The Press - Friend or Foe

Kismet

While at bethel as well in a couple of the secular jobs I have held subsequent to leaving 'da big house' I have had opportunity to interact with the press, written and televised.

I have come to appreciate that the press in all it's forms and incarnations can be a very valuable tool but like any power tool if misused or left alone it can run amuck. For example, you wouldn't believe some of the misquotes and half sentences used during the Y2K frenzy!!! (most of the ones pick up by YouKnow are examples of these)

Those involved in reform of the WTBS or those hoping to use the press to publicize your efforts on whatever issue have to realize that the press are fickle lovers much like a one night stand. They are not involved with you for love nor for a long term relationsip... they want one thing and one thing only.... a good story.

Whether it be Dateline, Wall Street Journal or some B Class college rag or some tabloid magazine, it is only about the story. Little care or concern is there about what happens to you 3 months after the story runs.

They pretty much only care about getting the story and creating an audience. That is their job. You cannot always trust the word of anyone..including reporters. Just because you say on Thursday 'don't print this till Monday' doesn't mean they will wait. If it is a good story and will increase readership you can count on reading it Friday.

I am not saying that the press cannot be useful; just warning people to go into it with their eyes wide open. Careful planning and careful choice of words is imperative in using the press effectively.

Note the Society mostly does it by means of Press releases not direct interview. Even follow up pieces are done that way. This makes it easier for the wire services to pick up and distribute and there is less likelihood of a misquote or miss-statement.

I know several on the board are experienced in dealing with the Press, some balanced & some not as much so. Perhaps these people can make themselves known and should you require help in formulating a Press Release or to prepare for an interview you could contact one of them to assist you.

Any volunteers?

Kismet

AS I re-read my post above I realized it was very 'anti-press."

That is not my intent. There are some very caring journalist who choose to do human interest due to their compassion for people.

The point of the above is not to think of the press to much as an ally. They have a job to do to and often that is their priority.

I am not posting to discourage anyone from working with the media in exposing those aspects of the Society hidden in darkness for so long. Just be careful how you use this tool.

I hope that clarifies my position a bit better.

Kismet

Pathofthorns

An interesting post Kismet. Liked the difference between an "interview" and a "press release".

It would be interesting if those who were formerly JW's could form an official organization mainly for the purpose of issueing press releases. While many have differing viewpoints upon leaving, most have similar feelings when it comes to the WT.

An organization that has several thousand and even more than 10,000 members issuing a press release on a matter might carry some weight. Further, it increases the odds that news agencies would present a counter argument to WT press releases.

Path

Jools j

always remeber that while some journalists are caring and only interested in the truth, the editors (and the newspaper's policy) often isn't.
spinning stories to fit their niche-market is what counts to them, because the type of stories they want are demanded by their public. sales, advertising. money. careful as you go . . .

Room 215

So true,
All too often, reporters are rapacious, freely using incendiary and flammatory rhetoric to inflate and sensationalize, and trample on accuracy or objectivity in their furor to rush an item to the pressroom, microphone or camera two steps ahead of the competition.
And when ``scooped'' by the competition, the late-comer sees his/her only recourse to make his/her version of the story ``juicier''
than the winner.

waiting

Hey Kismet,

Thanks for the information - SilentLambs has posted a thread about the misunderstanding (perhaps) with a news reporter at the Ritzville Trial. Came very near to having a mistrial because of confidence misplaced.

Perhaps all those tv shows about newspaper reporters were true?

waiting

Prisca

I think it would be naive to think that the media are as concerned as we are about issues.

True, they may feel that the silentlambs story is a worthy story to publicise, but at the end of the day, the real clincher is how many papers they can sell. The Rupert Murdochs and the Ted Turners of this world did not make their millions selling stories about issues that concern minor religious groups. They have to sell to make their money.

I hope that the media lives up to what we hope, particularly in the case of the Dateline show, but at the same time, we shouldn't let our expectations be more than reasonable.

Kent

I am not saying that the press cannot be useful; just warning people to go into it with their eyes wide open. Careful planning and careful choice of words is imperative in using the press effectively.

This is true. The press is a business, often corrupt as well - in the sense that some who deserves critic won't get it for various reasons, while other stories are blown up for reasons not always that honorable.

But generally, the press wants to do money - and they need headlines to do that. They're not in social security, and it's not their job to play psychiatrians or mental helth workers. They will publish the story if they have good reasons to believe this is interesting for their readers - and local papers might print material the really big papers won't print.

As a principal there is a lot of things to consider - and I have written about the subject before. As a journalist myself, I do know a bit about it. When I say something, someone always jumps me, saying I'm "cynical" or other idiotic things - because this sin't about me - but about the press.

The press works as the press do - period. And they will never print anything just to be nice. They need something to make headlines - and if we can give them a headline story, it's great.

But the individuals who do (headline stories needs a name and a face usually), must consider the "extras". They may be called by morons agreeing or disagreeing, family members may be "hurt" (what a surprise), the Watchtower will spread rumors they are drunks, drug addicts, pimps, whores, what ever.

There is no free lunch, folks.

Yakki Da

Kent

"The only difference between a fool and the JW legal department is that a fool might be sympathetic ."

Daily News On The Watchtower and the Jehovah's Witnesses:
http://watchtower.observer.org

Francois

I was a working member of the press for ten years starting back in the mid-60s, and I would NEVER consent to being interviewed by what passes for a reporter these days. If you think the WTBTS misquotes texts and people, you ain't seen nuthin'.

And there is virtually NO protection or guarantee you can put in place that will assure you that what you mean is say is what comes across after it has gone through writing, rewriting, editorial review, etc. No protection.

And when you've been misquoted, quoted out of context, or any one of a hundred tricks of the trade, what recourse have you? None.

So as you sit before your television, your mouth hanging open in disbelief at what has been attributed to you, even though you see your picture on the screen and see your own mouth moving - going through your mind you realize you've been had and there's nothing you can do about it.

Agree to an interview, even a live one, at your peril.

Francois

The Press - Friend or Foe

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