| Subject: Re: note from NCSE |
| From: Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> |
| Date: 11/30/09, 15:53 |
| To: Robert Luhn <luhn@ncseweb.org> |
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> <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@ncse.com <mailto:luhn@ncse.com>>>
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>
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>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>
--Robert Luhnhttp://www.ncse.com
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
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/evolution.ncse
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/NatCen4ScienceEd
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ncse