PLEASE SUPPORT OUR LETTER TO THE EDITOR WRITING EFFORTS PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE DrugSense FOCUS Alert #283 2 Jan 2004 As we enter our ninth year at The Media Awareness Project, we thank the thousands of letter writers who have used our website and letter writing resources. We also thank the many people who volunteer their time to identify printed Letters to the Editor on the topic of drug policy reform and who then 'newshawk' the items. Thanks to this latter group, we are more able to accurately archive as many PUB LTEs as possible from newspapers throughout the U.S. and Canada and also from other countries around the world. "PUB" LTEs are what MAP describes as letters which PUB-licize the idea(s) of drug policy reform in one or may ways. This is in contrast to a simple "LTE" which is a letter discussing drug policies but that endorses continuation of the drug war status quo. It is our intent to accurately archive ALL drug policy related Letters to the Editor, so that anyone who visits our site can see clearly how the sentiment of the public is moving strongly in favor of reform ideas. In the past three years, the ratio of PUB LTEs to those LTEs which support the drug war has been over 3 to 1 - a percentage that accurately reflects other polling on this topic, which is that over 70% of Americans view the drug war as an utter boondoggle in urgent need of new and workable ideas. Over the past eight years, MAP has archived over 14,000 PUB LTEs, with over two thirds - about 9,500 - of them being published in just the past three years. Research done by MAP's founders in 1997 suggests that the average printed LTE is worth $1,000 if the same space were to be used for commercial advertising. How better can activists without deep pockets contribute to the reform efforts from their home computer? Our data shows that in the past three years, well over three fourths of the PUB LTEs have come from the pens and keyboards of MAP-aware readers. During 2003 MAP's news archives was visited by an average of over a quarter million people - unique visitors - from about 125 countries - each month. By going to our home page and using the LETTERS link at the bottom of the page, you can easily see the names of our most prolific letter writing friends and supporters. A dropdown menu will permit you to see all of the PUB LTE authors, even those with just one printed letter to their credit. Each and every name in that list has made a significant contribution to making the Media more Aware of smart alternatives to the failed policies of the drug war and to each of these writers we say THANK YOU. We challenge everyone to make the effort of writing more LTEs, especially to those papers in your home state. An election year in the United States will provide increased opportunities for writing those letters. Nor is MAP alone in encouraging the writing of letters to the editor. We can not think of any drug policy reform organization that does not also encourage writing LTEs. Data provided by our most successful letter writers suggests that for at least every eight letters submitted, one or more will be printed! Thus, if you were to take the time needed to submit just two letters per week, you would likely find yourself being published at least once a month. Oh, and even if a letter you send is not printed, the newspaper's editorial page editor is made aware that there is strong public interest in our issues. Everyone likely realizes that submitting just two letters weekly is not a huge time investment. It's 'easy' to do, but so many of us don't take those few minutes due to our otherwise busy and demanding schedules. However, please consider joining us in this effort over the coming 12 months. In case you think getting printed once a month is overly difficult or not possible for you, please read below for a list of people who had at least 12 PUB LTEs in just one year. We think you'll agree that you could join this group in 2004 and help us continue the success of MAP's campaign to educate and make the Media more Aware of how right-minded people worldwide feel about the failed drug war and how we can best reform said policies in the months and years ahead. Thanks for your effort and support. It's not what others do it's what YOU do PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTERS OR TELL US WHAT YOU DID (Letter, email messages, etc.) Please post a copy of your letter or report your action to the sent letter list () if you are subscribed, or by E-mailing a copy directly to if you are not subscribed. Your letter will then be forwarded to the list so others can learn from your efforts and be motivated to follow suit. This is _Very_ Important as it is one very effective way of gauging our impact and effectiveness. Subscribing to the Sent LTE list () will help you to review other sent LTEs and perhaps come up with new ideas or approaches as well as keeping others aware of your important writing efforts. To subscribe to the Sent LTE mailing list see http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm and/or http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm#form LETTER WRITERS WITH AT LEAST 12 PUB LTEs in JUST ONE YEAR Kevin Allan, British Columbia Thomas Angell, Rhode Island Mett Ausley, North Carolina Don Barnard, United Kingdom Dean Becker, Texas Paul Bischke, Minnesota Chuck Beyer, British Columbia Allan Buffry, United Kingdom Chris Buors, Manitoba Scott Burke, Nova Scotia Ray Carlson, California John Chase, Florida Sandy Cote, Ohio Pat Dolan, British Columbia Chris Donald, Nova Scotia Duncan Eddy, New Zealand Lee Eisenstein, Hawaii Matthew Elrod, British Columbia Jerry Epstein, Texas Allan Erickson, Oregon Redford Givens, California Chris Hagglund, Ontario Tom Hawkins, Washington Kim Hanna, Massachusetts Stephen Heath, Florida Steve Helms, Texas M V Hollingsworth, Texas Jay Hunter, Pennsylvania Christopher Joseph, Ohio Christopher Largen, Texas Anthony Lorenzo, Florida Jason Marrs, New York B. McConnell, Australia Tim Meehan, Ontario Dave Michon, Wisconsin Bruce Mirken, Washington, DC Kirk Muse, Arizona Loretta Nall, Alabama Thomas O'Connell, California Wayne Phillips, Ontario Mike Plylar, Colorado Alan Randell, British Columbia Richard Rawlings, Illinois Scott Russ, Louisiana Clifford Schaffer, California Larry Seguin, New York Robert Sharpe, Washington, DC Richard Sinnott, Florida Larry Stevens, Illinois Gary Storck, Wisconsin Gerald Sutliff, California Bruce Symington, Alberta Danny Terwey, California Jim White, Ohio Stan White, Colorado Adam Wiggins, California Walter Wouk, New York Stephen Young, Illinois Plus probably a dozen or two more folks we missed simply because not all newspapers carry their letters to the editor on line, or a specific newspaper among the almost three thousand in MAPs source database didn't get newshawked on the day a letter was printed. In addition, there are 40 other writers who have been printed at least a dozen times, though over multiple years. ADDITIONAL INFO to help you in your letter writing efforts, Please See: Writer's Resources http://www.mapinc.org/resource/ Stephen Heath of DPF Florida has kindly offered to review draft letters, if you would like his advice. Please send your drafts to him at this address, if you wish: TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: Please utilize the following URLs http://www.drugsense.org/hurry.htm http://www.drugsense.org/unsub.htm Prepared by: Stephen Heath, Drug Policy Forum of Florida http://www.dpffl.org = Please help us help reform. Send drug-related news to

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