birddog_media

Power of 10

Bird-dogging and the news media

Reporters at a candidate event have a job to do. Usually, they are reporting generally on the event – what the candidate says and how people react – or they are preparing a more-detailed story on a specific issue or the campaign.

But regardless of what the reporter’s assignment is …

Bird-dogs at a candidate event have a job to do. Your job is to ask the candidate a focused question on your issue AND get your position into the reporting on the candidate or the event.

There are a variety of ways bird-dogs can get their issue into the news coverage.

Before the event

Prepare a quote for reporters just like you prepared your question. The statement should include the issue(s) you are raising and what position you think the politician should take, and why.

Before the candidate arrives

Identify the reporters in the room. Journalists often – but not always – arrive with the candidate’s entourage. Before the candidate arrives, look for people with notepads. If you see news photographers, ask them if a reporter is covering the event with them.

Don’t assume a reporter will pick you out of the crowd to talk to, but if you introduce yourself in a friendly way, chances are they’ll be interested in why you’re there and what you have to say. Tell them your name and what town you’re from. Chat with them by asking what their assignment is – the answer may give you valuable clues about how to get your issue into their story.

If the reporter is writing generally about the event, use your prepared quote (above) to tell him/her about the issue you hope to explore, the question you hope to ask and what you know, if anything, about the candidate’s position.
If the reporter is writing about an issue other than yours, use your conversation to link the two. For example, if you are bird-dogging on federal budget priorities and the reporter is writing about the candidate’s health care platform, you can tell him or her that the Priorities campaign would help pay for children’s health care by shifting to human needs the $60 billion the Pentagon wastes each year.

Remember that your agenda is probably different from the reporter’s. Stick to what YOU want to say. If you’re asked, “What did you think about what Governor Stuffsuit said yesterday about gas prices?” change the subject by saying “What’s important to me is whether he/she will have the guts to stand up to Congress and the military contractors who are wasting our tax dollars.” Give the reporters your phone numbers and let them know they can call you with any questions.

When the candidate is finished

Reporters often like to interview people who questioned the candidate about what they thought of the answer. Again, if they don’t approach you, seek them out, introduce yourself and tell them what you thought of what the candidate said. This is a great opportunity to push the candidate to take a stronger position – the candidate’s staff will definitely read the coverage of the event to see what “real people” said about him/her. A citizen quoted as saying “I’m still not sure what Gov. Stuffsuit’s priorities will be. He didn’t answer the question” or “I don’t think Gov. Stuffsuit knows much about the issue” will really get their attention. You might even get a phone call from the campaign seeking more information.

After the event

The Letters page is among the most-read sections of any newspaper. If the reporter didn’t include you in the article, you can still make your point through a letter to the editor describing your exchange with the candidate (or the issue you wish he/she would have addressed) and giving your opinion of the candidate’s views. Be concise and as factual as possible and chances are your letter will be published and will be read by more people than was the original article.

If you have given your phone number out to a reporter, answer your phone and return missed calls! Reporters have strange deadlines (when they must have their story finished) – some at midnight, some early the following morning. A missed call from a reporter is a missed opportunity to insert your information, or to clarify misinformation.

Slice the budget pie your way!