How to Campaign
John Stewart's top tips for beating the system: (copied from BBC
website!)
- Campaign pro-actively: Develop an identity and use it to stay
ahead of the opposition. Always try to keep opponents on the back
foot.
- Use the media: Particularly if your pressure group does not have
the resources to employ teams of public relations people. The media
is your voice and is the way the world will hear your concerns.
- Press releases: Put them out during quiet times, like Bank Holidays
when the media is looking for stories and the establishment is not
easily available to respond.
- Build alliances: Link up with groups that have a similar stance,
to give greater weight to campaigns and to share the cost.
- Be clear: Don't sound like a person from out of space. Express
your views in a way that is easily understood by the general public
and MPs.
- Solutions: Try to come up with ways of resolving the issue. For
example, it is not our job to say where a new airport should be
built, but equally pressure groups do not get anywhere by just saying
"it's a problem". You must at least engage with the other side and
talk about what the solution could be.
- Direct action: The last resort. If every single other avenue has
failed, direct action should be considered. It does have its risks.
You put yourself completely outside the system. Very few MPs will
publicly associate themselves with direct action and you may lose
the support of ordinary members of the public.
NB: This person was campaigning against a increased traffic at Heathrow,
hence airport references.
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