2009/11/30 Charles Matthews <charles.r.matthews(a)ntlworld.com>om>:
In other words (and I believe this to be entirely
true) if you want to
"get the word out" through the media, you have to play the game their
way. Writing a competent press release is just a way of showing you know
what they want, and they certainly know what you want in terms of
getting into the papers. (WP is immensely fortunate that it has grown by
word-of-mouth, not hype.) But for this kind of thing you go along with
the game: don't be lengthy, and don't be boring, and if they want
corporate identity stuff you rely on them to ask. It's just about
getting them to contact you.
Yep, yep, yep. As I keep saying: these days I don't get upset when
they get something wrong, I'm deliriously happy when they get anything
right.
Message: Wikinews exists, you can write for it.
(subtext: small project, still room to get in on the ground floor.
Citizen journalism. Neutrality and high standards, not polemic. Etc.,
etc.)
[I've never managed to contribute too much to Wikinews - my experience
of journalism is largely the polemical kind. I did get a photo of a
terrorist suspect's house in there, 'cos it was just at the end of my
street ...]
- d.