----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----Re: the CBS report.
I think EAA and AOPA have hit CBS where it counts: the piece wasn't adequately researched and probably was done by a reporter who does not know which end of the airplane goes front-ways (preferred by news management, who traditionally believe that too many technical 'facts' in a piece are boring to the average TV viewer...yes, that's what they think of you).
Television news is a 'publish or perish' atmosphere in which the reporter knows that unless he/she keeps it 'interesting,' he/she will not get on the air. So any fact that takes away from the reporter's, editor's, morning meeting of manager's pre-conceived notions is not welcomed since it might drag the piece down and making it 'boring.'
Offers of interviews by TSA probably came after the fact--the morning after the piece was aired. That's not worth the effort; the piece was run and the network is on to other things by that time. No TV anchor wants to go on the air and say the organization "erred last night." That's absolutely the worst; it questions the news show's apparent credibility ( I say 'apparent' because credibility is in extremely short supply these days). My advice is to keep your eyes and ears open when you see a news crew doing interviews. That's the time to stick your nose in. Once the story's written, voiced, put together and in the 'can,' the dice are cast. Maybe we should put up signs on airport fences to remind pilots about that, too.
All the best from a happily retired journalist..
Jim Slade
www.jimsladesairlines.com
Jim Slade's Air Lines
Jim Slade
703 356 2463
============================================================================== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers-tech/
