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Tip
Sheet - Humanist Media
Response
Rule 1: Word Usage:
Always refer to “Humanism,” do not
put an adjective in front of the word “Humanism” such as secular, it
is redundant and unnecessary. Most important, people don’t know
what the word “Secular” means and can sometimes associate it with a cult.
“Humanism” by itself generates very positive impressions in the
listener.
When referring to our religious
adversaries, use the term “Religious Extremists.” Most of your
listening audience is probably religious and if you use generic
terms that may include them, you will turn them off. Most people do
understand what a “religious extremist” is and won’t be offended
when a negative trait is paired with “religious extremist.”
Rule 2: Provide a Framework
It is imperative to provide a
framework for your answer. Start your answer with a “big issue” or
“big idea” to provide your listener with the proper context or frame
for your answer. Then you can work your way down to the specifics
of your answer. By providing a “frame” for your answer, you help
the listener understand your answer better, because you have asked
them consider the same big issue that you are.
Rule 3: There are 3 parts to
your answer. Once you have framed your answer with one of the big
issues, you then want to relate your answer back to the mission and
purpose of Humanism. You will want to choose a specific part of the
mission as it relates to the question being asked. Then you can get
into specific details about the question. The sequence for your
answer is: 1) Big issue/idea, 2) mission/purpose, 3) specific
answer.
Example 1: If a reporter asks a question about displays of the 10
commandments, you could start your answer by talking about Freedom
of Religion or belief, and tie that into how important this idea is
to Humanists. Then finish with a specific statement about how these
government displays of religion (because they by definition a
statements of establishment interfere with the right to believe
differently from the majority. Freedom of Religion or Belief is
something everyone will agree on, so when you start with that big
idea, you already have the listener/viewer on your side. The
mission/purpose statement reinforces the big idea another time,
bringing the listener along with you on your chain of
reasoning. Then, you can make your statement (which has been framed
the way you want it to be).
(Note: Information
on Framing comes from the Aspen Institute)
Don’t worry about being
repetitive. Repeating the big issues and mission over and over
again will help ensure that our views are more accurately
represented in the final article/interview. Repetition is necessary.
Don’t worry about not
answering a question completely. If the reporter wants to follow
up, he can, and you can respond with polite confusion and try again.
Eventually, the reporter will move on. Think of this as a game.
It is always a good idea to
have 2 or 3 main points you want to get across in any given
interview and to practice those points so that you can repeat them
throughout the interview. This is especially important in a TV
interview. TV will only likely include 1 sound bite from you, and
you want that 1 statement to be your main point.
Short and Quick
Definitions of Humanism
Note: it is often best to
start with the short definitions and expand later on the finer
points of Humanism.
-
Humanism is
a philosophy that advocates the use of reason and compassion to
solve human problems.
-
Humanists
believe we can and should make the world a better place for all
of us to live.
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Humanism is
a pro-human philosophy.
-
Humanism is
about being happy and helping others to be happy as well.
-
Humanism is
the philosophy of Human Rights and of Democracy.
-
Humanism is
a non-religious approach to solving our problems in a way that
benefits everyone.
-
“Being a
Humanist means behaving decently without expectation of reward
or punishment after I die” – Kurt Vonnegut
If
Humanism is equated to Atheism
As an
organization made up of individuals dedicated to the concept of
Freedom of religion or belief we would never push our individual
beliefs onto another person.
Humanism
is the philosophy of freedom of belief. Without the advent of
Humanism during the Enlightenment, the very idea of Freedom of
Religion or belief would not have existed.
Humanism
is not the same thing as Atheism. We are a non-sectarian
philosophic organization. Some of our members are atheists, but
certainly not all.
(If the reporter is forcing the “atheism”
issue, keep in mind that not all of our members are atheists, only
a portion. We are truly non-sectarian. We have Buddhists, Jewish,
Agnostic, Unitarian, and yes, many atheist members. This only proves
that we truly do respect freedom of religion or belief as an
individual choice.) |
