Mon, Aug 22, 2005 5:55pm ET

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What you can do

As a news consumer, you can have a powerful voice in the fight against conservative misinformation. Here are a couple of easy action steps that you can take:

Contact the media. If you see inaccurate information being presented, contact the news outlet responsible and request a correction. Keep your request short and to the point. For example: "Please run a correction/clarification to the October 6 article that incorrectly states the number of Americans who pay taxes." Media Matters provides contact information at the end of many items for your convenience. Read more

Write a letter to the editor. If you read an article in your local newspaper that is inaccurate or misrepresents the truth, write a letter to the editor. Make your letter short and to the point. Start your letter by stating its subject. For example: "An article written by John Doe in the October 6 issue of The Leader presented false and misleading information about taxes." Most newspapers now accept letters to the editor via e-mail, and contact information can be found on your local newspaper's website. Read more

Call in to a radio show. Write down your question and/or comment ahead of time so that if you do go on-air, you aren't caught off guard. When the "screener" asks what your call is about, keep it short and be polite. Always keep your temper under control -- even if the radio host loses it! Read more

Tell your friends and family. Ask them to join you in taking action to prevent conservative misinformation from spreading across American media. Each item on the Media Matters website has an "E-mail This" option that you can use to easily pass on information.

Contact advertisers. If a news outlet has a habit of presenting conservative misinformation, contact companies that financially support or advertise on it and request they withdraw their support. Identify the companies whose advertisements appear most often, or visit the news outlet's website to determine who provides financial support.

Get active locally. If there is a particular news reporter, radio host, or television personality in your community who presents conservative misinformation or fails to balance conservative views with progressive views, start your own campaign to draw attention to any misrepresentation of the truth. Many individual activists use websites to draw attention to those who spread false and misleading conservative information in their local media markets. Be sure to let us know about your endeavors and success.

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