 19th, 2007 at 11:38 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

My reasons for supporting him are because Barack Obama has empathy in his heart.
He understands the Golden Rule as "a call to stand in somebody else's shoes and see through their eyes."
Barack Obama challenges all of us to act upon our empathy, to test our values against fact and experience, and to demand deeds and not just words.
He challenges us as Americans to take responsibility so that we do not take our individual freedoms for granted.

All of us at this website can publish our positive reasons to news sites where others who have opposing views may respond.
Obama Time For You

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Heads up.............a collection of excellent ideas

By Joe Schulte - Mar 19th, 2007 at 10:54 am EDT

Also listed in: 17 groups

Corey Bennett of the Barrage Group has posted some very good ideas on his blog . In particular his emphasis on being positive , not negative , is worthy of your attention .

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Join Barrage - An Organizing Tool

By Corey Bennett - Mar 19th, 2007 at 12:09 am EDT

Also listed in: 17 groups

Join Barrage, a group utilizing a great organizing tool! Read on for more info and check out the Barrage page for a quick 5-step how-to Barrage model.
Barrage: An Organizing Tool

Who?
Supporters of Senator Obama with the following skills:
Understanding of online media, both national and local
Appreciation of campaign strategy
Pragmatism and good judgment
Effective writing skills

What and How?
One-hour meetings at which supporters scour national and local online media sources, including:

Mainstream media websites
Blogs
Local media websites
Popular interactive media, (e.g. YouTube, MySpace, etc.)

Barrage has two essential components:

Highlight the positive
Bury the negative

Supporters respond to articles and blog posts by leaving positive, concise and constructive comments, and by writing emails to authors
See the model barrage below for more detail

Join the “Barrage” group on My.BarackObama.com

Get blogging tips and techniques
Host or attend blogging workshops

When and Where?

At least once a week, but more often is better

Supporters can hold a barrage at their homes, coffee shops, libraries, schools…any place with internet access

Why?

Senator Obama already has widespread support on the Internet. Most influential people – those who can change minds and raise funds – get information from online media. The media coverage in recent weeks is just a glimpse of things to come. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure Senator Obama and this campaign are represented positively and accurately across the spectrum of online media.
Many positive stories have been written about Senator Obama. We should always be eager to echo these sentiments. With short, carefully-crafted comments, writers and readers will take wider notice of the strength behind this campaign.
As we have also seen, there are skeptics, cynics, and lunatics who write everything from critical columns to offensive blog comments. We shall not engage those who are hateful or cynical. Barrage is intended to bury them, not with negativity, but with the audacious, hopeful, positive messages Senator Obama espouses.

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Model Barrage

By Corey Bennett - Mar 16th, 2007 at 2:12 pm EDT

Also listed in: Barrage

Model Barrage

Step One: Enlist six friends, family, or colleagues

Step Two: Find a coffee shop with wireless internet in San Francisco

Step Three: Assign each person to a particular area, such as:

Person 1: Mainstream media (MSNBC, NBC, ABC, Fox, major newspapers, etc.)

Person 2 & 3: Blogs (National – politico, politics1, realpolitics, Kos, etc.; local – calitics,    sfusualsuspects, etc.)
Person 4 & 5: Local media (San Francisco Chronicle, Examiner, SF Bay Guardian, Oakland Tribune, etc.)
Person 6: Popular interactive media (YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, etc.)

Find the most popular video segments and leave comments
Post new segments and send bulletins to your friends

Step Four: Use Google or another effective search method to find articles, columns, op-eds and blogs, etc. that discuss Senator Obama
Where there is an opportunity, leave a short comment

Example: Senator Obama has the courage and vision our nation needs. I am proud to support him for President!
Where there is no opportunity, but the author has written a good article, write a short     email thanking him/her
Example: Dear Mr. Smith, Thank you for your article about Senator Obama. I appreciate your insights about his health care speech in Iowa. I have friends and family who are without health care. This is an important issue and I encourage you to continue to write about it!Where someone has written a hateful article or comment, DO NOT engage it. Bury it! Simply leave a short comment like the one above. People tend to read only the first few comments, if any.
Supporters should feel free to tailor their barrage to salient issues and the media that matter most in their communities! Consult the Barrage group on My.BarackObama.com for updates.
Always remember to be positive, concise and constructive! Both the content and length of each message is very important. Stay on message!

Step Five: End each barrage by scheduling the next one!

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Barrage - An Organizing Tool

By Corey Bennett - Mar 16th, 2007 at 2:04 pm EDT

Also listed in: 16 groups

Barrage: An Organizing Tool

Who?
Supporters of Senator Obama with the following skills:
Understanding of online media, both national and local
Appreciation of campaign strategy
Pragmatism and good judgment
Effective writing skills

What and How?
One-hour meetings at which supporters scour national and local online media sources, including:

Mainstream media websites
Blogs
Local media websites
Popular interactive media, (e.g. YouTube, MySpace, etc.)

Barrage has two essential components:

Highlight the positive
Bury the negative

Supporters respond to articles and blog posts by leaving positive, concise and constructive comments, and by writing emails to authors
See the model barrage below for more detail

Join the “Barrage” group on My.BarackObama.com

Get blogging tips and techniques
Host or attend blogging workshops

When and Where?

At least once a week, but more often is better

Supporters can hold a barrage at their homes, coffee shops, libraries, schools…any place with internet access

Why?

Senator Obama already has widespread support on the Internet. Most influential people – those who can change minds and raise funds – get information from online media. The media coverage in recent weeks is just a glimpse of things to come. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure Senator Obama and this campaign are represented positively and accurately across the spectrum of online media.
Many positive stories have been written about Senator Obama. We should always be eager to echo these sentiments. With short, carefully-crafted comments, writers and readers will take wider notice of the strength behind this campaign.
As we have also seen, there are skeptics, cynics, and lunatics who write everything from critical columns to offensive blog comments. We shall not engage those who are hateful or cynical. Barrage is intended to bury them, not with negativity, but with the audacious, hopeful, positive messages Senator Obama espouses.

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Posts

Content on blogs in My.BarackObama represents the opinions of community members and in no way should be interpreted as endorsed or approved by the campaign.