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2009 witnessed the rise of grass root citizen activism with millions of ordinary citizens turning out to tea parties all over the country. Without a doubt, history is in the making. So how does the newly energized citizen activist document it? Fortunately, we are living in the midst of a tech boom, especially digital recording and communication. Today’s activist has an astounding array of digital choices for documenting and disseminating the tea party message.

Attending conventions and tea party rallies, I find there’s a great knowledge gap between tech super users and newly energized citizen activists. I spend a fair amount of time evaluating digital technology used to document tea party rallies and have put together a ’starter kit’ for the citizen activist seeking to document history happening in their own backyard. This kit cuts through the clutter and tells you exactly what you need to purchase – without having to apply for a federal bailout loan. Let’s start with a list of items you will need; Digital Camera, Digital video recorder, Netbook, Blog, Business Cards, and Local News Media.

Digital cameras can range from a simple point and shoot to high end digital SLR’s. For individuals with little experience with camera equipment, I would suggest a Canon point and shoot camera, specifically the Canon Powershot SD780IS. For more advanced users who may not want to bring the dSLR with an assortment of lenses to a rally or want a point and shoot backup camera, I strongly recommend the Panasonic Lumix LX3. The point is to use a camera that you are most comfortable with, not the one with the most bells and whistles. It will make all the difference in your photographs of the rally.

Digital video recorders have undergone a spectacular evolution over the past few years. HD or 780p High Definition is now routinely offered in even the most basic of video cameras. What that translates into is the quality of the video has gone up and the price has fallen. If you have recently purchased a digital camera within the last year, check the specs as you may also have HD video capability as well. If not, and you are new to recording video, I strongly recommend either the Creative Labs Vado HD or Flip Mino HD. Both are similar in video output HD 780p and have built in software to upload or edit videos. Both are simple to use and compact in size, they pack a big punch in a little package. For more experienced videographers, I’d still recommend the Flip or the Vado. Once you captured the perfect video, where do you upload it. Two places you should have accounts are YouTube and BlipTV. Both are free video hosting and sharing services, however, BlipTV is less draconian with its time limits and music uploads.

A netbook is optional but there are some critical points to consider with a netbook. It is a small, compact mobile assistant that can be taken to rallies and conferences without much effort. You can shoot a tea party in Philly, then head to Reading Terminal to munch on mint brownies as you compose a blog post while uploading videos and photos. With a netbook, you have the ability to file your report practically at the scene. The netbook I use is a Dell Inspiron Mini 10, so should you.

Get a blog, already! A blog can be set up for free in 5 minutes flat. Click on Wordpress.com or 73wire.com to get started. There are far more free blog hosting sites than I’ve mentioned, however, these two are the best of the group. As simple as it is to create a blog, it requires much work as well. It is not so much about the platform, but content that makes a blog shine. Keep the posts honest, fair and well researched.

Once you’ve established an address on the web, you can have business cards printed for free at Vistaprints.

Now that you’ve got the gear and a place of your own on the web; you can start reaching out to local media that may be sympathetic to the teaparty movement. It is painfully clear that national media is not interested in a positive teaparty narrative. A better use of an activist’s time would be in developing relationships with local media. Speak up, reach out and be heard – it is making a difference every day.

It is my hope this guide helps activists in documenting this historic event and sharing the story. This list is by no means complete, but it provides a solid starting point for citizen activists to gain skills and tell the story the national media refuses to do.

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