User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
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Posted: 10/10/2002 8:29:56 AM EDT
[#1]
My recommendation is to personally invite individual members only AFTER you have researched their work to determine how balanced they are. I don't believe you should contact an editor and publicize the event. That way the editor assigns someone and you lose control. If you do get a print reporter, offer to help them write their story so they get it [i]right[/i].
P.S. TheCommissioner is a former newspaper reporter. |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 8:31:38 AM EDT
[#2]
Good idea.
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Posted: 10/10/2002 8:35:44 AM EDT
[#3]
We need all the good press we can get at this point, but if you DO invite the press, you better do your homework and some pre-policing of the ranks.
NO cammie gear of any type, Cammie BDUs etc, no crap like exploding ground hog tee shirts, etc. And have a quiet, but very firm word with some of the mouthier guys (like me) to keep their damned fat yaps shut! There is nothing that the media would rather do than interview Billy-Bubba-Jo-bob in a ratty set of BDUs, beer in hand , making racist comments talking about 'offing the bleeding heart liberals'. On the other hand, good press is JUST what we need now. gfb |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 8:38:19 AM EDT
[#4]
Well, I intend to wear my new T-shirt:
[center]When I [red]SNAP[/red] You'll Be the First to Go![/center] I don't intend to be apologetic to anybody. |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 8:47:53 AM EDT
[#5]
Quoted: Well, I intend to wear my new T-shirt: [center]When I [red]SNAP[/red] You'll Be the First to Go![/center] I don't intend to be apologetic to anybody. You're joking right? If [b]Winston Wolf[/b] can convince his friend J.D. to come, THEN we may have a high notoriety focal point for the press to see that we aren't just a bunch of crass, camo-wearing, machine-gun-totting, liberal-hating, "from-my-cold-dead-hands" shouting troglodytes. When in comes to public perception of AR15-owners, we need to [b]CHANGE[/b] public image of us, not [b]REINFORCE[/b] that image. |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 8:56:56 AM EDT
[#6]
Make [b]sure[/b] to do the following:
Before [b]anyone[/b] alse shoots or uncases a firearm, [b]insist[/b] that the reporters get in a few shots. The closer to the target the better. Now, this is the important part: [b]Make certain to get nice photos of the reporters holding and shooting the rifles[/b]. Nothing like having the photo to hang around their neck if they decide to do a Hatchet job on you. "What's this about eeeeeevil black rifles, Mr Reporter? Here's a photo of you holding one, looking at the target that you just bulls-eyed, and grinning from ear-to-ear!" Trust me on this. I know. |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 9:05:20 AM EDT
[#7]
Quoted: You're joking right? |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 9:05:23 AM EDT
[#8]
You Jest!
you jest??? Only if you wrap table cloths around you heads like palys. Why would you want you face and your weapons seen by the masses??? Educate me. |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 9:12:59 AM EDT
[#9]
Sounds like a nice way to put a wet blanket on the whole event. Unless you make sure to keep the dog and pony show limited to a strict time frame within which the photos and interviews will take place. That way, you have the most control over the content that will be covered and you can maximize the fun factor after the press leaves. Just don't make it too obvious you are limiting their access. Maybe give them a two hour window first thing in the morning--something like that.
Good idea to let the press on the range first if they want. Good way to let them see range safety, gun handling/expertise first hand and lets them know that you all aren't a bunch of rednecks with guns but safe, professional gun users that act responsibly. (Just make sure you have qualified people running the range--which I'm sure you will) I wish I could be there--have fun. |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 9:34:49 AM EDT
[#10]
Depending on what part of the country it is in and who you are inviting. But if you get the wrong people it doesn't matter what you say or do. Anything they can get will be used against you, anything you show them will be used against you. Sorry.
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Posted: 10/10/2002 10:30:25 AM EDT
[#11]
If you want to end up smeared FOR YEARS like the Michigan Militia when they invited the press to one of their shoots, by all means go ahead.
I have heard many times of people inviting to gun events reporters who "promised" to be fair in their stories and guess what happened? Editors, news directors, etc. can and will twist the reports to fit their anti-gun agendas. |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 10:49:44 AM EDT
[#12]
My club recently hosted out third annual OPEN HOUSE weekend..
We had over 500 people come by..including every reporter I could lay my hands on. ALL of the articles were POSITIVE.. The main issue is to demystify firearms!! |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 10:55:05 AM EDT
[#13]
The BRC was very open to the press, but they were [u]NEVER[/u] left unattended.
When possible, I personally escorted each press agent, and overlooked their notes. I also led them to specific individuals that would be good interviews, for obvious reasons! FWIW: The press reviews we had were phenominal, and the community response was even better! |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 1:02:48 PM EDT
[#14]
There is a difference, though.
This was billed as an AR15.com SHOOT. Not a convention or an open house. A shoot. I'd say that most people are planning to shoot and hang out with like-minded folks, NOT have to "be on their best behavior" or whatever. Plus, this isn't an event that has been organized anywhere near to the level needed for media presence, unlike the BRC. For example, there isn't really going to be a seperate area for visiting and such. It's hard to give interviews with full-auto guns blasting away. While I'm all for media support, it needs to be *planned* for, and it's a little late in the game for that. You can't be unorganized if you want to look good for the media. If we want to have media NEXT year, that would be fine. We can plan on that, and organize accordingly. -Troy |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 1:08:50 PM EDT
[#15]
Quoted: There is a difference, though. This was billed as an AR15.com SHOOT. Not a convention or an open house. A shoot. While I'm all for media support, it needs to be *planned* for, and it's a little late in the game for that. You can't be unorganized if you want to look good for the media. If we want to have media NEXT year, that would be fine. We can plan on that, and organize accordingly. -Troy |
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Posted: 10/10/2002 1:24:49 PM EDT
[#16]
No, no, no. If we want to put on some type of press hype, plan it for another time. I've been looking forward for months to have a great and relaxing time at this shoot, not have it turned into some politically correct dog & pony show. I'd hate to squeeze off a few rounds from my evil black rifle and forget to hold my pinkie finger "just so". And if I wanna fire off a whole thirty round mag and most of the rounds AREN'T hitting the target, I don't want some press yahoo having a coniption fit over it. Yeah, we're all (hopefully!) safe with our firearms, but persoanlly, I'll be sporting my "Got Ammo?" anti UN t-shirt, and just maybe a pair of cammies to boot also. (To me, their comfort is unexcelled). Prolly have a pro-gun hat also. My truck has a couple of pro-gun bumper stickers on it. Screw the press for this event. LET'S HAVE FUN!!
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Posted: 10/10/2002 1:38:14 PM EDT
[#17]
Quoted: No, no, no. If we want to put on some type of press hype, plan it for another time. I've been looking forward for months to have a great and relaxing time at this shoot, not have it turned into some politically correct dog & pony show. I'd hate to squeeze off a few rounds from my evil black rifle and forget to hold my pinkie finger "just so". And if I wanna fire off a whole thirty round mag and most of the rounds AREN'T hitting the target, I don't want some press yahoo having a coniption fit over it. Yeah, we're all (hopefully!) safe with our firearms, but persoanlly, I'll be sporting my "Got Ammo?" anti UN t-shirt, and just maybe a pair of cammies to boot also. (To me, their comfort is unexcelled). Prolly have a pro-gun hat also. My truck has a couple of pro-gun bumper stickers on it. Screw the press for this event. LET'S HAVE FUN!! Fuck the press... Let's [b]PARTY!!!![/b] [bounce] [frag] [heavy] [shotgun] [pistol] [rocket] [uzi] [rail] [sniper] [rocket] [smash] [uzi] [heavy] [pistol] [shotgun] [frag] [smash] TO-GA TO-GA TO-GA TO-GA...!!! |
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