[OccupyCU] Journalist Interview

[Ricky Baldwin]

Hey folks-

My advice about talking to reporters is to be very cautious.  We should pick someone to talk who gets this.  Say nothing you don't want to see in print or hear on the evening news out of context.  Typically reporters like short quotes, so nuances are easily lost.

I'd say tell them, "Absolutely not!"  This is not the end of the Occupy Movement.  The movement is not ending, it is developing.  The movement is taking on new issues, studying new ways of effecting change, experimenting.  That is not an end.  There are also new people joining the movement all the time, new activities, new issues discussed, and new ideas for addressing those issues.  Here in CU we just had a wonderful weekend 'retreat' (or 'advance' as we used to say, because we do not retreat :-)  That was very well attended and involved activity as well as discussion.  That is certainly NOT a sign of a movement that is dying. 

One of the most important aspects of the movement has been an experiment in democratic forms, allowing the voiceless to have a voice.  So everyone does not always agree, but that only means the movement develops organically, right? No, I think we should not allow this media meme to start making the rounds unchallenged.  The media does not get to say when the movement is ending.  They wanted to ignore it, then make it a circus, now they want to say it's over because they are no longer interested.  It is glamorous enough anymore.  Too bad.  Nope, I would stick to our 'guns' so to speak (sorry):

The movement is not ending.  It's developing.

Ricky 
____________________
From: occupycu-bounces at lists.chambana.net [occupycu-bounces at lists.chambana.net] On Behalf Of Steven Wyatt [steven.r.wyatt at gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 4:31 PM
To: occupyCU at lists.chambana.net
Subject: [OccupyCU] Journalist Interview

Hey guys,

Long time no see.  Anyway, I have a friend who is a graduate in journalism and is writing an article for Smile Politely.  Let me know who she should talk to now-a-days, or where/when the next General Assembly is.  Here is what she sent me:

"So, I am working on an article for Smile Politely in response to the reactions of various cities to their local Occupy movements. I am sure that you have read or seen the news on how cities are now clearing out camp sites, issuing more arrests, and whatnot. Some of the mainstream media is saying that this may be the 'end of the Occupy movement,' or 'the beginning of the end.' I am curious as to how the current Occupy movement is doing, what they have planned, are they seeing a decrease in people and actions of the movement? Who can I speak to on this? Any help you can give would be great."