We have to fight for a fair Media and we need to hit them in their pockets

[GingerSnaps]

For 4 years I have been asking for someone to help me out with this and I don't know how to do it on my own.

I want to organize a fight back the media day by hitting them in their pocket. When we hit the media owners in the pocket we will also be hitting the investors as well.

If we all boycotted cable and didn't pay for their services for several months we could put a dent in their pockets and cause their stocks to fall and then they would be willing to negotiate a fair and balanced media outlet for all. We need to cancel our Newspaper Subscriptions and any other media outlets that would effect opinionated news.

Can someone help organize a day that we could black out all media outlets (except the Internet).

I think that we need a historical day to do this on. It needs to be a day that will symbolize what we are doing and why we need to do it. We need a Democracy and not a Dictatorship.

If we don't have a fair media then we are not in a free country.

Please help organize this it needs to take place soon :hug:

[Dez]

1. I'm not dumping my cable

That wont change the way things are.. they are all too powerful at this point.

[GingerSnaps]

2. You would cut your premium channels out?

Not even for a few months in order to fight for your countries democracy?

Have you ever heard of Netflix?

[Dez]

3. Never heard of that.

We're not going to be getting our democracy back any time soon.

[DireStrike]

4. Not with that attitude.

[Dez]

5. My attitude can't re-create

democracy here. Look what happened in Germany. Once the fascists took over, all was lost. Those who resisted were wiped out. This thing is bigger than any of us here.

[DireStrike]

6. It's not over yet.

What makes you think it is?

[Dez]

8. We can't have fair elections anymore

Do you think the Repubs will vote against the Black Box voting?? Why would they? Do you think the corporations will bow down to us? Why would they? They're running the show now, and have been for a while now.. shrub in office just intensified everything.

[DireStrike]

9. I think we can win the voting fight.

It's just a matter of perseverence. Keep informing people.

[Dez]

10. They're not listening. Half the country wont vote.

It's gonna have to get REALLY bad, before people wake up.

[VTGold]

7. Shame may be the only thing that really works

I've stopped watching TV of all sorts since the "election" - I just can't take the dumbing down.

I watch Olbermann and that's it - more in solidarity than for any news breaking he's doing.

That said - I don't think we can hit them financially - TV is an addiction in this country - we won't get many people to go cold-turkey.

I do believe many television journalists have integrity (although currently quashed) and more importantly a selfish pride in calling themselves journalists.

We'll get more rogues like Keith I'm sure - but we have to stand on thier necks.

Write thoughtful and sincere "shame on you" letters - may sound lightweight but I think it will have an impact - even if we just get one or two that way...

I have another idea which I'll post again somewhere else - we have to start buying newspapers - they are covering this story more than the electronic media. We have to show that their circulation numbers are going up - they'll know why....

[GingerSnaps]

13. Why don't you start a thread that we all could check

Everyday and see which papers are giving equal time to each party If that is possibly. Then we could let them know the reason that we have all started to invest in their papers and encourage them to do more.

[VTGold]

14. I'm a newbie :(

I can't start a thread yet - but I think buying all newspapers is a good way to go - except maybe the really right-wing partisan ones like the Washington Times, etc.

We need to show the electronic media that we are getting our news elsewhere - paying to get it elsewhere.

[PATRICK]

11. Yet

talking of a boycott that would coincidentally hurt the people long before it makes the big guys tighten their belts was also impossible. A single boycott is tough enough with just one target and goal.

But we are not talking boycott. It is the determination to render TV advertising itself, moot, worthless, counter-productive, divisive and multiply free of advertising sources of entertainment and especially information.

THAT war is being waged now by the other side from the other point of view. As they consolidate the pervasive presence of advertising media they wish to destroy the free sources, the critical voice that rocks the consumer attitude toward the showcase products.

I don't see how there is any choice but to NOW strike hard against the profitability or even rationality of media advertising- their very lifeblood and source of power beyond our own subscription fees. They can advertise elsewhere or even go back to the mails.

Now how to do that effectively and broadly? Recognize that ironically many Bush voters already abandon the tube or ruin whole networks for anything but controversial niche markets that also create unwanted enemies. The variety of niches for target audiences are disappointing for big business needs so they thrive on reaching those specific customers- at least. Opposition and competition can render those meager refuges untenable except for small niche businesses themselves.

You can take a pathetic but conscientious personal stand but the better idea is to organize your coalition of the unwilling first. Then make concerted moves with millions of people as in a boycott.

If you think bowing to the garbage is inevitable, it isn't. Unfortunately, ills unconfronted will simply get worse, no good end in sight. Improvement only comes with uniting to fight back. First stage, seek out and egg on the activist groups of your choice to stop observing and start acting in concert.

[GingerSnaps]

15. The College that I attend has BA's in Advertising

I am not against anyone but something has to be done to make the CEO's take notice.

Some people would prefer to sit home and watch 6 feet under and bitch instead of fighting for our rights. We all need to get on the same page and fight for our rights.

It's not going to change any time soon but something has to be done.

Possibly creates a flier of our own and have people pass it out in every city and try to establish a paper of our own might not be a bad idea.

I am half asleep sorry.

BTW I am thinking about changing my major to Advertising so I am not against anyone. I want my country back because I miss it and I know that don't make sense but I don't feel like this is the USA any longer.

[Peggy Day]

12. I'll help

Maybe a massive refusal to view biased news, and continue to watch entertainment. Or, to target certain shows to flex a muscle. Also, boycott advertising companies that use these shows, and send them an email telling them why. Anyway, if someone can come up with a good plan, I'll do it-those news shows have been making me sick to watch lately anyway.

[GingerSnaps]

16. PM me

I have a full day of classes today and I will be back on the Internet around 12:00pm eastern time.

I didn't sleep last night because I have final term papers due today. Please excuse me if i am not sounding right. :hug:

[Deb S]

17. Please email!!!

Joy Cardin with WI Public Radio just had Harry Wasserly (sp) from Freepress on the air. It was great! A few repugs called in with comments like, "How can you keep this up and dividing this country" But others were asking how they could help by call-ins and emails. Please email Joy and let her know you appreciate her ongoing coverage because I think she will get a lot of negative emails. Thanks!

[wiggs]

18. This would be powerful.

Focused, intense, limited duration boycott. I suggest NBC and CNN for two months, worldwide. There are 55 million in the US that can be reached. There are probably more than that around the world that could participate sympathetically. This would be noticed and a strong message would be sent.

Two months would ruin a quarterly statement, and is sustainable. You don't want a boycott that is so long that it fades away or is forgotten.

This is one of the only ways in which the political minority has power and I think it's a great idea that should be pursued. They may not need our votes, but they sure as hell need our money. They need us to be good consumers.

This could work surprisingly well. It didn't take Sinclair long to change its ways. But you need an entity with national exposure to pull it off. Nader, MoveOn, ACT, etc....these are the guys with the money and exposure to implement a worldwide boycott. You need publications and commercials.

I also support a general daily boycott of RW products (Exxon, Walmart, etc) by those who are willing and able to do it. But millions won't really participate in it; it's effects won't even register.

[BeFree]

19. Focused, intense, limited

Focus: Target one of the big three ABC, NBC, or CBS

Intense: Never, ever, tune in to the one target. Tell everyone you meet about not watching the targeted TV corporation. Proclaim victory at every opportunity: "They (the target) lost 2% last week!" Badmouth the target every chance you get. Email the advertisers of the target simply telling them they are wasting their money with that target.

Limited: Three months on one target at a time would constitute a nine month campaign. At the end of nine months we should be able to see, through ratings, just what kind of impact we've had. I would expect that the last of the three targets would show a considerable drop in ratings, even more so than the first, proving the impact not only to ourselves, but too the big money advertisers as well.

Let's do it. It's simple, and it can be easily spread by word of mouth and will have wide acceptance.

"I quit watching ABC because of their biased Liberal propaganda."
You say what? "Liberal propaganda?" Yes. It is propaganda and it is about Liberalism, ipso facto, it is Liberal propaganda.

[Last Lemming]

20. The answer is obvious:

Fox News. Why has no one mentioned this above? It's the obvious choice.

[BeFree]

21. Fox?

Their ratings are too small, we'd be hard pressed to show any decline. The big three, however, have big numbers and are all mainstream, while the Foreign Owned Xenophobes Network is a minor fringe operation.

But, if we want to add them into the rotation, making four all together, that'd be OK.

[Liberty Belle]

23. Disney owns ABC. Boycott Disney--movies, toys, theme parks

Before the holidays. This could really hurt them.

[BeFree]

25. ABC is a good first choice

Being that they are so broadly spread across the consumer's field of vision.

ABC works for me, as the first target.

"I quit watching ABC, they lied to me once too often"

[wiggs]

22. Like it. nt

[PATRICK]

27. Union style tactic but

WHERE is the union of numbers that will make these suggestions actually take place? The first step is getting a coalition response of some magnitude and growth potential to implement the war.

The stratagems are all well and good but some of our Leviathan organizations such as parties and unions are not on board for even the concept of taking on the media debacle.

The first thing is to snowball groups and organizations so when they smash into the target it will matter. instead we have single snowballs of great "ideas" slowly melting motionless in the Internet sun. Start petitioning whomever you know, MoveOn, Fair, MediaMatters, the AFL-CIO who have unfortunate union members working IN the media system! for united action.

[GingerSnaps]

28. Let me know how we can start

I am with you :hug:

[peabody71]

24. We can learn alot from the Yes Men!!!

It's all about perception.
We must infiltrate.
This is our Media and WE ARE THE MEDIA!

[Verve]

26. Does anyone know the "boycott Sinclair" people. Are they D.U?

They did such a great job in such a short amount of time organizing a boycott that I'm sure they would have insight and info on how to get a media boycott organized. Anyone know them?

BTW, good idea Gingersnaps! :)

[rzemanfl]

29. Hitting them in their pocketbooks.

Like most folks I have little money but lots of credit. What if everyone started maxing out their credit cards and buying foreign money? Say I bought $50,000 worth or Euros then sold them the next day and bought dollars (probably cheaper) paid Mastercard with an electronic debit, then bought Yen and did the same? Say 250,000 people who don't like that d***head in the White House stealing two elections in a row did this every day. Is this illegal currency manipulation? Is helping Bush drive the dollar into the toilet possibly a politically effective tactic or just stupid? I have been so p.o.'d since the election I probably am just babbling and the more I think about it the less legal it sounds.

Somehow I don't think stopping cable does much.

[brindis_desala]

30. start with boycotting Mickey D's. 87% to the repugs

WalMart, $467K, 97% to republicans;

K-Mart, $524K, 86% to republicans;

Home Depot, $298K, 89% to republicans;

Target, $226K, 70% to republicans;

Circuit City Stores, $261K, 95% to republicans;

3M Co., $281K, 87% to republicans;

Hallmark Cards, $319K, 92% to republicans;

Amway, $391K, 100% republican;

Kohler Co. (plumbing fixtures), $283K, 100% republicans;

B.F. Goodrich (tires), $215K, 97% to republicans;

Proctor & Gamble, $243K, 79% to republicans;

[sepia_steel]

31. Fuck. I love Target.

But I have been meaning to track whose money goes where. Was thinking about that just today, in fact.

We vote with our dollars, and speak with our dollars. Time to get loud!!!