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After all these years, I still hate Media Burn......
Earlier this week, a third-rate news station in town (in my not-so-humble opinion) did a half-assed job in reporting about the local pagan community. I didn't see either of the two-part story, but a lot of my colleagues did. The owner of a local pagan bookshop was interviewed, and her words were apparently (or allgedly) twisted in the editing room. The shop's owner is now pursuing legal action.
If the reporter was truly interested in enlightening his viewers, and not perpetuating the stereotype that witches are evil and worship Satan, then he would have taken the time to do the story right. Several people who wrote to the station, and to the reporter. The reporter's response: "Are Satanists Pagan?"
I should mention that the station is owned by Sinclair Broadcasting, one known for espousing neo-conservative views.
Of course, pagans aren't the only ones who get short shrift in the press. If they were to cover a science-fiction convention, they'd focus on the pointed-ear-wearing, Vulcan saluting "Trekkies". Or for a college fraternity, they'll portray them as drunken frat boys a la "Animal House".
Old stereotypes die hard, and the only way to change them is Educate. Educate. Educate. But if the media's not interested in changing their views, then it seems to be a moot point.
If the reporter was truly interested in enlightening his viewers, and not perpetuating the stereotype that witches are evil and worship Satan, then he would have taken the time to do the story right. Several people who wrote to the station, and to the reporter. The reporter's response: "Are Satanists Pagan?"
I should mention that the station is owned by Sinclair Broadcasting, one known for espousing neo-conservative views.
Of course, pagans aren't the only ones who get short shrift in the press. If they were to cover a science-fiction convention, they'd focus on the pointed-ear-wearing, Vulcan saluting "Trekkies". Or for a college fraternity, they'll portray them as drunken frat boys a la "Animal House".
Old stereotypes die hard, and the only way to change them is Educate. Educate. Educate. But if the media's not interested in changing their views, then it seems to be a moot point.
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*shakes head* Yeah, they suck.
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This is not much comfort if you or your friends are members of a small fringe group. I personally get it regularly from the reporters who report on people who own exotic cats using some PETA brochure they were mailed as the source of the background facts. It has become so standard for media interviews to be twisted in the editing room so what is broadcast is the opposite of what the interviewee said that most exotic owners will not talk to the media at all; of course, this leaves the media with no sources at all to counter the AR agenda. I'm sure that the pagans are in exactly the same boat: the stereotype, inflamed by a few extremists, is that they're crazy people and a danger to society, and any time one of them actually talks to the media to try to correct the stereotype, their words get turned against them and they're likely to be the target of terrorism.
Activism
In the last ten years I've become an activist, and I've learned a few things.
1) No one likes criticism.
2) Solid criticism that avoids vulgar words and threats works best.
3) Tell the whole story - in your blog entry you don't mention the media outlet, the town, or the store name. Rewrite it and mention them with a time line.
4) Play it like a game of chess.
There are media oversight organizations - write them.
There are other media outlets - write them.
There are politicians - write them.
Blog your letters, and the responses. Google does a good job of indexing this stuff. Use Google to find other instances when the media outlet in question did something out of line and blog them too. Let all of the players know what you are doing. It's amazing, but cockroaches really don't like the light.
Think of the media outlet like a pet dog. If you don't discipline it, it will continue to eat your slippers, mess on the carpet, etc. Be consistent, be polite and above all keep doing it until the behavior in question changes.
You'll be surprised at how effective this sort of thing can be.
Re: Activism
The station(s) in question share news facilities: WKEF-TV (NBC-22) and WRGT-TV (FOX-45) in Dayton, Ohio.
The store in question was Anything Under The Moon, a local metaphysical shop which has moved several times in the past 10 years.
And the reporter's name is Don Hammond.
I didn't watch the spots; all my info is second-hand from the local pagan community email list.
Google does a good job of indexing this stuff.
Unless indexing is turned off, as it is on my blog.
Everything Under the Moon
Amazing - I coudn't find anything at first, then I caught on, the store name is Everything Under the Moon, and a google search didn't report the story - try:
http://www.google.com/search?hs=jtz&hl=en&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=everything+Under+The+Moon+pagan+wgrt&btnG=Search
and
http://www.google.com/search?hs=tEf&hl=en&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=everything+Under+The+Moon+pagan+wkef&btnG=Search
Interesting - so there's no pressure from the blogosphere for them to reform. You should report this to the email list.
Re: Everything Under the Moon
As for me, I don't watch them. My opinion of their news crew has been "amateurs and interns" even before this report. Two years ago, there was a death at a local apartment complex, where a young woman was found unconscious outside, and died at the hospital. (I forgot the cause, but it wasn't murder.) Even though my condo complex is completely separate from the apartment complex (with the exception of a shared parking lot), News22 showed *our condo* complex's sign in the report. Idiots.
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As Wicca is now a recognized religion by the Federal Gov our local media is not going to portay it in a bad light for fear of law suits. Our local Pagan community will not let ourselves be interviewed unless we have recieved written promises to be allowed to tell the whole truth and not have it edited into what are essentially lies.
In case you are wondering you know me at a special Inn as S.S.
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