[stylist] Blind driver challenge

Thu Feb 3 21:32:53 UTC 2011

Hello Brigit and everyone,

This could be a topic for a future telephone gathering.

Peter Donahue

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 2:55 PM
Subject: [stylist] Blind driver challenge

Donna,

I agree that we need to double our efforts to really push the media to
recognize stories that exhibit the positive influence the Federation
continues to display.

I have written news releases for local efforts here, but the media does
not always consider the story news worthy enough.

I would love to assist you, or any other Federation group or person,
with writing news releases.  As you know, there is a very specific
formula for news releases, and I think when we follow the professional
standards established by the media, they will pay more attention to
material that they recognize.

Anyway, I commend you for your efforts to promote the Federation and get
the word out there.

Bridgit

Message: 9
Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2011 09:11:53 -0500
From: Donna Hill <penatwork at epix.net>
To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Blind driver challenge
Message-ID: <4D4AB7A9.2080801 at epix.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hi Bridgit,
Thanks again. I would encourage people to contact their local media
about this and other stories that concern us. I'll be writing a letter
to the editor of our local papers today, and I think as writers, it
would benefit the NFB, the public and the cause of all blind people, if
we, as NFB members, would set aside some time to attempt to engage the
media.  For instance, the Today Show has ways for viewers to give them
feedback as do other shows, papers and magazines. The stories that have
been run have comment sections on their sites where you can voice your
thanks that a story was covered, explain things that were left out of
the story or -- in the case of media that hasn't covered this or other
NFB stories -- urge them to do so. Often you need to register, and I
have signed up at several sites including NPR, the New York Times and
the Washington Post so I don't have to do that, when something comes up.

I urge anyone who is dissatisfied with the media's coverage of blindness

issues to take advantage of  these opportunities, which are usually
accessible for screen reader users.

I know it gets frustrating, when you write and nothing happens, but PR
is a game of small percentages resulting in big benefits. As media
relations specialist for the NFB of PA, I wrote to 40 journalists in the

Philly area, for instance, telling them that a local retired teacher and

the president of the Philly chapter of the NFB went to Daytona. To my
knowledge, none of them picked up the story. That is a disappointment to

me, but it wasn't the first time and it won't be the last. Someone is
reading those press releases, and maybe it'll take ten press releases or

a hundred for that person to wake up, but that's the way it works, so I
just grit my teeth and do it. I do wish I knew that other people in the
rank and file of the NFB were working on this, though.
Donna

Read Donna's articles on
Suite 101:
www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/donna_hill
Ezine Articles:
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=D._W._Hill
American Chronicle:
www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3885

Connect with Donna on
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/dewhill
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/dwh99
FaceBook:
www.facebook.com/donna.w.hill.

Hear clips from "The Last Straw" at:
cdbaby.com/cd/donnahill
Apple I-Tunes
phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=25924437
4

Check out the "Sound in Sight" CD project
Donna is Head of Media Relations for the nonprofit
Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind:
www.padnfb.org

On 2/2/2011 10:53 PM, Bridgit Pollpeter wrote:
> Lori and others,
>
> I know CNN and MSNBC ran stories on the Blind Driver Challenge too.
> It is nice to see writers like Donna, though, who have the opportunity

> to relay the story from the perspective of a blind person.
>
> I was disappointed that The Today Show did not touch on the story at
> all.  I would say a blind man driving a car at the Daytona Speedway is

> a rather news-worthy story.
>
> I notice that many Federation stories go unnoticed by major news
> syndicates except for those on the east coast that have a working
> relationship with the Federation.  A lot of our stories and
> initiatives are rather big in terms of world events and human interest

> yet we do not always get the proper attention.  Wonder why?
>
> Thankfully, we have people like Donna, and others, who are dedicated
> to "getting the word out."
>
> Bridgit
>
>
>
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