Free The Truth - Connecting with our Media Sources

If you want to contact your local or National News outlets this is the book for you.

Free The Truth - Past Action to take inspiration from

This Action took place in 2020 - Have a read through - it may inspire you!

Friday 4th - Saturday 5th Sept

Whats going on?

This action follows a national flyposting campaign highlighting the failure of the mainstream media to tell the truth about the climate emergency.

If you are reading this, it also means that, overnight, rebels successfully shut down the factory where various billionaire-owned newspapers (including those of Rupert Murdoch) are printed, meaning The Sun, Mail, Telegraph and The Times will not be distributed today. This means that as well as promoting your flyposting campaigns, local groups now have the opportunity to fill the void left by the much of the mainstream press - we can free the truth about the climate and ecological emergencies!

Your local group may already be taking part in a flyposting campaign… Broadcast your flyposting campaigns on social media and in local press. Share photos on social media accounts to broadcast the campaign as widely as possible!

You can also go to your local newsagent and explain to potential newspaper buyers why their newspaper is not on the shelves.

“Extinction Rebellion have disrupted the print factories, exposing the failure of these corporations to accurately report on the climate & ecological emergency, and their consistent manipulation of the truth to suit their own personal and political agendas.”

Details are contained in the original briefing which you can read here.

Let the world know that we have shut down the press to free the truth about the Climate and Ecological Emergency.

FILL THE VOID #1 Take part in a social media campaign:

#FreeTheTruth

#StandTogether

#DontGetDistracted

Today, we shut one of them down!

The Sun and The Times will not be on shelves today. Instead, XR will be telling the truth about the climate and ecological emergencies.

#FreeTheTruth

FILL THE VOID #2 Write to the editors:

Email your letters to the editors of these papers - our aim is to get as many emails in as possible:

Search and find their twitter handles, Facebook and Instagram accounts and send your message, demanding they #tellthetruth #freethetruth and unshackle the chains of their billionaire, scallywag, media-baron owners and be the journalists they need to be to help save the planet.

Extra Contacts for The Press

Complain to the BBC - LINK

Some Examples of letters sent

Rebel Responders Rebel Responders Handbook: https://is.gd/MM5O7m
Telegram group: https://t.me/joinchat/NqR0zRdHfN0nRy6-YL4tdw
Community chat: https://is.gd/Ko9ygB

Example BBC Complaints letters

There has been negligence on the behalf of the BBC to report on the XR protests, they are funded by our taxes and serve us the people.

Note the complaints form has a 2000 word limit.

Example 1:

Dear BBC,

I wish to complain about the lack of serious coverage of the climate crisis we now find ourselves in. I write this complaint with a heavy heart as I have had the utmost respect and admiration for the work of the BBC throughout my life. Regrettably though, in recent years, and most poignantly over the last few days, I feel that this critical issue has not been given sufficient attention by the BBC news.

Climate and ecological breakdown are scientific issues. They are driven by complex and diverse factors, best understood by experts (scientists) who have in many instances devoted their whole careers to understanding and trying to solve these difficult and very real problems. The view of climate scientists must therefore surely be of more relevance in this matter than that of political or social pundits, though they appear to be hugely under-represented in your coverage of climate and ecological news stories.

I understand that the BBC must of course remain impartial, and always provide points of view to both sides of every debate. However we need to bear in mind that climate breakdown is something that will affect every single person on this planet; so there is no denying that this is an issue that must be given a greater priority in its coverage, but a coverage which is based in the facts rather than based on political opinion.

Please do not forget how well regarded the BBC is around the world, and by extension to this, your potential to make change by reaching so many people. It is so important that the media do their part in helping solve this crisis by making people aware of the facts, because after all, we are all in this together.

kind regards,

Example 2:

Dear BBC, I, and others, now feel the BBC has been failing us by not reporting important stories, such as the climate crisis, and not remaining impartial, despite being paid by the people to inform us. Recently you have had a few truth telling reports and shows that have had some impact, such as The Blue Planet effect, but it is too little too late. You cannot correct past mistakes but you can, and for all our sakes must, step up and tell the truth.

I cannot find a single mention to the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill written and backed by prominent scientists, economists, MPs and environmentalists or the peer-reviewed studies stating strong links between climate change and pandemics in our media output; aren’t these newsworthy? Did I and countless others miss it or have we been simply been left in the dark through your editing choices?

Equally I have been confused by the BBCs representation of those trying to bring the climate crisis and CEE bill to the public’s attention. Your reports state the number of arrests, the (albeit minor) disruption, and images making protesters appear to be vandals when using water soluble paints and chalks, and collecting all litter dropped by them or anyone else who passed by. Arrestees having charges dropped since their protests washed off aren’t reported. You have to be impartial, meaning you can state facts like climate science (you wouldn’t give equal time to flat-earthers as Brian Cox!), and why/how people are protesting emulating the non-violent, respectful civil rights movements. You must give information from both sides, not just the more politically convenient one!

The BBC is so highly regarded around the world, and surely needs to stand up and make its voice count in our most critical hour. You have a responsibility to tell the truth and not bend to political opinion or shy away from inconvenient facts. We are all in this together, but you have the power! I am looking forward to hopefully getting more balanced and factual coverage from the BBC.

Sincerely,