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A lesser aim of the non-payment campaign in Oxford was to attract media attention with a view to raising national awareness of the negative implications of this government's educational legislation. Oxford University holds huge interest for the Press, which means that students here have a great responsibility to push the anti-fees movement, making it a concern for all.  When dealing with journalists, there are two important points to be borne in mind. Firstly, media interest in any subject will be of limited duration, so take full advantage of the times when the fight against fees is a focus. Also, journalists look for discord and will twist a statement against its original meaning and context for a greater impact. Any Press Release is seen as representative of not only those directly concerned, but all students fighting fees, so conflict in statements must be avoided. Getting Press attention involves a lot of pitching to strangers, and can take a lot of time. Once interest has been shown, it also involves a lot of effort. Be prepared for reporters camped outside College, be prepared for a lot of phone calls asking for quotes. The most important thing to do is exploit the attention once you've got it. Dealing with the Press is generally frustrating and complicated, but ultimately it has to be done for the campaign to have full impact. There are no set rules to follow, and SAFE will be in a position to coordinate press statements etc. |
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