These could help them expose publicly the most active corporate front-people and organizations in the media. Campaigners could institute an annual competition for the best 'corporate camouflage' of the year. The N5M Counter strategies panel discussion. As an example, an insight into the Monsanto 1998 PR campaign will be presented, from a PR consultant's point of view. The aim should be fitting in with campaigners' experiences, help develop a better understanding on corporate strategies and serve to stimulate ideas on how communication may be used by activists to find effective answers.
Tactical research is a key strategic weapon for activists.
Not only should they investigate acts of violence and expose the desinterest of the law enforcment authorities. The 'green private investigator' speaking at the N5M panel teaches how to research corporations' practices by following the right leads. Let's not forget that most corporations still see the use of new media as a threat to which they don't know how to respond. On line communities are developing, and so is their horizontal communication. Companies tend only to think about vertical communications - pushing out brand messages and treating consumers as if they exist in a vacuum.