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Citizens Coalition for Responsible Media, a Free Republic Network chapter, came in to existence on January 24, 2001. Since that time, there have been numerous excellent suggestions regarding "what to do?" about media bias. They range from BIG (buy a television station, start our own newspaper) to small, individual acts (write a letter).

Taking CCRM member suggestions of things individuals can do to combat media bias, they form what amounts to an "Activist Handbook", a tool that might be helpful to the wider public who share our concerns about media bias.

Educate yourself and stay current on media bias news:

1. Visit Media Research Center website and read their "How to Identify Liberal Media Bias" and Media Bias Basics.
2. Subscribe to Media Research Center's "Cyber Alerts" to monitor media bias.
3. Subscribe to the email AIM Report.

Complain to the media!

1. Contact the offending media pointing out/complaining about bias;
2. Write "letters to the editor" raising the issue of media bias;
3. Write/FAX letters to commercial sponsors of media, either in support or protest;
4. Write letters of support/appreciation when media provides fair and balanced coverage.
5. Get to know the Editor and News Editors of your local newspaper; call them to point out bias, and write "Letters to the Editor" frequently - persistant pressure from squeaky wheels can bring about changes.
6. When you identify bias and write a letter, post the details on yahoo and other internet message boards, the CCRM and/or FR forum encouraging others to also write letters.
7. Monitor your local radio stations, as well as local television, for bias. Telephone them with your observations of bias in local reporting; and be sure to follow up with a letter or email that reiterates your phone call (according to the "FCC Handbook", stations are required to maintain a "public inspection file", and as part of that file, they must retain all written comments and suggestions - including email - received from the public regarding their operation for at least three years.)
8. When writing to the network television stations, be sure to cc your local affiliate (see FCC regulations, above).
9. Email articles from FreeRepublic.com, CNS and other conservative news sources to your friends and aquaintances, and promote more balanced news sources, whether it be Fox News Channel on TV or CNS.com on the internet.

Recruit others to our cause/educate the public about media bias:

1. Create and distribute business cards promoting FreeRepublic.com/media bias messages (see Business Card Thread on Free Republic.
2. Distribute flyers (putting them in magazines in waiting rooms, libraries, public bulletin boards).
3. Display bumper stickers (order here at FreeRepublic.com, "FR Stuff").
4. Use tag-lines, such as "Avoid Media Spin... FreeRepublic.com", whenever you post anywhere about anything, including email signatures.
5. "Freep the Internet": Interjecting on internet forums, message boards, and FreeRepublic.com that their "pet causes are being LOST almost solely because of the constant action of the STATE MEDIA ORGANS."
6. Join Yahoo e-Groups where you can spread the word on message boards and send out "alerts" on media bias news pertinent to the groups you join.
7. Have a rubber stamp with media bias slogan made, and use it on all outgoing mail to spread the message.
8. If your cable company does not carry the Fox News Channel, write them, call them, fax them, demanding they add it to their "basic cable" lineup!
9. "Freep" C-Span's "Washington Journal" with telephone calls pointing out media bias (weekdays, 7am-8am ET).
10. Take every opportunity possible to phone in to your local radio talk shows spreading the media bias message; and don't forget, many radio stations also have message boards you can post to!
11. Contact other local letters-writers: One CCRM member wrote, "One of my fun specialties is to read the letters-ot-the-editor. When I see a letter from someone who obviously has conservative leanings, I try to find the name and addy in the phone book. I then write a note of congrats to the writer and enclose my FreeRepublic.com card. Happy to say that in the past year, I have picked up two freepers and lurkers in this manner. We are also on each others emailing lists. A year ago we were total strangers! This is an idea for working on the local level - and getting a sense of satisfaction for accomplishing something!"
12. Encourage your friends, acquaintances and co-workers to do all of the above.
13. Encourage "right-minded" young people to seek careers in journalism, especially at schools where leftist drivel isn't a state religion.

Support CCRM efforts:

1. Participate in CCRM projects, such as Operation RatherNOT.
2. Participate in CCRM "Outrage of the Week" (bookmark website, new Outrage will be posted each Monday).
3. Keep the media bias issue on the front burner, so to speak, on FreeRepublic.com and other internet boards. Post relevant media bias articles to the FR forum. Flag "CCRM" to media bias threads; search FR using "to: CCRM" to find and contribute to the discussions on media bias threads.

We also need to REMEMBER, to recall the anger and despair, the helplessness and resolve we felt in November and December 2000. Never again, we vowed. Complacency must not be allowed to eat away at the absolute necessity to succeed.

- Prepared by the CCRM Project Support Team, 08/13/2001