for trade unionists and community activists on how to handle the media, has just been published by Pluto Press at £2.50 paperback..
In over two hundred pages it covers in an eminently practical way now. mne press, function; how to contact journalists, write press. releases, conferences, deal with interviews, and - not least → how to complain about and confront the mass media.
The handbook is written by DENIS MacSHANE, National Union of Journalists. Here he argues the need for availability of such information.
It is often difficult to explain to «journalist colleaguęs interested in the working of the trade is endemic press, television and, less so, radio.
The reaction understandable.
If you are a striking lorry driver and you read on the front page of thi Sun that two million people are to be laid off because of your strike and millions of chickens are dying starvation on account of your cruelty when the truth is completely different probably the only chickens to suffer were those slaughtered to fill the bellies of congratulating themselves on another successful campaign against working people + of individual morality obiains inside the newsrooms up and . COUlEY The reaction of many workers in the face of such an experience is to say "To hell with the media', and refuse to have any dealings with journalists.
Such a reaction is understandable but a mistake. Trade unionists may ignore the media; that doesn't mean the media will ignore trade unionists.
From my personal experience of running courses for : representatives on how to use media, most are processes and tricks of the journalisțic trade The picket line shop steward who speaks freely to a friendly reporter may not realise how little control that reporter has over his or her copy when it Is handed in and how much it may be mangled or, thanks to headline, sensationalised by someone who was who hasn't any sense of what the 10,000 radio, and TV organise news releases, deadlines, past president of the the wide . who are discunning "or among workers for the enough. workers . is the media.
and run motivation.
But there on local radio, Street. editors off Ics Dolses contact - you must wönder what kind discuss .down the #latule media relations. trade union the wise to ..the major example.
(his bias not present at the scene or issues are really about.
Employers have long learnt the importance of handling the media professionally. There are an estimated full- or part-time public relations and press officers putting over the employers' point of view Trade unionists need to learn some aspects of the work that PROs do. They need to know how to issue press how organise ICW endeines ow have SCANE of go 'off-the-record', learn how to make a good case in a 90-second television interview, use the growing network of local radio-stations — 57 will be in operation in 1982.
Too often the trade unionist's first contact with a journalist is when s/he is phoned up for a comment in the middle of a dispuțe.
Relying on his or her native instincts 'iș not good S/he should have training or guidance on how to handle Obviously all the media training in the world is not going to counter the bias of a press that is privately owned clear political are many journalists especially in the provincial press and who would like to report fairly on union affairs but are by surty, uncooperative when they try to make The trade untion movement must fundamental reforms in the ownership and control of the media. But at the same time the movement has to move into the 1980s with a more protessional approach 1o *Using the Media' is availabh Other Bookshop, Upper Street, London NI. Add 10 pe cent if ordering by mail *The TUC debate freedom will include firm denu tions of the bias of the bosses' no doubt with last winter's strike Another conl be the present attempts to der engineering strikes by makin of the opponents at British There is a simple way to cr - to call on ever unionist who works in the to ensure that & reply is each and every attack ou Socialist Challenge 6 September 1979 Page 5