Sir: Nice of you to write. And I think we're experiencing a bit of synchronicity. For starters, I just finished a campaign we mounted in opposition to Ray Comfort, the infamous creationist (and pal of Kirk Cameron) who is famous for his banana video. (If you haven't seen this, hie thee to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z-OLG0KyR4). My response? I wrote a little faux PSA and assembled a crew and shot the thing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXwZM81XDUA). Fun stuff this.

Haven't been tapped as a head writer, but am trolling in some of the same realms as you. Have a "30 Rock" script that NBC has apparently agreed to look at, and another one in the hands of Comedy Central. The kicker, of course, is finding an agent who handles this kind of stuff--namely, TV comedy. Any recommendations?

But back to your note. Yep, if you dig into ID, let us know. We have, um, ideas on this!

Promoting same? I guess pretty much what I did with our faux PSA. I flogged it on Facebook and Myspace, twittered about it, sent emails to every journalist and blogger that I thought was appropos, used a press release distribution service (like Newswise), and tried to find like minded organizations (like, say, Americans United) to flog the thing as well. Finding allies is key!

I'm with  you on the unnecessary part. I was at a biosci teachers conference last week, and I told alot of people that I'll be glad when the NCSE doesn't have to exist anymore!

r

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 <mailto: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> <mailto: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>>
        <mailto: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>>
        <mailto: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> <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>
        <mailto:luhn@ncseweb.org <mailto:luhn@ncseweb.org>>
           www.ncseweb.org <http://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 <mailto:luhn@ncseweb.org>
    www.ncseweb.org <http://www.ncseweb.org>