Re: note from NCSE
Subject: Re: note from NCSE
From: Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com>
Date: 11/22/09, 09:29
To: Robert Luhn <luhn@ncseweb.org>

Howdy, Robert-

First off, I picked up a copy of that PR/marketing book you recommended; have only had a chance to scan it a bit so far but some of the sections do appear to be very useful, so thanks for the tip.

Second, I've been asked to serve as head writer on a television pilot (and the series if it gets picked up); it's to be an investigative (read: ambush) journalism program with a little humor mixed in and pretty cool all-around format. If we do the series, I'll ensure that we cover intelligent design or something of that nature ASAP, and that we do it in an extraordinarily mean way.

Third, our PAC Enlighten the Vote is about to release its first 30-second promotional spot via YouTube and reddit and whatnot; I wrote the script a while back and finally found someone to actually put it together, and am expecting it back by December 5th. If you have any ideas on how to best promote it and all that, please let me know.

I've been finishing up my book this month so haven't written a single article for HuffPo or anything, but am planning a campaign of terror or at least annoyance directed at Dembski and his cohorts just in time for Christmas.

Also, Michael Shermer is writing for True/Slant now. We've got a nice little skeptic contingent going over there.

Anyway, hope things are going well over there at the NCSE. Here's hoping that both our organizations become unnecessary at some point in the country's future.

Regards,

Barrett Brown
Brooklyn, NY
512-560-2302

On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 3:09 PM, Robert Luhn <luhn@ncseweb.org> wrote:
Coooool. Thanks!

r

Great, I'll probably give you a ring next week. In the meantime, I give the NCSE permission to reprint any of my materials that appear on Huffington Post and True/Slant, as I retain the rights to those works. Here's my latest piece on intelligent design nonsense, by the way:

http://trueslant.com/barrettbrown/2009/09/04/intelligent-design-advocate-mocking-of-scientist-by-other-scientists-a-century-ago-is-evolutions-legacy-of-shame/

Thanks,

Barrett Brown
Brooklyn, NY
512-560-2302

On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 6:35 PM, Robert Luhn <luhn@ncseweb.org <mailto:luhn@ncseweb.org>> wrote:

   Sir: Feel free to contact us when the need arises. As for humorous
   slap downs...ooooh, you're on the list. (I loved Amazon's take as
   your book being "serenely offensive". God knows we could use more
   of that.)

   Ah...and you're a fellow Dir. of Comm. (Before I got this gig last
   year, I was a journalist for mannnny years.) Well, you got Qs
   about promoting stuff? Let's talk. Gimme a ring someday and I'll
   share with ye what I know.

   One resource I'd recommend you check out: "The New Rules of
   Marketing and PR: How to Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting,
   Viral Marketing and Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly" by
   David M. Scott. Some of his ideas are pretty obvious....but some
   aren't. and it's a good all around look at the trad and modern
   tools at one's disposal. I mean, I used to run tech pubs like PC
   World,Computer Currents and CNET...and even I found some gems in
   here. So worth a look.

   Anyways, call when the mood strikes. My number is at the bottom of
   the page....

   r



       Hi, Robert-

       Thanks for getting in touch. I'm very familiar with the NCSE
       and the work it does, and I may take you up on your offer of
       informational assistance in the future. Also, if the NCSE is
       in need of any humorous take-downs of anyone or any other
       written materials with which to promote the organization or
       get a particular point across, I'd be happy to provide them.

       Incidentally, I also serve as director of communications for
       Enlighten the Vote, formerly GAMPAC; I'm barely 27 and not
       entirely well-versed in the particular mechanics of political
       advocacy or anything else other than writing, so if you have
       any general advice on how to go about promoting the PAC (for
       instance, sending out press releases), I'd love to hear them.

       Don't hesitate to let me know if there's anything I can do for
       you and the NCSE.

       Thanks again,

       Barrett Brown
       Brooklyn, NY
       512-560-2302

       On Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 2:42 PM, Robert Luhn <luhn@ncseweb.org
       <mailto:luhn@ncseweb.org> <mailto:luhn@ncseweb.org

       <mailto:luhn@ncseweb.org>>> wrote:

          Dear Mr. Brown:

          Have been enjoying your posts on Huff and Vanity Fair. (And, of
          course, your classic "Flock of Dodos"). Hence this note!

          I work for the National Center for Science Education
       (NCSE), the
          leading organization that promotes and defends the teaching of
          evolution in the public schools. (You might have seen us
       covered
          in the Nova documentary "Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on
          Trial". Then again, you may have talked with Genie Scott, our
          executive director, a dozen times. In which case, this note
       is moot!)

          We've been involved in the issue for 25 years, and we're a
       ready
          resource should you ever need background information, access to
          independent experts (local and national), and more, for any
       future
          jottings you might tackle on evolution, creationism/ID, science
          denial, or related topics. There's a lot to talk about in this
          realm, notably, the spread of "academic freedom" bills
       designed to
          smuggle creationism back into the classroom (such as the
       one that
          passed in Louisiana), and state boards of education
       fiddling with
          science standards (as we've recently seen in Texas).
       Well...don't
          hesitate to contact us!

          Yours,

          Robert Luhn
          Director of Communications
          National Center for Science Education, Inc.
          420 40th Street, Suite 2
          Oakland, CA 94609-2509
          510-601-7203 x314
          fax: 510-601-7204
          800-290-6006
          luhn@ncse.com <mailto:luhn@ncse.com> <mailto:luhn@ncse.com
       <mailto:luhn@ncse.com>>
          www.ncse.com <http://www.ncse.com> <http://www.ncse.com>



          p.s. If you'd like to receive our weekly email newsletter, just
          let me know and I can add you to our list.(Don't
       worry--this isn't
          spam. It's our weekly tracking of the ongoing evolution vs.
          creationist debate, from new state laws to local flare-ups of
          anti-evolution activity.)




   --    Robert Luhn
   Director of Communications
   National Center for Science Education, Inc.
   420 40th Street, Suite 2
   Oakland, CA 94609-2509
   510-601-7203 x314
   fax: 510-601-7204
   800-290-6006
   luhn@ncseweb.org <mailto:luhn@ncseweb.org>
   www.ncseweb.org <http://www.ncseweb.org>


E

--
Robert Luhn
Director of Communications
National Center for Science Education, Inc.
420 40th Street, Suite 2
Oakland, CA 94609-2509
510-601-7203 x314
fax: 510-601-7204
800-290-6006
luhn@ncseweb.org
www.ncseweb.org