Writer's Group

Our Mission

The CAA Writer's Group encourages extensive coverage of factory farming through positive praise, letters to the editor, and op-ed writing. In order to keep animal protection issues alive in people's minds, volunteers in the CAA Writer's Group write for local and national publications. This work raises awareness of the cruelties of factory farming and challenges the misrepresentations and ignorance that often appear in the media.

By contributing this added voice to the local media on factory farming issues, we are providing an added perspective to the events that filter into the daily news.

We coordinate our efforts through our LISTSERV and are always happy to help interested individuals create effective letters and opinions to disseminate their ideas. The Group offers a fun way for anyone interested in writing to get involved, meet great people, and help animals!

Be sure to contact us at volunteer@exploreveg.org with your interest or questions about the Group.

To subscribe to our LISTSERV visit: https://lists.exploreveg.org/mailman/listinfo/writers.

What Can I Do?

Volunteers who are interested in writing something on animal issues often run into the question of "What Can I Do?" Here are just some ideas:

• Pitch a story idea to a publication
• Write a letter or op-ed in response to a positive or negative article about animals or vegetarianism/veganism
• Find a theme or holiday to use as a hook for a story (e.g. Mother's Day, National Egg Month, Christmas, etc.)
• Track authors of pro-animal articles
• Make CAA a resource for local media. Call them up and tell them about the group and that if they have questions or need an animal group for a story we can work with them.
• Pitch "exclusive" stories to individual TV stations or papers
• Ask questions about veganism to food and nutrition columns
• Use RSS feed to monitor latest news stories

• Write in veg related question to Pioneer Press food advice column
• Research and update letter submitting info for local papers
• Recruit new writers
• Have a workshop with new volunteers on effective letter writing
• Review local newspapers and ask people in the group to be media watchdogs for local publications

The Writer's Group is here to help anyone with the skills they need to make effective pieces of writing that convey the right message and in accordance with CAA's Core Values. Contact us at volunteer@exploreveg.org if you want to get involved in these projects and to help bring attention to the plight of farmed animals.

Resources

Help with writing:

• This site by PETA gives tips on how to write letters.
• Tips on writing op-eds from DePaul

Facts on factory farming:

• Vegan Outreach - www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan
• CAA - www.exploreveg.org/issues
• Compassion in World Farming (International Focus) - www.ciwf.org/publications
• Fact Sheet - "Factory Farming: Mechanized Madness" (pdf)