G'Day List A lot of good suggestions, but you might want to look at taking some lessons from the politicians, they are really good at balking at questions =)
Cheers John -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bob King Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 6:30 AM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Fact Sheet - Possible Media Solution? Hi Steve, Since I work at a newspaper as a photographer and understand your frustration, I think a fact sheet is a great idea. Reporters would really appreciate an FAQ-style, one sheet resource. Here are my suggestions on what to include: * Your name and phone number plus one or two other sources to reach and their numbers * Definition of meteor, meteorite, meteoroid, asteroid * Average speed of meteor/meteorite as it enters our atmosphere and then strikes the ground * Average price of the most common type of meteorite (ordinary chondrites) found in a typical fall plus the range as you mentioned * Common misperceptions about meteorites: they're hot, they come down flaming, they're all worth a million dollars. * Where meteorites come from and why they're important to science * Where to send a suspected meteorite to be tested I hope this helps. Bob On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 8:06 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello List, > > I was greeted this morning with a front page story in the Baltimore > Sun. While it could have been worse, it made me realize I need to do > something to help writers focus on the facts and the real story and > not to slide over and just use the more sensational answers or > comments given in an interview. > > Also, some reports do actually attempt to do more research on their > own before writing, and sometimes they interview amateurs that are > even better at saying not-so-smart things like those of us with > experience are also so good at doing. > > As Darryl mentioned the other day, reporters tend to resist writing > from a Press Release and usually will work to manufacture their own > story from the ground up based on what they uncover in their > interviews. > > So maybe a solution might be a "Fact Sheet" I can have preprinted to > give to the reporters at each interview. > > Of course, if I am not asked a certain question by a reporter, there > is a greater chance I won't offer that fact in my interview. Or if I > do, it can be out of the context of the interview and the reporter > might not understand why what I said was important. > > Time is often a restraint, both in the interview and in the writing > to meet a deadline, so it isn't always the reporters fault that they > don't get around to asking the questions that would paint a clearer > picture. > > Maybe a Fact Sheet could be in a F.A.Q. fashion? Or just stated as > Facts, billet style? > > So, I would like some help from you guys. > > I would like some suggestions as to what should be included in a fact > sheet, so that when handed to the reporter, they can refer to it > during and/or after the interview as they might need. > > For starters, I can list my name and contact information, that would > be good. (Nothing worse than one's name being spelled wrong in the > paper.) > > I can list my correct age (which is 43 not 42 as erroneously stated > in today's story). Which does make you pause, if a reporter can't > get someone's age correct, is it any wonder that other aspects of the > story might get skewed a little (or a lot) one way or another. > However, in the case of Robert Haag in the Astronomy story a few > years back, they listed him as 40 years old and not 50 years old. A > "typo" I am sure! ;-) (Or as someone hinted, maybe a little slice of > Zagami under the table might have helped that typo to not be spotted > in time!) > > How about "Why are meteorites are valuable to science?" Q, with an > appropriate and pithy answer. After all, if it wasn't for the > science, we really wouldn't have much in the way of higher demand for > many of our meteorites. > > Of course, there is a collectors market. And while the words > "treasure" and "hunter" together can give a negative connotation, > they can give an adventurous one as well. And we all have to admit, > while it is not all just for the money, that does play at least a > part in why those of us in the field do what they do. How can the > fact that we are also hunting for the source of knowledge, not just > cash be stated? > > I suppose I could go through all the media stories I have seen lately > and pull out the errors and try to find out why the reporter might > have got the reporting of it wrong. Then find a way to stress, in > the Fact Sheet, what is the correct take should be on it. > > For example, after talking about how most meteorites are "common" and > don't offer all that much valuable new information, others do. I > went on that some are far more desirous to researchers than others, > and to collectors as well. In that context I mentioned that > "meteorites can be worth from 5 cents a gram up to over $1,000 > dollars a gram." > > There seemed to be some negative reaction from the York newspaper's > story here on the M-List where that range was mentioned. Well, now > the Baltimore reporter (who was in the same interview as the York > reporter) decided to drop the range I had given and just somehow > averaged it all out to: "hundreds of dollars per gram" instead. > Probably shorter and easier that way for him. I am sure his editor > appreciated it being shorter, in fact, maybe it was his editor that > shortened it for him. > > Of course, factually both reporters are not incorrect as to the > values, and doing a search on any dealer website and on ebay shows > both of those statements to be factually correct. However, maybe I > can state that a fact on my Fact Sheet that majority of all > meteorites are worth from $0.20 to $2 per gram. And that certain > factors determine why they might be worth more or less than that > range. > > Any other suggestions? > > Oh, I would imagine Ruben might suggest that I add that "Fossils are > not found in meteorites." > > Any others? > > Steve Arnold > of "Meteorite Men" > > **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 > easy steps! > (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221323031x1201367232/aol?red > ir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&b cd= > JulystepsfooterNO62) > ______________________________________________ > http://www.meteoritecentral.com > Meteorite-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > ______________________________________________ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list [email protected] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ______________________________________________ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list [email protected] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
