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Some advice about contacting reporters



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Be it about Karl Rove, or any other topic, simply posting the email addresses of hundreds of reporters (as has been happening in the comments, of late) is well-intended, but not that effective.

As a journalist myself, and someone on the receiving end of lots of emails, AND someone who has spoken to a lot of top reporters via email (and about email), here are some suggestions if you really want to contact reporters about Karl Rove or any other topic.

1. Don't email them all at once with one big blast email. Totally worthless, makes you sound crazy. I hit the delete button right away. They do too.

2. Rather, pick a reporter and write to that reporter. Write a personal note. Explain your concern about the coverage of the issue. Even better, if you follow that reporter's work and if there's something that's been lacking in THEIR coverage, THAT'S what gets their attention. If their paper hasn't covered X issue, then write that fact specifically, ask why, and explain why YOU think it's an issue worthy of coverage for THEIR papaer. Talk to them logically, and nicely, and with details, and they might just respond. They have for me on numerous occasions.

3. If you can't say it in one or two quick paragraphs, don't say it. Long emails from strangers come off crazy, and those of us who receive hundreds of emails a day don't have time to read more than 2 quick, and I mean quick, paragraphs from a stranger. It's irrelevant if you don't like that fact, no one reads long emails from strangers (do you?).

4. Realize that, other than some of the FOX News crowd, most reporters are people who probably aren't out to screw us. They have their honest legitimate take on a story. We may disagree, and we may be right. But they're generally smart people who respect logic, so use that logic in proving to them why you're right. Again, you might just get the story changed.

5. Don't be a dick. Nothing says "crazy" to me more than some stranger writing some nasty email to me when we've never conversed before, and when that person had the perfect chance to write me something nice, but critical.


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