NYC General Assembly # Occupy Wall Street

Who writes the OWS Press Releases? Are drafts posted anywhere for input by OWS? I could not find any.

@lislejoon, thank you for responding. I am trying to figure out how things work regarding press releases after taking part in a conversation on the occupywallstreet.org site wherein some who posted asked a lot of questions after the PR WG posted a press release.

Are press release drafts posted for comment, before they are released?

Is there a list of the people in the subgroup who authorize / write the final press release? How does one become a member of the subgroup?

@sumumba said: BUT im starting to think that each WG should probably do their OWN PR for their projects

I don’t have a strong opinion about how it should be done; however, I do believe that allowing any person with a project to represent OWS is not a good idea. Some people are less media saavy than others and most news is written with a bias, so it is very easy for someone who didn’t understand media manipulation, to come accross as an idiot or worse.

Organizations that depend upon public donations for revenue usually are very picky about what their message is and picky about exactly who it is that gets to give that message. My sister used to work for the ASPCA and if she ever talked to the press, even in a positive way, she would have been fired. The ASPCA had automatic alerts set up and they got a notification every time the ASPCA was mentioned in the media or online in any way.

Does this WG look at how OWS is portrayed in the media or is that outside of its realm?

I have to say, the stuff on occupywallst.org is not very good, it reminds me of a supermarket tabloid. Way too sensational and horribly myopic. Anyone that reads it will immediately question it, do a little searching and find out it is a lot of half truths and rhetoric. At that point, you may of lost a person who was on the fence. It is just like the RT videos, carefully edited to not tell the complete and accurate story.

When people see lies, they dismiss everything you say.

I would like to think the good writers of OWS would be writing daily and submitting to the local papers. Befriending reporters to assist in exposure, positive exposure. Like with 702 Vermont, that should of had a well written piece given to the news the morning of the occupation. If OWS does not tell the story, others, who are not even there, will ‘wing it’.

PR is a closed group with tight control of information. only way to get on the email list and to see what’s upcoming (or what PR thinks should/shouldn’t be released to the public) is to get to the meetings, so they *might* validate you as ok for group emails.

to may knowledge they were NEVER a ‘closed’ group..i’ve been to a couple meetings and they wanted me to join…i am in the process of working with other groups tho on outreach and pr..CORPORATE PERSONHOOD AND PEOPLE BEFORE PARTIES …not to mention the raids and violence vs non-violence are campaigns PR ((should)) BE putting out there in my opinion….OUTREACH has started working on both in the meantime

@misfist
No, I know they are an affinity group. It is just too bad they post stories like they do. Mr. & Mrs. J.Q. Public see a site like that and are immediately put off. As far as the average person is concerned, they ARE OWS.
Google OWS, and you’ll see my concern, they are often the #1 hit.
I do not know if you now any of the editors but it behooves them to to be less sensational and more factual.

This same train of thought and concern needs to be put into play for every action and affinity group. For example, I do my best to be a good person. I make a point of only having friends that are good people. When I was a young girl, I knew a girl who was a terrific friend, except she was rude/haughty to strangers. I had to stop being her friend as her behavior made me look as bad by association. If we are associated with negative people or groups, we are (at least we appear to be) just as bad. For example, the Occupy Oakland violence and to a lesser extreme, the occupywallst.org site. Press releases need to be made to ensure the media knows we do not condone this sort of behavior. These releases need to go out as soon as a story occurs. If a release is done two weeks after the fact, it is old news and the world could care less. Look at the Japanese nuclear disaster. No one cares anymore now that William and Kate got married and Kourtney got divorced. I am sure if a release was done ASAP for corroboration of events, it would get media coverage. I bet no one cares about 702 Vermont anymore except a few people. Too little, too late.

Please do not take this as being directed at you. It is meant to be directed at the situation.