Abusing my listmother privileges here by overposting, but we are working on 
this- hopefully we will get some stories out into the media. If anyone knows 
those working in the media or as a communications specialist with an aid 
org- there are resources available to help them report on infant feeding in 
emergencies and report well. I can pass these on.
Karleen Gribble
Australia

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jodine Chase" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 2:11 PM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [LACTNET] USNS Comfort crew members donating milk

> On 28/01/10 6:34 PM, "Karleen Gribble" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>>
>> It is true Rachael, breastmilk need not be in short supply and wouldn't 
>> we
>> all help another mother and her child if such help was needed. And there 
>> is
>> no doubt that many, many Haitian mothers are doing the same and sharing
>> their milk (and their breasts) with infants who need breastmilk. We're 
>> just
>> not getting to hear about them (and rarely we do- Jiang Xiaojuan was an
>> exceptional case).
>
>
> We need to change this. It's critically important for us to find ways to
> tell the stories that matter because it is through these stories that 
> people
> will begin to understand. Sharon Craig Economides talks generally about 
> work
> being done on the ground and we are cheered and relieved to from her. Much
> of the specific news out of the USNS Comfort is produced or facilitated
> directly the US Navy - they have embedded journalists, but they also have
> crew members telling their own stories. In fact some of the news we have 
> had
> about the milk bank set upon that ship is from stories told by the people
> involved directly, in emails sent home and posted by relatives on blogs.
>
> I have a friend who is a retired journalist who has started working with 
> the
> World Food Programme. His first assignment was to Congo, where he signed 
> on
> as a media relations officer. He envisioned his work would be traditional
> media relations and after a career as a reporter working in many hot zones
> around the world he knew what to do. However, it quickly became apparent
> that he was not doing much relating to the media - he was not a 
> facilitator
> helping the media outlets tell their story. He was doing the same thing he
> has always done - he was telling stories. As news organization budgets
> decline and fewer reporters come out to tell their stories, and as the
> internet gives them direct access to the public, aid organizations are
> realizing they can tell their own stories, and they are.
>
> Let's tell our own stories. Find the people who can tell stories, take
> pictures do the interviews and tell the stories that matter.
>
> -- Jodine Chase
>
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