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Title: Talking to the Media Author: CrimethInc. Date: 12th December 2017 Language: en Topics: media, how to Source: Retrieved on 9th September 2020 from https://crimethinc.com/2017/12/12/talking-to-the-media-avoiding-the-pitfalls-a-guide-for-anarchists
Anarchists have appeared in the corporate media a lot this year, from
the first breathless reports on resistance to the rise of the far right
to recent appearances in the fashion pages. But not all visibility is
good visibility. The Trump regime is looking to popularize an image of
anarchists and other activists as a major threat to public order in
order to legitimize further crackdowns; fascist organizations have
worked hard to capitalize on a media profile of “antifa” as violent and
mysterious in order to draw more people into their ranks. Corporate
media outlets like the Wall Street Journal are notorious for catering to
the reactionary politics of their owners, while even the most
sympathetic media coverage can be useful to law enforcement agencies
seeking information to use against activists.
Anarchists and others have long been critical of the function of the
media itself. Yet it’s not always possible to avoid press coverage; in
the information age, it’s spin or be spun. When we act effectively in
pursuit of social change, media outlets will seek to represent us to the
general public—and unless we can disrupt their narratives, most people
will see us through their eyes.
Corporate media is not a neutral space in which we can present ideas the
way we can in direct conversation with our coworkers and neighbors. It
is a strategic terrain on which the authorities position themselves to
legitimate the use of force. To step in front of the cameras is to enter
a hostile territory controlled by a class that is determined to use our
images against us. If we enable media outlets to depict us as violent,
alien, or extreme—no matter how strong the arguments we make in favor of
our tactics or ideas—the ultimate result will be that the authorities
are emboldened to step up their attacks on us.
When we engage with the media, we must not imagine that they will
promote our ideas; we have to accomplish that on our own through our own
channels. (At best, we can use media appearances to direct people to
those channels, like the organization that insisted on only answering
interviews in front of a banner displaying their website.) Rather, we
are engaging in a subtle war of position in which we seek to prevent the
authorities from alienating others from us and to undermine the
narratives that legitimize their violence. We must always balance the
possible gains to be made in legitimacy and visibility against the risks
of making ourselves a higher profile target.
We should never forget the example of the SHAC campaign, which sought to
shut down an animal testing company. At first, the campaign made great
headway, gaining momentum as the media publicized the effects of their
organizing—yet ultimately, law enforcement was able to use this menacing
image to orchestrate a crackdown that sent many people to prison for
years. We offer the following suggestions in hopes of helping you
navigate your interactions with the media safely.
make public statements on a subject. Consult others who may be affected
by what you say to get their feedback before participating in an
interview.
their audience. Are you the best person to convey this information?
others who might face them in the future. Even the most innocuous
statements can be manipulated to smear and discredit activists,
especially those already facing criminal charges. Everything said in a
press interview can be used:in criminal prosecutionsto indict the person
being interviewed or anyone else implicated in the public statementsto
subpoena the person being interviewed to testify for the prosecution and
against his or her comrades and fellow activists.
stand to accomplish by appearing in this media outlet? How will you
accomplish it? For example, if you are attempting to draw additional
participants to an upcoming demonstration, it may make sense to obtain
coverage in a paper read by people who may join you, but it probably
will not make sense to appear in a paper read chiefly by reactionaries
who wish to see such protests suppressed.
Reporters will often ask leading or hostile questions in order to trap
you into providing the material they need to tell a predetermined story.
If you have limited experience with the media, speak to those who have
more experience.
they hope to accomplish? What are the basic terms of the discourse that
they utilize? How can you disrupt the narratives that they are
propagating?
on the venue in which the story will appear? If you have no basis for
trust, be very cautious.
When you speak with reporters, make agreements in advance about how they
will identify you and what information they will publish. Emphasize that
you do not represent a political constituency and are not acting as a
“leader for the movement.” If you use a pseudonym, be careful to ensure
that no one will be able to work out your legal identity; law
enforcement officers have compelled journalists to reveal the “true
identities” of media spokespersons as a way of endangering and
discrediting them.
This originally appeared in the fourth issue of Rolling Thunder as part
of “Report from the Press Box: MSM Confidential.” If some of it
contradicts the above advice, take it with a grain of salt.
you suspect. He believes you have fallen victim to an intellectual trap
of your own making: an inability to appreciate nuance or identify with
your enemy. As he sees it, his job on this unfortunate assignment is to
present your information without getting suckered into mainlining lefty
propaganda into the information bloodstream. He will ask you many, many
questions (Who is funding this organization? Isn’t it true that you are
all college graduates? Did you ever consider taking your grievances to
the Community Police Board? Can I see your membership lists?); you
should answer them in full, where appropriate. It’s more important to be
upfront if your enterprise is loosely coordinated than to present
yourself as a stable coalition or single entity when that’s not the
case. No one likes to be interrogated, but it’s better for you if he
feels that you’ve held nothing back from him.
like to be reminded that we don’t know everything in the world. (You
might think that the beginning of journalism is a recognition of that
basic fact, but there you have it.) As a result, spewing jargon or
citing obscure texts will make her feel ignorant, exposed, and angry.
She will portray you as aloof elitists playacting at something
important. If she draws an improper conclusion during your conversation,
it’s far better to clarify what you’ve said than to jump down her
throat. If she continues to misrepresent you, call her office after the
story is published, and warn her editor that there’s a fabulist on
staff. (Remember that word—“fabulist,” that is to say, liar. Those three
syllables make editors break out in a cold sweat.)
intelligent. Rare is the reporter who doesn’t exhibit at least basic
intelligence, since his job depends on either inquiry or diligence.
Flattery will get you nowhere, since he doesn’t like to be bullshitted.
But politeness and attentiveness are appreciated in what is very often
an exhausting job for little pay. If you treat him with respect and
openness, he may even reconsider his condescension. Don’t bet on it, but
stranger things have happened.
During your interview, explain in detail what you intend to do, how, and
why. If this involves illegal activity, describe the motivations for
your actions very clearly. Don’t expect all this raw information to make
it into the story. But the more you give her, the more she will have to
fill up her column inches or her word count or her airtime—and all of
that will come from your side. Remember, you are giving her access. The
IMF or the local police precinct will not. That is an advantage to you.
further questions to ask when I sat down in front of my keyboard. The
reporter you’re dealing with will probably want to ask some follow-up
questions. If you’re not around to answer them, he is going to make
inferences and assumptions about what you’re about. If you complain to
his editors, he’ll be able to argue, credibly, that you weren’t
answering your phone or your email, and he had a deadline to meet, so
what else could he do. He will win that argument. Don’t let him.
for Homo Journalisticus. Her inclination is to print only as much of
your story as is necessary for her to get back to the office and put in
for a more interesting assignment. This is as true—if not more so—for
young reporters than older ones: the young reporter is clocking time
until a better job or a better bureau opens up, and your penny-ante
revolutionary antics are the tick of her clock. Following the above
instructions will get your message out inasmuch as that is possible
through this medium. You may, of course, choose to supplement your
efforts in the mainstream press with your own account on a website or
elsewhere, but that’s your domain and not mine.
what desk he’s on (Metro? General assignment? National?), who he works
for, how long he’s been there, and how he finds it. Take notes. He’ll
interpret this as a sign of your diligence as a press liaison, and, at
best, a polite recognition of his importance. In reality, this is a tool
to use for your advantage. If you are dissatisfied with his coverage,
contact his editor and itemize your grievances. Some caveats: do not
rant, and be prepared to be specific about errors of fact or sloppiness.
It is in this area that the editor on the other end of the phone or
e-mail will be prepared to act—either by running corrections, assigning
another reporter to cover you and putting him on a leash, or by actively
punishing your malicious interlocutor. If you try to correct
interpretation, the editor will consider you a crank and stick up for
the reporter.