On Sat, Mar 17, 2001 at 04:59:00PM -0800, Steve Rogerson wrote:
Shane said: "When a convention comes to town, particularly a large one, the local paper at least usually sends someone out to cover it. I'm sure we've all seen the articles: "Sci-Fi Maniacs Converge on Manchester," coupled with photograph of person in poorly-made Klingon costume. Also, these journalists usually like to make fans look as weird and pathetic as possible in order to sell papers."
A gross over generalisation and not my experience for the two cons I've been involed in running. At both Redemptins the local Kent newspaper gave us really nice friendly coverage. I was interviewed both times by the local radio in a courtious manner. And I even got interviewed by Radio 5 and was again treated seriously.
You lucky person!
When I've discussed thsi with other con organisers, the general feeling is much the same - the local press want an entertaining story but do not tend to take the piss, more than maybe a few jokey puns.
Maybe *local* papers tend to be more friendly, but my first encounter with the press at a convention was everything that Shane described. It was Eccentricon, in 1987 (in Richmond, Sydney, Australia). There was a camera crew from Channel 9 (I think it was 9) going around, cameras rolling, and interviewing people who were quite happy to be interviewed... and the actual segment was nothing but taking the piss on these "loony" people. It still makes me angry all these years later. Though I guess we should have twigged when the main question they were asking was "Do you consider yourself normal?"... but I guess people were blinded by the cameras in their eyes... (No, I wasn't interviewed -- I didn't look wierd enough)
Yes, Shane's concerns are perfectly legitimate. We could argue until the cows come home as to which journalistic response is more common -- but it can't be denied that both kinds of responses *do* happen.
Kathryn Andersen -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Tarvin: You think I'm afraid? Tyce: No, but a dead prince, where's the fun in that? (Blake's 7: Bounty [A11])