distribution

this is a sample press release for people organising showings of the video. it is not a general release about the film.

save the text from this press release, then adapt for your local events. or just print as it is and write in your details

press release
McLibel Trial: local events mark anniversary

On June 19th last year, the McLibel Judge finally delivered his verdict on the longest trial in English history. The case was an unparalleled fiasco for McDonald's, with Channel 4 News calling it "the most disastrous public relations exercise in history". The unrepresented defendants (a single father and a bar worker) lost parts of the verdict, but proved that McDonald's 'exploit children' with their advertising, are 'culpably responsible' for cruelty to animals, are against 'any idea of unionisation' and pay their workers low wages. It was seen as a triumph of idealism over profits. And the story does not end there.

The 'McLibel 2' are back in the High Court on July 2nd for the first hearing in their appeal. They also plan to go to the European Court of Human Rights next year.

Meanwhile, the 'McSpotlight' website (providing alternative information about McDonald's and the trial) has become one of the most successful and popular ever, with accesses still running at over two million a month. A CD-ROM of the complete website (20,000 files) will be released on June 19 to coincide with the anniversary.

[group name] will be holding the following local events:

Screening of suppressed McLibel documentary
Proposed TV broadcasts of the independent documentary 'McLibel: Two Worlds Collide' were blocked by lawyers at the BBC and Channel 4 (both of whom have been sued by McDonald's in the past). Filmed over three years, with courtroom reconstructions directed by Ken Loach, it is the inside story of the trial and we believe the public should be able to see it. More than 50 local groups around the country are holding screenings and there will be a press conference & debate at a cinema in London.
Location............................................
Time:.................... Price:..................

Burial of documentary
Just because this generation is not able to see the film, doesn't mean the next can't! We will be burying a copy of the video in a time capsule near a McDonald's store.
Location................................................
Time............................

Leafletting outside McDonald's
Along with hundreds of others around the world, we will be handing out 'What's Wrong With McDonald's' leaflets outside our local store. McDonald's aim in starting the trial was to stop the distribution of the leaflets. Three million have been handed out so far. Location................................................
Time............................

Local events
[insert contact details of local group.]
McLibel Trial
McLibel Support Campaign. 0171 713 1269. mclibel@globalnet.co.uk
McLibel documentary
One-Off Productions. 0171 247 8881. oops@spanner.org. www.spanner.org/mclibel
McSpotlight website
McSpotlight. info@mcspotlight.org. www.mcspotlight.org

contacts