Engage the News Media

It’s a question as old as the news itself: What deserves a journalist’s attention? No matter what your answer is, it’s clear that certain matters of consequence are getting the short-shrift today. Among other real news stories, there’s no doubt that the genocide in Darfur is getting the short-shrift today.

We can change this. While you can’t influence every editorial board, it’s not that hard to get a Letter to the Editor published in one of your hometown newspapers. And it’s not that difficult to get published a 300 to 900-word Op-Ed about Darfur. In any case, if we’re passionate about being truth-tellers for the people of Darfur, we’ll be willing to push the media towards an obvious truth: Our public officials aren’t doing enough to stop the genocide in Sudan.

We’ll be constantly updating the space below with new sample Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor. Download these model editorials/templates (they’re in PDF format), print them out, and get writing!

John Prendergast - “Genocide’s Uncertain Legacy”

Published in the 2/26/2008 Washington Post - Posted by AADG on 2/26/2008

The Washington Post - “Stuck on Darfur”

Published in the 12/16/2007 Washington Post - Posted by AADG on 12/17/2007

Nikki Serapio - “What Darfuris Want”

Published in the 11/29/2007 Washington Times - Posted by AADG on 11/29/2007

Philip Honour - “Don’t Forget Darfur”

Published in the 11/28/2007 Guardian (UK) - Posted by AADG on 11/28/2007

John Prendergast and Colin Thomas-Jensen - “Darfur: Recognizing a shared humanity with those suffering under genocide”

Published in the 10/21/2007 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Posted by AADG on 10/21/2007

Frank Donaghue - “For Darfur, Accountability Before Peace’”

Published in the 9/19/2007 Washington Post - Posted by AADG on 9/19/2007

The Philadelphia Inquirer - “The U.N. tries again’”

Published in the 9/10/2007 Philadelphia Inquirer - Posted by AADG on 9/10/2007

SA Express-News - “Once again, Khartoum dashes hopes for Darfur’”

Published in the 9/10/2007 San Antonio Express-News - Posted by AADG on 9/10/2007

Eric Reeves - “Darfur Mortality: Shoddy Journalism at The New York Times”

Published 8/14/07 at Sudanreeves.org and SudanTribune.com - Posted by AADG on 8/15/2007

Nicholas Kristof - “Mr. Bush, Here’s a Plan for Darfur”

Published in the 8/06/2007 New York Times - Posted by AADG on 8/06/2007

SA Express-News - “For Darfur at the U.N., it’s ‘Groundhog Day’”

Published in the 8/03/2007 San Antonio Express-News - Posted by AADG on 8/04/2007

Eric Reeves - “Unresolved: China’s Feigned Support for Darfur”

Published on 8/02/2007 on The New Republic (online) - Posted by AADG on 8/03/2007

Nicholas Kristof - “Spineless on Sudan”

Published in the 7/09/2007 New York Times - Posted by AADG on 7/09/2007

Rep. Tom Lantos - “Fight the Genocide with Sanctions”

Published on 7/02/2007 on VanityFair.com - Posted by AADG on 7/03/2007

SA Express-News - “Stakes too high to allow more genocidal games”

Published in the 6/16/2007 San Antonio Express-News - Posted by AADG on 6/17/2007

Nikki Serapio - “What Do We Do After Four Years of Genocide?”

Published in the 6/01/2007 Stanford Daily - Posted by AADG on 6/05/2007

Harriet McKenzie - Letter to the Editor about China and Darfur

Published in the 5/09/2007 Boulder Daily Camera - Posted by AADG on 5/17/2007

LA Times - “A Share of the Blame for Genocide”

Published in the 5/08/2007 Los Angeles Times - Posted by AADG on 5/16/2007

Hannah Baldwin - Letter to the Editor about University Divestment

Published in the 5/03/2007 The Minnesota Daily - Posted by AADG on 5/14/2007