Press Information and Media Library
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How to Write Letters to the Editor
SEARCH for newspaper contacts across the country.
Abuse thrives in secrecy. Media coverage helps end that secrecy. It also emboldens other victims and concerned family members to come forward. Therefore, one easy step survivors can take to help one another is to write letters to the editor (for publication) of newspapers. Here are some tips.
Be brief, be quick and leave your phone numbers. These are the three most important things to remember when writing letters to the editor.
Be brief, because there's a lot of competition for a small amount of space.
Be quick in writing because the best letter in the world won't get run if the newspaper gets it 3 or 4 weeks after the original article it refers to was printed.
Leave your number. Many papers won't print letters unless they can call the author to verify that he or she wrote it. So sign the letter, and leave both your day and evening phone number.
Other tips:
1) Use statistics sparingly. They can get confusing and overwhelming very quickly.
2) Mention an article already printed by the paper. This dramatically increases the chances that your letter will be run.
3) Remember your audience. In most cases you're trying to sway the public, not your adversary. Therefore, you should take pains to seem moderate and fair. This doesn't mean you should be bland. But you should write with the average person in mind, and use phrases and arguments that resonate with them. You don't want John Q. Public to be turned off your rhetoric and think, "Well, both sides are extremists" (as often happens with the abortion issue for example).
4) A catchy first line is helpful. Instead of "I'm writing to respond to the Star Tribune editorial of August 3rd," try "As a gun owner, the August 3rd editorial left me wondering if Star Tribune editorial writers live in the real world."
5) Don't mention criticism that has been leveled against you or your client. Avoid saying "I am not a crook, thief and a liar as reported in last week's Star Tribune." Better to say "Star Tribune readers wonder who's telling the truth in the controversy over___."
6) Use short punchy sentences. This makes it easier for the reader to follow your thinking and easier for the editor to cut your letter if necessary (and better to have an edited version of your letter printed than none at all).
7) Many papers accept letters by fax and email as well as U.S. mail these days. It never hurts to sent your letter via both fax and email. Feel free to follow up with a phone call to make sure the appropriate person got your letter.
Here are e-mail addresses for several key newspapers across the country:
USA Today
use the form on their web site, USATODAY.com
LA Times
letters@latimes.com
Boston Globe
letter@Globe.com
NYTimes
letters@nytimes.com
Washington Post
letters@washpost.com
Wall Street Journal
editor@edit.wsj.com
Chicago Tribune
TribLetter@Tribune.com
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Multimedia Library
You Tube Videos of Various Silentlambs Media Coverage
ABUSE AWARENESS VIDEO FOR PRESS AND PUBLIC
NASHVILLE TN
NASHVILLE TN 2
BROOKLYN NEW YORK
ST LOUIS MO
DALLAS TX
EVANSVILLE IN
LAS VEGAS NV
ALBUQUERQUE NM
SANTA ANNA CA
SAN DIEGO CA
BELLOWS FALLS VERMONT
CNN REPORT CONNIE CHUNG
ST PAUL MN
UNITED KINGDOM
DATELINE USA
NIGHTLINE USA
SUNDAY AUSTRALIA
SILENTLAMBS AUSTRALIA
ROYAL COMMISSION AUSTRALIA
SWEDEN
POLAND
FINLAND
GERMANY
HISTORY SILENTLAMBS
Switzerland Program "Present Time" Exposes Abuse Within JWs
Watch Silentlambs Media Coverage of Press Conference in Nashville!
Listen to interview with JW PR spokesman JR Brown about the Bethel Elder that was arrested for trying to molest children. There are two parts that discuss the case as well as JW doctrine.
Canada Silentlambs speak to media! Watch video[click here]
Read transcript [click here]
VH1 Program-Michael Jackson's Secret Childhood
Michael Jackson's life is on the line in front a California judge. But no matter the outcome of his trial on child molestation charges, the gap between how the world views Michael and how he sees himself has never been wider. In this special, VH1 News explains how the beloved child entertainer became such a bizarre public figure.
The answers lie in Michael Jackson's Secret Childhood. VH1 News has examined the singer's upbringing and found a life filled with abuse, hard labor, relentless ambition, and conflict between his religious upbringing and growing fame. Beginning with Jackson's birth in 1958 to the record-breaking success of his Thriller album in 1984, the special delves deep into Jackson's past, such as the mental and physical abuse he endured from his father, Joe Jackson (e.g., incessant rehearsals, whippings, calling Michael "big nose"); Joe exorcised his frustrations over his own failed musical career by exploiting his musically gifted children - especially Michael - by forcing them to perform in seedy bars and strip joints from Indiana to Ohio. At the same time, the proselytizing of his mother Katherine - a devout Jehovah's Witness - confused Michael about singing, sex and family secrets.
This show opens the doors to the Jackson family homes in Gary , Indiana and Encino , CA , to uncover bizarre, never-before-seen home movies of Michael dancing with Emmanuel Lewis and cavorting with Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. In exclusive interviews, viewers are introduced to Michael's first "little friend" the child actor Rodney Allen Rippey. Other interviews include former CBS Records music mogul Walter Yetnikoff, the man responsible for Michael pursuing a solo music career, but knew him since his childhood years as a member of the Jackson 5, Tatiana Thumbtzen, Michael's co-star from "The Way you Make Me Feel" video who tells her tale of unrequited love for the shy pop star, and Teresa J. Gonsalves, a childhood pen pal who got to see a side of Michael that very few were privileged to see. These people, along with celebrity family therapists, biographers and religion experts, all offer their theories about the man whose public antics have become a national obsession.
Read Transcript here
Silentlambs Summit Press Coverage [Click Here] (2-04)
2003 District Convention Talk on abuse issue, "Beware the Voice of Strangers"
Listen 1 Another version given in Hawaii Listen 2
New Video of silentlambs march in Brooklyn New York on September 27. 2002. We also now have a complete video of the "March" one hour in length email silentlambs for information on how to purchase.
Video/Transcripts
CBS EVENING NEWS ! See Transcript and CBS WebVideo Video
William H. Bowen along with three JW abuse survivors interviewed on the CBS EVENING NEWS with Jane Clayson. (04/28//03)
NBC Dateline-Witness to the Prosecution-Read Transcript view Video- A Video- B
DATELINE Correspondent John Larson spoke with victims, their families, and former church officials. JR Brown states. "We have a very aggressive policy on child abuse." A young sister is given death threats from her local congregation after reporting a confessed child molester. William H. Bowen uses term "Pedophile Paradise" for the first time to media.
(05/28/2002 )
CNN/Connie Chung-Read Transcript view Video
See an interview with sexual abuse survivors Heidi Meyer, Amber Long and former elder William H. Bowen by Connie Chung. Bowen calls Watchtower PR statement a bald faced lie. (08/14/2002)
BBC/Panorama-Suffer The Little Children-Read Transcript view Video-A Video-B
Panorama tells the harrowing story of a young woman who was molested after her father was publicly reproved for molesting her sister three years earlier. Governing Body member Ted Jaracz, quotes scripture as he tells the BBC to go to hell when asked about evidence of a database of members suspected of child abuse - many of whom have never been reported to the police. (07/14/2002 )
BBC Panorama Live Forums [Monday, 15 July, 2002]
Jehovah's Witnesses: child abuse policy (REAL Media Format)
Article on BBC Panorama Website
Australia/Sunday Program-Silent Witnesses-Read Transcript view Video-A Video-B
The District Convention speaker for Jehovah's Witnesses accuses the media of demonism. A brother molests forty little boys as elders and the Branch Overseer demonstrates effective use of theocratic warfare. (09/22/2002 )
UPDATE- New program with new abuse interviews - Read Transcript view Video (05/30/05)
German Program/WDR-The End of Silence-Read Transcript view Video
(German language) Watchtower Branch in Selters was interviewed extensively for this program when it was discovered that conclusive evidence was being presented they withdrew their interview. A seventeen year old Jehovah's Witness is stopped from suicide after she finds silentlambs. (02/16/2003 )
Denmark Program/DTV2-Silent Children-Read Transcript
A young Jehovah's Witness girl was raped at the age of twelve, when she became pregnant and gave birth her father murdered the baby. He remains a JW in good standing. (11/24/2002 )
Canada Program/CBC-Spiritual Shepherds-Read Transcript view Video
A young man was raped by his Ministerial Servant bible study conductor who now continues in the door to door work. A policewoman says the elders were negligent and home office lawyers tell her it is none of her business regarding reporting when a child is molested. (01/26/2003 )
German Program-Protecting the Perpetrator Comes First-Read Transcript
One of the first programs after Dateline, the German Branch Overseer stated to the program that "I don't know of any cases of child molestation here in Germany ." This was before he knew of the Jehovah's Witness abuse survivors interviewed on the program. (06/16/02 )
Slovenia Program-POPTV-Read Transcript
Interview with abuse survivors and a Watchtower spokesman that states there is no place written where it says not to report to police after the reporter read it to him from the Elder Manuel he had no comment. (10/12/02 )
Sweden/STV/Assignment-Investigate-"Do Jehovah's Witnesses Protect Pedophiles?"
Watchtower takes out thousands of dollars on newspaper ads to discredit a brother who spoke out on abuse and use the testimony of the pedophile to provide their information, review the letter sent to the victims mother HERE.
Another update! [click here] (05/12/03)
(04/08/03 ) CLICK HERE for latest info also review guestbook for comments about program.
JW-Media-We Admit No Wrong-Read Transcript
The Jehovah Witness website features interviews with key people in which they state, "The policy that Jehovah's Witnesses have on how to handle cases of child molestation is without equal in the religious community ." The original comments are found in the posted transcript, the video has since been changed to stay what it does now.
2002 Interview with JR Brown on abuse issue audio Listen
Radio Interview JR Brown Listen
God Show JR Brown Listen 1 Listen 2 Listen 3 Listen 4 Transcript
Elders School 2002 audio "Proper Handling of Judicial Matters"
NEWS STORIES ACROSS THE USA
Silentlambs March in Brooklyn, NY (09/02)
Pictures
Pictures from Dateline program
Audio
Erica Garza court Testimony [2001] [Real Audio Format]
Erica Testimony in Real player one format
Dateline NBCAudio Clip
Transcript (HTML)
William H. Bowen Television InterviewEvansville WFIE TV recording.html
Video footage of silentlambs March (dinner afterwards)
Silentlambs March in Brooklyn, NY
March to Bethel
Arrival and Introductions
Courage Awards
Non-JW advocates Speak Out
Survivors Speak Out (A)
Survivors Speak Out (B) (Ted Jaracz accused of molestation)
Conclusion
Channel 11 Newscast
Radio Interviews
Radio Interview: Mark Fuhrman-William H. Bowen (01/03) Read Transcript