Crowdog
04-06-2002, 02:15 PM
From BlueRibbon Coalition, April 2002. By the way, my second editorial regarding reforming the Endangered Species Act was printed in the Mt. Democrat!
Crowdog
www.crowley-offroad.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Adena Cook
There's an old saying, "A lie travels around the world while truth is putting on its shoes." There's another old saying, "Don't pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel." Put together, these two aphorisms are mighty discouraging to us when we see anti-recreation propaganda campaigns grab headlines day after day in the national media.
Snowmobiling in Yellowstone has been especially targeted. The national press has stepped up its attacks since the Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement has been released. The Associated Press has taken Greater Yellowstone Coalition press releases, revised them slightly and released them to newspapers nationwide without even a nod to our side for balance. For example, when the National Park Service secretly extended the scoping comment period 40 days to accommodate emails from greens opposing snowmobiling, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition quickly counted the extra comments and trumpeted that 82% of the respondents opposed snowmobiling. This news release ran, generally unmodified, nationwide. It's still referenced in some editorials. Our expose of this deception was barely noticed.
Should we turn tail and throw in the towel? What can an ordinary OHVer do? It's at times like these that I remember Grant Gerber's speech about the power of letters to the editor. In case you don't know Grant, he is the founder of the Wilderness Impact Research Foundation, producer of the groundbreaking video, "Big Park," and organizer of conferences that brought together multiple use and recreation groups in the late '80s and early '90s. Most recently, he was a prime organizer of the Jarbidge Shovel Brigade July 4th Rally and the Klamath Basin Convoy. Grant has been on the BlueRibbon Board of Directors for many years.
Grant says that letters to the editor are the most-read section of the newspaper. Their power goes way beyond the headlines that scream from the front page. Newspapers may buy ink by the barrel, but they devote some of that ink to what you have to say-and people read it.
Grant also says that you don't have to use your space to respond specifically to the fabrications in the original article. By the time your letter is printed, people will have forgotten about the details. Why use your precious space to re-state an opposing perspective?
Keep It Simple and Short is the rule when writing your letter. Most newspapers limit letters to the editor to 200 to 250 words, and short letters are more widely read anyway. Start with who you are and why you care. State that you disagree with the article/editorial previously printed (no more details are necessary). Then write a couple of paragraphs in support of your sport. Spend two or three sentences describing a positive personal experience, if applicable. Finish up with a statement of support for your sport.
If you're writing to keep snowmobiles in Yellowstone (we desperately need gobs of Yellowstone support letters sent to editors), there's lots of content ideas at our Yellowstone website (www.saveyellowstonepark.com). You could re-state the short description of Alternative 2, emphasizing your support for good management.
It is very important to end your letter with your full name and complete contact information including phone numbers. Most newspapers will call you to verify that you sent the letter.
Yellowstone isn't the only issue that needs letters to the editor. On February 24th and 25th, the Minneapolis Star Tribune published a two-part "investigative report" that amounted to a vicious hit piece on ATV recreation in state forests. Buried three- quarters the way through the first part were short, but positive and appropriate quotes from All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Minnesota (ATVAM) officers, but all the rest of the articles were overwhelmingly negative.
Every ATVer in Minnesota should be outraged. The Star Tribune should be deluged with letters to the editor (send them to editor@startribune.com). Writers don't even have to refer to the hit piece's content, just describe positive experiences. If any of you need help, ATVAM will be glad to assist. See their website at http://www.atvam.org, or call them at 763-503-1975.
Remember Grant's advice: the public may glance at the headlines, but they will READ the letters to the editor. Your letter will make a difference.
--Adena Cook is Public Lands Director for the BlueRibbon Coalition. For questions or comments on this article, or on other Public Lands issues, she may be contacted at: BlueRibbon Coalition, P.O. Box 1427, Idaho Falls, ID, 83403. Phone: 208-524-3062, Fax:524-2836. Email bradena@sharetrails.org.
http://www.sharetrails.org/mag/apr2002/staff3.htm
Crowdog
www.crowley-offroad.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Adena Cook
There's an old saying, "A lie travels around the world while truth is putting on its shoes." There's another old saying, "Don't pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel." Put together, these two aphorisms are mighty discouraging to us when we see anti-recreation propaganda campaigns grab headlines day after day in the national media.
Snowmobiling in Yellowstone has been especially targeted. The national press has stepped up its attacks since the Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement has been released. The Associated Press has taken Greater Yellowstone Coalition press releases, revised them slightly and released them to newspapers nationwide without even a nod to our side for balance. For example, when the National Park Service secretly extended the scoping comment period 40 days to accommodate emails from greens opposing snowmobiling, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition quickly counted the extra comments and trumpeted that 82% of the respondents opposed snowmobiling. This news release ran, generally unmodified, nationwide. It's still referenced in some editorials. Our expose of this deception was barely noticed.
Should we turn tail and throw in the towel? What can an ordinary OHVer do? It's at times like these that I remember Grant Gerber's speech about the power of letters to the editor. In case you don't know Grant, he is the founder of the Wilderness Impact Research Foundation, producer of the groundbreaking video, "Big Park," and organizer of conferences that brought together multiple use and recreation groups in the late '80s and early '90s. Most recently, he was a prime organizer of the Jarbidge Shovel Brigade July 4th Rally and the Klamath Basin Convoy. Grant has been on the BlueRibbon Board of Directors for many years.
Grant says that letters to the editor are the most-read section of the newspaper. Their power goes way beyond the headlines that scream from the front page. Newspapers may buy ink by the barrel, but they devote some of that ink to what you have to say-and people read it.
Grant also says that you don't have to use your space to respond specifically to the fabrications in the original article. By the time your letter is printed, people will have forgotten about the details. Why use your precious space to re-state an opposing perspective?
Keep It Simple and Short is the rule when writing your letter. Most newspapers limit letters to the editor to 200 to 250 words, and short letters are more widely read anyway. Start with who you are and why you care. State that you disagree with the article/editorial previously printed (no more details are necessary). Then write a couple of paragraphs in support of your sport. Spend two or three sentences describing a positive personal experience, if applicable. Finish up with a statement of support for your sport.
If you're writing to keep snowmobiles in Yellowstone (we desperately need gobs of Yellowstone support letters sent to editors), there's lots of content ideas at our Yellowstone website (www.saveyellowstonepark.com). You could re-state the short description of Alternative 2, emphasizing your support for good management.
It is very important to end your letter with your full name and complete contact information including phone numbers. Most newspapers will call you to verify that you sent the letter.
Yellowstone isn't the only issue that needs letters to the editor. On February 24th and 25th, the Minneapolis Star Tribune published a two-part "investigative report" that amounted to a vicious hit piece on ATV recreation in state forests. Buried three- quarters the way through the first part were short, but positive and appropriate quotes from All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Minnesota (ATVAM) officers, but all the rest of the articles were overwhelmingly negative.
Every ATVer in Minnesota should be outraged. The Star Tribune should be deluged with letters to the editor (send them to editor@startribune.com). Writers don't even have to refer to the hit piece's content, just describe positive experiences. If any of you need help, ATVAM will be glad to assist. See their website at http://www.atvam.org, or call them at 763-503-1975.
Remember Grant's advice: the public may glance at the headlines, but they will READ the letters to the editor. Your letter will make a difference.
--Adena Cook is Public Lands Director for the BlueRibbon Coalition. For questions or comments on this article, or on other Public Lands issues, she may be contacted at: BlueRibbon Coalition, P.O. Box 1427, Idaho Falls, ID, 83403. Phone: 208-524-3062, Fax:524-2836. Email bradena@sharetrails.org.
http://www.sharetrails.org/mag/apr2002/staff3.htm