Jason Salzman

I am a writer, activist, and media consultant. I was introduced to activism and the news media at age 8, when my mom and I protested in support of public school teachers. My sign, which was made by my mother and was a lie, read "STUDENTS LOVE TEACHERS." Mom's sign: "PARENTS LOVE TEACHERS." Our photo landed on the front page of the Denver Post.

I received my undergraduate degree from Brown University, where I made my mark by introducing a referendum on the student council ballot requesting that the college infirmary stock "suicide pills" for optional use by students during nuclear war. The measure passed by a 60-40 margin. The University refused to stock the pills, but the largest media outlets in America covered the ballot question. Brown later awarded me an Arnold Fellowship to study the antinuclear movement in the South Pacific.

I'm a former campaign director for Greenpeace and research associate for the Natural Resources Defense Council. I was also the mascot for Taco Bell (prior to the boycott), dressing as a giant taco and enduring attacks by kids pulling my lettuce and cheese.

As a media consultant, I've worked on projects large and small, national and local. Some of my more interesting work was with Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben and Jerry's. Over a ten year period, I worked closely with Ben on projects ranging from the "pants-on-fire mobile" (a touring statue of George Bush with pants flaming) to the launch of TrueMajority.com. I've executed most all PR tasks you can think of, including pitching, ghost writing, strategic message development, opposition research, op-ed placement, event organizing, PR planning, media briefings, and more.

As a writer, I've published articles in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Christian Science Monitor, Chronicle of Philanthropy, Environment, Frontline, The Harvard Journal on Press and Politics, Mushroom, Newsweek (My Turn column), New Zealand Sunday Times, Nonprofit World, Sierra, Shaman's Drum, the Utne Reader, and other publications.

I am a former media critic for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver.

My first book, Making the News: A Guide for Activists and Nonprofits was published in 1998 by Westview Press. It has been translated into Chinese and won the Colorado Book Award in 1999. The book's second edition was published in 2003. My second book, which I wrote with Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben and Jerry's, is titled 50 Ways YOU Can Show George the Door in 2004. This book was a failure. My latest book, with co-author Michael Huttner, is titled, "50 Ways You Can Help Obama Change America."

I am also co-founder of RepentantNaderVoter.com and Rocky Mountain Media Watch.

I'm married and have an 12-year-old son, Dylan, who seldom sleeps, and a nine-year-old daughter, Nell, who never stops. Contact me at jason@effectcommunications.com.