The Common Ground Network for Life and Choice Manual

CHAPTER EIGHT:
INTERACTING WITH THE MEDIA
Common ground and civil dialogue between opponents in the abortion conflict is news.
As a consequence, media attention may come uninvited. Or, media coverage may be sought by
your group as a purposeful strategy for educating the public, defusing a tense local situation or
advertising an upcoming event or project. The media is a powerful tool for altering attitudes and
catalyzing social change.
Stories about common ground in the abortion conflict, many of them focusing on a
particular local effort, have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington
Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, St. Louis Post Gazette, Cleveland Plain Dealer, and
many other newspapers. Radio and television coverage has included news and talk shows, and
magazine programs, notably ABC World New Tonight, All Things Considered and the Jim
Lehrer News Hour. Many initiatives have started with someone hearing about common ground
through the media. Many reporters are so tired of the old story on the abortion issue that they
respond quite enthusiastically to this new angle.
Balancing the Interests
In dealing with the media two interests are in opposition. On the one hand, you want to
provide the media with a story that is compelling, interesting and thoughtful. On the other hand
you want to respect the sensitivities felt by many activists about their common ground
involvement, and in some instances, their desire for anonymity. A basic groundrule is to keep
what goes on in common ground confidential unless there is consent by everyone involved to do