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  • From: "Marsha Hanzi" <hanzibra@svn.com.br>
  • To: "permaculture" <permaculture@franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: dealing with your journalist
  • Date: Thu, 25 May 2000 09:04:53 -0300


Another important idea, to me, to get across is that people create their own
solutions, take their lives into their own hands...

Marsha


----- Original Message -----
From: Judith Hanna <jehanna@gn.apc.org>
To: permaculture <permaculture@franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2000 4:06 AM
Subject: Re: dealing with your journalist


> Dear Myk (and others)
>
> >For instance, today I have had a call from a free lance journalist who
wants
> >to do an article on permaculture for a national magazine - should an
attempt
> >be made to describe permaculture in a condensed introductory format i.e.
> >definition of principles, ...etc? Or to demonstrate the application of
> >permaculture design to stimulate interest and then recommend relevant
books
> >and suppliers from where more information and contacts can be found? I am
> >considering the latter in that I feel stimulation of interest is more
> >important than statement of facts. But I'm open to other opinions.
> >
> Dealing with journalists: Start by
>
> -- giving them practical examples, and
> -- more people they can talk to.
> -- Soundbites -- ie, those pithy permaculture maxims -- but avoid long
> complicated jargon.
>
> The soundbites I find best are that:
>
> -- permaculture design principles are about working out how to put
> 'earthcare, peoplecare and fair shares' principles into practice in
> whatever you're doing, and
>
> -- you start where you're at, closest to home, and work outwards -- that's
> what zoning is about, and why 'local' is so important
>
> -- you work with nature, not against it -- working clever, not hard.
>
> -- you look for resources to hand, and put them to good uses. And get as
> many uses out of what's to hand as possible. Waste and pollution are what
> you get if resources aren't being put to use.
>
> Talking to journalists you have a sort of double audience -- you're
talking
> to them as a person -- and at the same time both they and you need to have
> in mind what words will work on page for their readers. Any one
interviewee
> is likely to get boiled down to three paras at most -- unless they decide
> to do a feature on you as a person. (I confess to having been, and still
> occasionally being, a hack myself).
>
> Its useful to have in mind the three main points you want them to take
away
> from talking to you, and relate what you say and show them, to those
points.
>
> Then their story is likely to go on to the next thing -- for instance, the
> other people and examples you've given them. It is always better, of
> course, if they have lots of people who agree with you to talk to and
quote
> -- rather than people who think what you're doing is a waste of time and
> space.
>
> Don't get uptight about talking to them. Relax, be yourself (but unless
you
> want to be dismissed as a hairy hippy make sure hair is brushed and tidy
> [general, not personal Myk]), smile and tell the stories that you know
work
> with classes and friends. I think of it as kinda like being on best
> behaviour for parents and similar elderly relatives one basically gets
> along with but doesn't want to shock.
>
> Hope the interview goes/went well...
> Judith Hanna
> jehanna@gn.apc.org
> 15 Jansons Rd, Tottenham, London N15 4JU
>
>
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