Advise about talking to the press
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I don't think I can remember one single account of an aviation incident that I have read about in the popular press that has been fully accurate.
Years ago, I read in the paper the report of a fatal accident in a T67 Firefly.
The paper went on to described the aircraft as a “rare second world war fighter” !!
Most people writing on this forum will recognise things like this and that’s why so many would advise saying nothing to them at all.
It makes one wonder how much rubbish they are writing on other subjects on which they know just as little.
Years ago, I read in the paper the report of a fatal accident in a T67 Firefly.
The paper went on to described the aircraft as a “rare second world war fighter” !!
Most people writing on this forum will recognise things like this and that’s why so many would advise saying nothing to them at all.
It makes one wonder how much rubbish they are writing on other subjects on which they know just as little.
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I've contemplated posting on this thread for a couple of hours in the knowledge that I’m clearly risking a flaming for sticking my head above the parapet Finally I've decided that if no-one else is going to try and defend journalists I'll take the abuse and give it a stab.
I’m happy to admit I’m a journalist and PPL who reads/uses this forum. This thread does make for disturbing reading for any media professional and most of us journalists are aware of how we are perceived by the public. Here’s my take on the above:
Firstly, some context. I’m a business journalist so my work is mainly involved in covering the City. However, I also get the opportunity to write some general aviation features for our readers who include many private pilots and aviation fans. I’ve flown and written stories on aerobatics with Ultimate High and the Red Bull Air Race, business pieces about Gama Aviation and Jet Republic, flown the Harvard at Goodwood and more recently experienced formation aerobatics with The Blades. I’ve also interviewed well-known pilots such as Mark Jefferies and Peter Teichman. Naturally I consider myself very lucky and privileged to be able to do this occasionally in the name of work.
I have never received a complaint about misinterpreting or misrepresenting any of these people or organisations (although one did mention I once used the wrong figure for the entry speed into an aerobatic manoeuvre). I also consider myself a big supporter of general aviation – I even once received a letter from the General Aviation Awareness Council thanking me for a piece I wrote in a trade newspaper about how local authorities can protect airfields and how vital aviation is to communities.
I’m not a local news reporter so I can’t speak for those guys or tabloid journalism in general. But I would admit that there is a tendency in the media to always go for the sensational – it is what sells newspapers. Be it the biggest number, most astonishing fact or most daring escapade, drama is what readers want. Unfortunately the pursuit of sales can get in the way of the facts on too many occasions. It dismays journalists as well as non-journalists that this can happen and gives the whole industry a bad reputation. There is no defence for the kind of reporting that deliberate distorts the facts. News reports should let the facts speak for themselves and let the reader make up their own mind. Anything else is comment.
More generally I think there is down to a lack of willingness among some news journalists to really find out about what’s going on and to understand a subject properly before putting pen to paper. I can’t get away with that in business journalism because our readers would spot the lack of knowledge and pick me up on it very quickly.
But do we need to look to ourselves in aviation for this lack of understanding? Many other industries spend a lot of time and money trying to educate the press. Could aviation do more? I think too many people out there are prepared to just dismiss the media as a bunch of mavericks without trying to help enhance understanding and promote this fantastic pursuit of flying we all enjoy. But I feel no-one else is going to promote this industry for us. We must do it ourselves. It is easy to stand on the sidelines and pontificate while doing nothing.
Any pilot who has the chance to chat to a journalist and explain what it’s all about could aid understanding for the inevitable time when a reporter has to write an aviation-related story. At the least they could set themselves up as an informal contact to ask for an explanation of a technical concept or just to help with the terminology – on the other hand they could just point the journalist to the AOPA for an answer. Maybe it would mean the end of these stories quoting witnesses to a crash saying things like “and I heard the engine stall” when they mean the engine stopped. I know I'd rather get the gen from someone informed.
In terms of advice for dealing directly with the media, my views reflect some of what’s mentioned above. If you have doubt or reservations then don’t do it. You could, however, regard this as an opportunity to present your side of the story because the media WILL go ahead and run an article based on the facts they do have already or uninformed comments from others as I mentioned above.
While you’re under no obligation to speak have you thought about emailing the reporter a quote that you’d be happy to see appear in print? You therefore at least have control of what you have provided and can’t get tripped up by questioning or have your words misinterpreted. You need not go into huge amounts of detail. Just a snappy sentence or two will suffice. Journalists are busier than ever before because there are fewer of us around so make it easy for us and give us a soundbite you are happy with.
Sorry for the essay but if the above is useful or interesting to a single person on here then it is worthwhile. Maybe it goes some way to try and show not all journalists are ignorant, prone to sensationalism and total scumbags.
It appalls me to read this thread but it also frustrates me that all journalists are tarred with the same brush as tabloid reporters. The vast majority of us are trying to do the best we can at what is increasingly a difficult job. Some of us love aviation as much as you do and go out of our way to present flying in as positive light as possible.
Cityflyer
I’m happy to admit I’m a journalist and PPL who reads/uses this forum. This thread does make for disturbing reading for any media professional and most of us journalists are aware of how we are perceived by the public. Here’s my take on the above:
Firstly, some context. I’m a business journalist so my work is mainly involved in covering the City. However, I also get the opportunity to write some general aviation features for our readers who include many private pilots and aviation fans. I’ve flown and written stories on aerobatics with Ultimate High and the Red Bull Air Race, business pieces about Gama Aviation and Jet Republic, flown the Harvard at Goodwood and more recently experienced formation aerobatics with The Blades. I’ve also interviewed well-known pilots such as Mark Jefferies and Peter Teichman. Naturally I consider myself very lucky and privileged to be able to do this occasionally in the name of work.
I have never received a complaint about misinterpreting or misrepresenting any of these people or organisations (although one did mention I once used the wrong figure for the entry speed into an aerobatic manoeuvre). I also consider myself a big supporter of general aviation – I even once received a letter from the General Aviation Awareness Council thanking me for a piece I wrote in a trade newspaper about how local authorities can protect airfields and how vital aviation is to communities.
I’m not a local news reporter so I can’t speak for those guys or tabloid journalism in general. But I would admit that there is a tendency in the media to always go for the sensational – it is what sells newspapers. Be it the biggest number, most astonishing fact or most daring escapade, drama is what readers want. Unfortunately the pursuit of sales can get in the way of the facts on too many occasions. It dismays journalists as well as non-journalists that this can happen and gives the whole industry a bad reputation. There is no defence for the kind of reporting that deliberate distorts the facts. News reports should let the facts speak for themselves and let the reader make up their own mind. Anything else is comment.
More generally I think there is down to a lack of willingness among some news journalists to really find out about what’s going on and to understand a subject properly before putting pen to paper. I can’t get away with that in business journalism because our readers would spot the lack of knowledge and pick me up on it very quickly.
But do we need to look to ourselves in aviation for this lack of understanding? Many other industries spend a lot of time and money trying to educate the press. Could aviation do more? I think too many people out there are prepared to just dismiss the media as a bunch of mavericks without trying to help enhance understanding and promote this fantastic pursuit of flying we all enjoy. But I feel no-one else is going to promote this industry for us. We must do it ourselves. It is easy to stand on the sidelines and pontificate while doing nothing.
Any pilot who has the chance to chat to a journalist and explain what it’s all about could aid understanding for the inevitable time when a reporter has to write an aviation-related story. At the least they could set themselves up as an informal contact to ask for an explanation of a technical concept or just to help with the terminology – on the other hand they could just point the journalist to the AOPA for an answer. Maybe it would mean the end of these stories quoting witnesses to a crash saying things like “and I heard the engine stall” when they mean the engine stopped. I know I'd rather get the gen from someone informed.
In terms of advice for dealing directly with the media, my views reflect some of what’s mentioned above. If you have doubt or reservations then don’t do it. You could, however, regard this as an opportunity to present your side of the story because the media WILL go ahead and run an article based on the facts they do have already or uninformed comments from others as I mentioned above.
While you’re under no obligation to speak have you thought about emailing the reporter a quote that you’d be happy to see appear in print? You therefore at least have control of what you have provided and can’t get tripped up by questioning or have your words misinterpreted. You need not go into huge amounts of detail. Just a snappy sentence or two will suffice. Journalists are busier than ever before because there are fewer of us around so make it easy for us and give us a soundbite you are happy with.
Sorry for the essay but if the above is useful or interesting to a single person on here then it is worthwhile. Maybe it goes some way to try and show not all journalists are ignorant, prone to sensationalism and total scumbags.
It appalls me to read this thread but it also frustrates me that all journalists are tarred with the same brush as tabloid reporters. The vast majority of us are trying to do the best we can at what is increasingly a difficult job. Some of us love aviation as much as you do and go out of our way to present flying in as positive light as possible.
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Lunchmaster wrote:
So why do you think most of us have advised him to say nowt then? Odds are it won't be a nice, GA friendly reasonable bloke like you but one of the types you describe above.............
The press are as bad the world over.: When I wrote off a perfectly good Archer (and almost myself and RHS) on landing at an airport up in the mountains in USA a few years ago the Local Batallion Fire Chief who came to our aid, after making sure we were OK said ' The terminal building is full of press, I'll take you out a side entrance' He was as good as his word, took us out of an airfield fire entrance and fixed for us at stay overnight in a B & B up in the hills, then gave us a lift the following day to the nearest Airport to catch a commercial flight back to FBO base.
Apparently the press were looking for us all over...........
Hence my healthy cynicism.
Cusco
I’m not a local news reporter so I can’t speak for those guys or tabloid journalism in general. But I would admit that there is a tendency in the media to always go for the sensational – it is what sells newspapers. Be it the biggest number, most astonishing fact or most daring escapade, drama is what readers want. Unfortunately the pursuit of sales can get in the way of the facts on too many occasions. It dismays journalists as well as non-journalists that this can happen and gives the whole industry a bad reputation. There is no defence for the kind of reporting that deliberate distorts the facts. News reports should let the facts speak for themselves and let the reader make up their own mind. Anything else is comment.
The press are as bad the world over.: When I wrote off a perfectly good Archer (and almost myself and RHS) on landing at an airport up in the mountains in USA a few years ago the Local Batallion Fire Chief who came to our aid, after making sure we were OK said ' The terminal building is full of press, I'll take you out a side entrance' He was as good as his word, took us out of an airfield fire entrance and fixed for us at stay overnight in a B & B up in the hills, then gave us a lift the following day to the nearest Airport to catch a commercial flight back to FBO base.
Apparently the press were looking for us all over...........
Hence my healthy cynicism.
Cusco
Last edited by Cusco; 22nd Jul 2009 at 16:44.
Of course there are journalists like Lunchmaster, but unfortunately they don't own the newspaper, usually, and don't necessarily have a free hand, or do the final editing, and removing facts can make just as much nonsense of the final product if edited by someone who doesn't understand technicalities.
My own Letters to the Editor about local community matters get whittled down sometimes. and project a totally different opinion as a result, shoudn't be so, but happens nevertheless.
In my professional days, if overseas and hearing of an incident, was to immediately try to get a copy of the Financial Times, that papers' Aviation Reporter was top notch, facts not fiction, what he didn't know, or couldn't find out, he didn't mention. Memory fails me, but Michael Donne is the name I think I'm thinking of ? Probably as long retired as me now !
( sorry if incorrect )
My own Letters to the Editor about local community matters get whittled down sometimes. and project a totally different opinion as a result, shoudn't be so, but happens nevertheless.
In my professional days, if overseas and hearing of an incident, was to immediately try to get a copy of the Financial Times, that papers' Aviation Reporter was top notch, facts not fiction, what he didn't know, or couldn't find out, he didn't mention. Memory fails me, but Michael Donne is the name I think I'm thinking of ? Probably as long retired as me now !
( sorry if incorrect )
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Try sending them this
sub optimal landing experience
swine flu
"Once upon a time in an airport far far away I was coming in to land my kite, at the last 100 feet I sneezed. She pitched and rolled but I bravely held on and navigated away from the 500 pupil primary school with nursery. I remembered the great words of Sir Douglas Badder, "get down you bitch" and she touched down with what only can be described as a sub optimal landing experience.
While being checked over by a tame doctor he suspected I had Swine Flu and that caused the sneeze, so you see, entirely not my fault old bean but if you have sneezed today and eaten bacon this last 6 months consider dialling
- 0800 1 513 513 in England, 08454 24 24 24 in Scotland or 0845 46 47 if you are surrounded by valleys"
Something I've never understood is why people feel there is some sort of obligation to speak to the press. What does it achieve?
In this case, assuming an entirely factually correct report in the paper (unlikely), it just means hundreds more people know about the incident, for no reason. If they had been interested they would have read the existing AAIB findings.
If (more likely) the report is incorrect, hundreds of people are told a fairy tale, and you are named.
I can't see any good coming of it.
In this case, assuming an entirely factually correct report in the paper (unlikely), it just means hundreds more people know about the incident, for no reason. If they had been interested they would have read the existing AAIB findings.
If (more likely) the report is incorrect, hundreds of people are told a fairy tale, and you are named.
I can't see any good coming of it.
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Something I've never understood is why people feel there is some sort of obligation to speak to the press.
If you really get fed up with enquiries, Airborne_Artist's approach above will probably do the trick, but don't talk, just offer a written statement.
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Many years ago I got done for doing a wheelspin in (you've guessed it) an XR3i 
The police did a thoroughly crooked job fixing me up for something else (this was before the the CPS) with hugely inflated claims by the copper who saw it. IMHO he should have been jailed for perjury there and then because his claims were so obviously mechanically impossible. But the magistrates bought into them.
The resulting story (a full page in the local rag) bore very little relation to the court proceedings. One unpleasant result was that my then business bank manager saw the article some days later and considered withdrawing the borrowing facilities. I got legal advice which was that in the absence of a transcript nothing could be done about it.
I wouldn't talk to the press and if I did then only on the basis that they agree (in writing) to publishing my written statement. They are not all crooks (most local rag reporters are though) but you cannot tell which are good or which are bad unless you have had many dealings with them.
The police did a thoroughly crooked job fixing me up for something else (this was before the the CPS) with hugely inflated claims by the copper who saw it. IMHO he should have been jailed for perjury there and then because his claims were so obviously mechanically impossible. But the magistrates bought into them.
The resulting story (a full page in the local rag) bore very little relation to the court proceedings. One unpleasant result was that my then business bank manager saw the article some days later and considered withdrawing the borrowing facilities. I got legal advice which was that in the absence of a transcript nothing could be done about it.
I wouldn't talk to the press and if I did then only on the basis that they agree (in writing) to publishing my written statement. They are not all crooks (most local rag reporters are though) but you cannot tell which are good or which are bad unless you have had many dealings with them.
Friends of mine used to run a pub on the south coast. One night, there was an 'altercation' in the pub to which the police were summoned. The landlady was summoned to the magistrate court to testify, and explained that as she was in a separate section of the pub divided from the area where the problem was by a solid brick wall, she hadn't actually seen anything.
This was reported in the local press as her refusing to testify what had happened.
Nuff said?
This was reported in the local press as her refusing to testify what had happened.
Nuff said?
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I'll give you another example of the press adding two and two and making 137.66:
I was a TA soldier, during/after the Brixton riots in the early 80s. A couple of years later my regiment sent a composite squadron on a regular exchange/cross-training fortnight in the US with a US National Guard unit.
Now we know that USNG units have a civil powers support role, and we also know that they have been deployed (famously at Kent University) to quell riots. A journo on the Grauniad somehow got to hear about us going to the US, and decided, without reference to MoD, that we'd been trained to support the police/Home Office in riots, and wrote an article proclaiming this.
Total bolleaux - we'd not even mentioned the subject when in the US, and had done two weeks hard but fun long range recce training in the heat and humidity of the Florida pan-handle.
I was a TA soldier, during/after the Brixton riots in the early 80s. A couple of years later my regiment sent a composite squadron on a regular exchange/cross-training fortnight in the US with a US National Guard unit.
Now we know that USNG units have a civil powers support role, and we also know that they have been deployed (famously at Kent University) to quell riots. A journo on the Grauniad somehow got to hear about us going to the US, and decided, without reference to MoD, that we'd been trained to support the police/Home Office in riots, and wrote an article proclaiming this.
Total bolleaux - we'd not even mentioned the subject when in the US, and had done two weeks hard but fun long range recce training in the heat and humidity of the Florida pan-handle.
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I think a lot of local rag stories get lifted from other rags.
In my court case, there was just 1 reporter present.
The following day, 1 rag ran the story. The day after that, five rags ran the story. Go figure, as they say....
I don't know what deals are involved in syndicating stories but they obviously cannot just lift them word for word from each other. So no wonder stuff gets distorted.
I think aviation-publication stuff (and specialised-readership stuff generally) is of a lot better quality because they are not so sensation-motivated and anyway subscription based media have a fairly steady readership. I am sure that e.g. Flyer magazine would do a well researched and accurate piece. But the local rags are the pits, and the national papers are not much better.
In my court case, there was just 1 reporter present.
The following day, 1 rag ran the story. The day after that, five rags ran the story. Go figure, as they say....
I don't know what deals are involved in syndicating stories but they obviously cannot just lift them word for word from each other. So no wonder stuff gets distorted.
I think aviation-publication stuff (and specialised-readership stuff generally) is of a lot better quality because they are not so sensation-motivated and anyway subscription based media have a fairly steady readership. I am sure that e.g. Flyer magazine would do a well researched and accurate piece. But the local rags are the pits, and the national papers are not much better.
Red On, Green On
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I think a lot of local rag stories get lifted from other rags.
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Ryan's Rule
All Publicity is Good Publicity!
(EG Ryan Air thinking of charging for using the loo).
Gliding clubs have observed an interesting phenomenon.....(most of our unfortunate arrivals bend the aircraft but not the pilot, deo gratias)
Nothing stirs up interest and brings in the punters in search of adventure like a good crash. . . . .
(EG Ryan Air thinking of charging for using the loo).
Gliding clubs have observed an interesting phenomenon.....(most of our unfortunate arrivals bend the aircraft but not the pilot, deo gratias)
Nothing stirs up interest and brings in the punters in search of adventure like a good crash. . . . .
"If I were a journalist on here I would either stand up and defend my profession, or quit".
As well as being a pilot, I'm also a part time journo. But I only write about sailing. So your story is safe with me
As well as being a pilot, I'm also a part time journo. But I only write about sailing. So your story is safe with me
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From what little contact/exposure to the press I've had...
"You therefore at least have control of what you have provided and can’t get tripped up by questioning or have your words misinterpreted."
You never have control over what the press publish. At least by saying nothing you're in a better position to do something when they publish a 'quote from you'.
Secondly, as has been mentioned, regardless of how nice the hack at your door seems remember he has an editor...
"You therefore at least have control of what you have provided and can’t get tripped up by questioning or have your words misinterpreted."
You never have control over what the press publish. At least by saying nothing you're in a better position to do something when they publish a 'quote from you'.
Secondly, as has been mentioned, regardless of how nice the hack at your door seems remember he has an editor...
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Well the srory ran in yesterdays paper, without any input from me.
Apart from looking the type up on G-INFO and wrongly assuming that I was flying a microlight. The piece was a straight lift from the AAIB report. It included the error that the AAIB made by getting my take off point a good 40 miles out.
I couldn't really of added anything as the AAIB report was an abridged version of the report I wrote to them.
Thanks for all the advice. Hopefully I'll never do anything even vaguely news worthy again.
Apart from looking the type up on G-INFO and wrongly assuming that I was flying a microlight. The piece was a straight lift from the AAIB report. It included the error that the AAIB made by getting my take off point a good 40 miles out.
I couldn't really of added anything as the AAIB report was an abridged version of the report I wrote to them.
Thanks for all the advice. Hopefully I'll never do anything even vaguely news worthy again.
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The antics of the media would be a much smaller problem if people would just acknowledge what deep inside they already know: Anything written in a newspaper is at most 2 % fact, the rest being equally distributed between ignorance and lies. It's all nonsense, don't believe a word of it, preferably don't even read it.
Makes little difference what they write then.
Makes little difference what they write then.
