Paying for Publicity and The RAF
Thread Starter
Paying for Publicity and The RAF
This is essentially a request for assistance from PPRuNe pilots and navs who have the time and inclination to be interviewed by an aviation journalist: I am writing a series of four articles about RAF pilot/nav training.
I have approached RAF corporate communications and been told that I will have to pay what will amount to in excess of several hundred pounds if I want to conduct interviews with the relevant squadrons. Without getting into the ins and outs of this policy here, it is suffice to say that everyone (including the RAF) thinks this is absurd, apart from The Treasury, which is behind the policy.
Unfortunately, neither I nor the publisher has the cash (or is prepared to find the cash, frankly) to pay the going rate. I would, however, be more than willing to make a personal donation to a squadron bar or similar worthy cause if help was forthcoming!
The product in question will be out in the UK next year, and will hopefully be a source of inspiration and encouragement to the next generation of RAF pilots, fast jet or otherwise.
The main topics for the articles are:
The Tucano and RAF Basic Flying Training
The BAe Hawk and RAF Advanced Flying Training
RAF Tactical Weapons Training
RAF Operational Conversion Units
So, if you would be prepared to let me interview you about your experiences as students or QFIs in any of these four phases of flying training, please do PM me.
I can supply references for myself (so that you know I am bona fide and trustworthy), and while you can be quoted on paper under a pseudonym if you so wish, I would need to know your real name, rank and unit for the purposes of establishing the same about you.
I hope that some of you can help.
Thanks in advance.
I have approached RAF corporate communications and been told that I will have to pay what will amount to in excess of several hundred pounds if I want to conduct interviews with the relevant squadrons. Without getting into the ins and outs of this policy here, it is suffice to say that everyone (including the RAF) thinks this is absurd, apart from The Treasury, which is behind the policy.
Unfortunately, neither I nor the publisher has the cash (or is prepared to find the cash, frankly) to pay the going rate. I would, however, be more than willing to make a personal donation to a squadron bar or similar worthy cause if help was forthcoming!
The product in question will be out in the UK next year, and will hopefully be a source of inspiration and encouragement to the next generation of RAF pilots, fast jet or otherwise.
The main topics for the articles are:
The Tucano and RAF Basic Flying Training
The BAe Hawk and RAF Advanced Flying Training
RAF Tactical Weapons Training
RAF Operational Conversion Units
So, if you would be prepared to let me interview you about your experiences as students or QFIs in any of these four phases of flying training, please do PM me.
I can supply references for myself (so that you know I am bona fide and trustworthy), and while you can be quoted on paper under a pseudonym if you so wish, I would need to know your real name, rank and unit for the purposes of establishing the same about you.
I hope that some of you can help.
Thanks in advance.
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Have you tried contacting Corporate comms on a unit level? You will have to go through corporate comms at some level, I think you will find that Stations will be more than happy to help out. Try the training bases directly, Linton has an excellent CCO and I am sure other bases are the same.
as a "heads up" warning, any direct contact with serving members of the forces without going through corporate comms is seriously frowned at, especially by the Stalinistic regime over at MOD!
as a "heads up" warning, any direct contact with serving members of the forces without going through corporate comms is seriously frowned at, especially by the Stalinistic regime over at MOD!
Thread Starter
vecvechookattack
I am a full-time freelancer, so yes, I would be charging the publisher a word rate to write the spreads.
As I said, I have no problem with making a donation to the squadron, but I don't earn much doing this and I certainly cannot afford the RAF's very commercial rates!
VinRouge
Thanks for the suggestion.
I have tried going direct at unit level, but the only time this has worked is when I've known someone on the squadron and the Boss has given my visit his personal seal of approval. It seems that in this case, the Boss simply informs corporate comms that the visit is going to take place and they have no say in the matter (it may not be as simple as that, but it has always seemed uncomplicated this end!).
On the downside, when I last tried to make a request to the PRO/CRO at unit level, I was told that they would get back to me with a quote once they had spoken to Strike Command corporate comms. So, it seems that this is a centralised policy/process that only the most senior of people can waive.
I guess what I really need is for the Bosses of some of these squadrons to ask me to come and write about them, but I think there's little chance of that.
Still, I will give Linton a call and see what happens...
Cheers
I am a full-time freelancer, so yes, I would be charging the publisher a word rate to write the spreads.
As I said, I have no problem with making a donation to the squadron, but I don't earn much doing this and I certainly cannot afford the RAF's very commercial rates!
VinRouge
Thanks for the suggestion.
I have tried going direct at unit level, but the only time this has worked is when I've known someone on the squadron and the Boss has given my visit his personal seal of approval. It seems that in this case, the Boss simply informs corporate comms that the visit is going to take place and they have no say in the matter (it may not be as simple as that, but it has always seemed uncomplicated this end!).
On the downside, when I last tried to make a request to the PRO/CRO at unit level, I was told that they would get back to me with a quote once they had spoken to Strike Command corporate comms. So, it seems that this is a centralised policy/process that only the most senior of people can waive.
I guess what I really need is for the Bosses of some of these squadrons to ask me to come and write about them, but I think there's little chance of that.
Still, I will give Linton a call and see what happens...
Cheers
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So when you write these articles are you going to state in them that you didn't want to pay a few hundred pounds for access to the current, definitive information at source, so instead you interviewed a handful of people who may have been through some part of the system five, ten years ago?
And is the RAF expected to be grateful for articles written this way?
And is the RAF expected to be grateful for articles written this way?
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My thoughts exactly, A2QFI. Especially since the heid-bummer of the MOD Gyroscopic Physicians doesn't even seem to have an idea where all of his 1,000 Rotatory Registrars are or what they are doing!
Caw canny, Albert Driver. Ewan is on-side and is offering good publicity which will probably be worth 10 times the product of the official spin doctors. Why he should have to pay for the priviledge is beyond me.
Caw canny, Albert Driver. Ewan is on-side and is offering good publicity which will probably be worth 10 times the product of the official spin doctors. Why he should have to pay for the priviledge is beyond me.
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So when you write these articles are you going to state in them that you didn't want to pay a few hundred pounds for access to the current, definitive information at source, so instead you interviewed a handful of people who may have been through some part of the system five, ten years ago?
And is the RAF expected to be grateful for articles written this way?
And is the RAF expected to be grateful for articles written this way?
I would imagine that just about every freelancer going tries his hardest NOT to pay for a story. You try flying in civvy street when you're picking up the tab for your juice.
I would imagine too, that such an article would be viewed in a damned sight less prejudicial manner by the readership and about as far removed from the usual hackneyed advertorials they're used to reading as you're likely to get. The fact that real names aren't going to be used (obviously) will lend a conspiratorial air to the piece that will make a refreshing change too. With that in mind, I would imagine that most readers with an interest in military aviation would suss that its 'unauthorised' and treat it accordingly.
Notwithstanding that, when it comes to preserving the editorial proposition, most specialist freelancers know how to present a piece in keeping, and the editorial scalpel will always be looming, so you're possibly worrying unduly.
Thread Starter
Umm, no.
Albert driver wrote:
No. The intention is to make the RAF look good, not bad.
Albert driver also wrote:
The point of posting here is to come direct to the source and appeal to current studs and QFIs (or recently retired QFIs) to let me talk to them. I would describe these people as primary source, current and perfectly well qualified to have formed a view worth sharing.
Albert driver ended with:
My objective is not to imbue the gratitude of the RAF, although I would hope that RAF aircrew reading the spreads would think I had done a good job representing their skill and expertise in a very challenging environment to the general public.
What I do want to do is show the world that the RAF is bloody good at what it does, and that it produces the best aircrew in the world. With so little being written about the RAF nowadays, that's an honorable goal, IMO.
So, no, I don't think the RAF should be grateful. But equally, I don't think that they should make it financially impossible for me to sing their praises.
So when you write these articles are you going to state in them that you didn't want to pay a few hundred pounds for access...
Albert driver also wrote:
...access to the current, definitive information at source, so instead you interviewed a handful of people who may have been through some part of the system five, ten years ago?
Albert driver ended with:
And is the RAF expected to be grateful for articles written this way?
What I do want to do is show the world that the RAF is bloody good at what it does, and that it produces the best aircrew in the world. With so little being written about the RAF nowadays, that's an honorable goal, IMO.
So, no, I don't think the RAF should be grateful. But equally, I don't think that they should make it financially impossible for me to sing their praises.
I have NEVER heard of the RAF charging for a simple visit/interview facility (that doesn't mean it doesn't happen, of course), though they are increasingly charging for flying (even in a tanker, I believe).
I don't know who has commissioned you to write this series of articles, but I can't imagine the RAF charging any of the mainstream UK aviation publications, so I wonder if the charges are being threatened as a deterrent because they don't like the title, the editor or ....... you!
Now I've only been working with the RAF as a journo on and off for 23 years, but if you want to chat about it with a newbie, Ewan, PM me your phone number if you don't already have mine.....
I don't know who has commissioned you to write this series of articles, but I can't imagine the RAF charging any of the mainstream UK aviation publications, so I wonder if the charges are being threatened as a deterrent because they don't like the title, the editor or ....... you!
Now I've only been working with the RAF as a journo on and off for 23 years, but if you want to chat about it with a newbie, Ewan, PM me your phone number if you don't already have mine.....
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Caw canny, Albert Driver. Ewan is on-side and is offering good publicity which will probably be worth 10 times the product of the official spin doctors. Why he should have to pay for the priviledge is beyond me.
AND he'll start at £800 for an afternoon. I understand that there is a balance between preserving the public's interests, getting value from the land and maintaining some sort of control over who uses what, but publishers pay huge wedges of tax too. As chairman of a couple of stn motorbike clubs I never had any problem in getting grip and grin cheque handovers infront of jets or tanks. As a publisher, its a different story.
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How mmuch do you expect to be paid for these articles?
Whilst I would agree that we all have to make an honest buck, I think your offer of "a couple of quid behind the bar" is a tadge derogatory (did I spell that correctly?)
Remember, the Cornwall 10 were paid in the £000's .....
Jackonicko is correct. Servicemen are not allowed to receive any monies for their stories.
Whilst I would agree that we all have to make an honest buck, I think your offer of "a couple of quid behind the bar" is a tadge derogatory (did I spell that correctly?)
Remember, the Cornwall 10 were paid in the £000's .....
Jackonicko is correct. Servicemen are not allowed to receive any monies for their stories.
Thread Starter
Hi Jacko
It has happened to me twice now within the last three months, and has also happened at a local PRO/CRO level.
I spoke to DD at Strike on the phone last week and his words were (paraphrased), 'unless the story you are writing is classed as 'hard news', then you will be charged'.
Given that he is the main POC at Strike corporate comms, I think that it's reasonable to assume that he's right - he didn't ask for the name of the publisher or product, and he didn't ask my name, so that rules out the RAF having an issue with one or t'other of us. I have been told that corporate comms are very unhappy with the arrangement.
I am surprised you have not experienced it - I think I know who you are - as it is the talk of the industry at the moment and there are several others I know who have been affected by it (including a former colleague of yours who was told, in writing, to start paying if he wanted to continue to use the words 'Royal Air Force' in his monthly model magazine! Fortunately, that moment of madness was soon overturned and he now has permission to use it for free!)
vecvechookattack
I am not sure exactly what difference it makes how much I get paid. For the record, though, I would expect to receive about £130 per article, and each would take approximately one day to research, write, proof, source images for and then caption. The maths show that I am hardly in it for the money...
My offer of a donation was not intended to be derogatory, but rather a light hearted suggestion that I could buy the boys a round of drinks at the squadron bar. It's certainly not obligatory.
It has happened to me twice now within the last three months, and has also happened at a local PRO/CRO level.
I spoke to DD at Strike on the phone last week and his words were (paraphrased), 'unless the story you are writing is classed as 'hard news', then you will be charged'.
Given that he is the main POC at Strike corporate comms, I think that it's reasonable to assume that he's right - he didn't ask for the name of the publisher or product, and he didn't ask my name, so that rules out the RAF having an issue with one or t'other of us. I have been told that corporate comms are very unhappy with the arrangement.
I am surprised you have not experienced it - I think I know who you are - as it is the talk of the industry at the moment and there are several others I know who have been affected by it (including a former colleague of yours who was told, in writing, to start paying if he wanted to continue to use the words 'Royal Air Force' in his monthly model magazine! Fortunately, that moment of madness was soon overturned and he now has permission to use it for free!)
vecvechookattack
I am not sure exactly what difference it makes how much I get paid. For the record, though, I would expect to receive about £130 per article, and each would take approximately one day to research, write, proof, source images for and then caption. The maths show that I am hardly in it for the money...
My offer of a donation was not intended to be derogatory, but rather a light hearted suggestion that I could buy the boys a round of drinks at the squadron bar. It's certainly not obligatory.
Can you imagine what'd happen if they tried this approach with the Sun? I suppose they'd suddenly discover that this was 'hard news', thus no problem.
How long before a couple of aviation magazines publish blistering editorials about this, giving the RAF large amounts of negative publicity? If it gets really nasty, they may start talking about Spirit of the Air and the carefully selected bank holiday date (that wasn't a bank holiday)....
How long before a couple of aviation magazines publish blistering editorials about this, giving the RAF large amounts of negative publicity? If it gets really nasty, they may start talking about Spirit of the Air and the carefully selected bank holiday date (that wasn't a bank holiday)....
Knowing who he is, Ewan's articles would have been different in that they'd have been
1) Detailed and informative about course syllabi
2) Searching and rigorous without being critical or hostile
3) and might have reflected some aircrew concerns.....
They'd be just as pro-RAF
1) Detailed and informative about course syllabi
2) Searching and rigorous without being critical or hostile
3) and might have reflected some aircrew concerns.....
They'd be just as pro-RAF
Thread Starter
Thanks, Jacko.
AIDU
My article would follow a little more detailed line than that and would not, of course, simply be a gratuitous 'let's interview a female fast jet jockey for the sake of it' type affair.
I doubt very much that the Indy paid anything: after a long chat with Jacko, it seems possible that certain types of magazines and books are being clumped into a category that automatically excludes them from being considered to be purveyors of 'hard news'. The newspapers are obviously not classed as such.
Archimedes
I think that there could be a backlash, but it depends on how many magazines and media outlets are being affected. I sincerely hope that if there is, it is aimed at the Treasury and not the RAF.
AIDU
My article would follow a little more detailed line than that and would not, of course, simply be a gratuitous 'let's interview a female fast jet jockey for the sake of it' type affair.
I doubt very much that the Indy paid anything: after a long chat with Jacko, it seems possible that certain types of magazines and books are being clumped into a category that automatically excludes them from being considered to be purveyors of 'hard news'. The newspapers are obviously not classed as such.
Archimedes
I think that there could be a backlash, but it depends on how many magazines and media outlets are being affected. I sincerely hope that if there is, it is aimed at the Treasury and not the RAF.