Scott Engen had e-mailed me in the past to discuss media relations when he was at the OTC, and I know from Scott P's kindness and helpfulness to me back at a 1992 World Cup how committed he is to our sport's survival and success at every opportunity. One must understand that most media entities are extremely understaffed and respond primarily to breaking news, pre-planned investigative/feature pieces, or the major sport in their marketplace. They are also just financial pawns of big corporate media companies that don't care about coverage, they care only about buying a TV station cheap and selling or trading it for more. It is understandable that the advent of expanded Cable TV channels and the internet has taken away from the former domination of our local TV network affiliates and the local major newspaper. When the media entities lose market share, they lose advertising revenues, and thus have to cut back on overhead to adjust to the economic realities of modern times. You would not believe how few people work so hard to put together the weekend news and sports at your local TV network affiliate station. With the Triple Crown of Surf (Hawaii) and other sporting entities (Hula Bowl, Oahu Bowl, Aloha Bowl), we the entity shoot the event video and stills, we the entity write the press release, and we the entity deliver it via the internet or in person in a timely manner far in advance of the media entities deadlines...which includes satellite transmissions to meet the deadlines of US Mainland and international media. Very little Hawaii surf coverage would ever happen, even in Hawaii, if the Triple Crown of Surf organizers did not proactively hand the coverage over on a silver platter. Of course surf is generally visually more exciting than our sport, and I use it only as an example since I served as the interview videographer specialist for a few years. The simple point is that we must face the fact that rather than place ads or wait for journalists to show up, USA Shooting, the NRA, and local ISSF shooting organizers have to allocate resources or enlist the aid of shooters who happen to work in the media to make the media thing happen cost effectively. Mako Kowai is a prime example of someone who already documents SoCal shooting for his website, but could just as easily send the images with captions and a small release to the Daily News, LA Times, Daily Breeze, Santa Monica Outlook, depending on the geographic ties to the competitors, etc. Mako is an awesome commercial film photographer, imagine what he could do if he was able to have the time to present our sport through his skills. Scott Pilkington and Patrick Haynes both shoot numerous competition photos and should send in their very best 3 shots to local media the same day, before deadline. In my experience you can't buy the media, but with their limited staff and resources these days, you sure can drop positive imagery and stories on them, and if they are quality imagery and tell a good story I reckon that they will run it 40% of the time. Newspapers look for wild art, photos whos imagery merit publication because of its impact, uniqueness, or tells a story well. Even prone 50m shooters competing in the rain could be a weather story photo of merit, as the caption might tell how they read the rain for wind characteristics. My personal belief is that the proactivity of doing the work for the TV stations and newspapers is what has to be recognized and embraced by shooting organizations from the ISSF on down. This is not to be construed as a criticism of shooting organizations in any manner at all. The ranks of shooting organizations are filled with highly knowledgeable ex coaches and competitors with good management and business skills. Modern day media, though, is a peculiar kind of animal that you have to have been immersed with to fully understand... and to nurture...(not manipulate), to give positive occasional exposure to the big events and goodness of our ISSF style sports. Occasional is good, its a step up,as I think we currently have only sparse coverage.
newsphotohi-at-hawaii.rr.com.46388.46375
It's not the anti-gunners, it's the liability that will bury
Moderators: rexifelis, pilkguns
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geekWithA.45
If you're looking for an airgun shooting venue,
Have a chat with the commander over at your nearest national guard armory. Oddly enough, I've seen them go all out to support these sorts of programs.
geekWithA45-at-yahoo.com.46392.46322
geekWithA45-at-yahoo.com.46392.46322
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Joacim
Re: Pressing for press and the good of the sport
Scott,
No worries - its good with a healthy discussion.
And by looking at my post you are correct - I went a little bit overboard with my comments and by blaming the big organizations.
The point I wanted to make was that everything is blamed on the public opinion but there are many shooters out there that doesn't do much to change the opinion. There seems to be an apathy when it comes to media contacts.
There are a few people, like you, that are spending a lot of time to lobby for the sport and try to save as much as possible. But I am sure you would welcome a broad support of people to help you out in your quest.
"The average public doesn’t know our sport exists. Or care." That is the thing I am questioning - why don't we do something about that. If the history is that we get 1% of all items sent to newspapers published, then if we all tried to increase the number of articles sent in from 100 to 1000 then we would have a greater chance of getting our message out to the public. It wouldn't be for one or a few people to do - we all would have to work on submitting things to the editors.
The magazine ad would be very expensive and probably outside the scope of what can be done, but I wanted to bring it up as an alternative. If we look at all the options that are available, then we will be able to make a better decision on what we should do to increase the knowledge of the public and to increase our support.
It is possible that I am living in a dream world and everyone else lives in reality - so read my comments with some skepticism - but I think we need a discussion on how we can change the appearance of the sport.
Joacim
.46393.46375
No worries - its good with a healthy discussion.
And by looking at my post you are correct - I went a little bit overboard with my comments and by blaming the big organizations.
The point I wanted to make was that everything is blamed on the public opinion but there are many shooters out there that doesn't do much to change the opinion. There seems to be an apathy when it comes to media contacts.
There are a few people, like you, that are spending a lot of time to lobby for the sport and try to save as much as possible. But I am sure you would welcome a broad support of people to help you out in your quest.
"The average public doesn’t know our sport exists. Or care." That is the thing I am questioning - why don't we do something about that. If the history is that we get 1% of all items sent to newspapers published, then if we all tried to increase the number of articles sent in from 100 to 1000 then we would have a greater chance of getting our message out to the public. It wouldn't be for one or a few people to do - we all would have to work on submitting things to the editors.
The magazine ad would be very expensive and probably outside the scope of what can be done, but I wanted to bring it up as an alternative. If we look at all the options that are available, then we will be able to make a better decision on what we should do to increase the knowledge of the public and to increase our support.
It is possible that I am living in a dream world and everyone else lives in reality - so read my comments with some skepticism - but I think we need a discussion on how we can change the appearance of the sport.
Joacim
.46393.46375
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pdeal
Re: If you're looking for an airgun shooting venue,
Good idea- I went over to our local armory to ask about exactly that. The fellow was very supportive. There was just one thing that needed to be worked out- we need proof of insurance before we can use their facility.
pdeal-at-mylanlabs.com.46401.46392
pdeal-at-mylanlabs.com.46401.46392
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Bill
Agree... and in addition
Michele makes an excellent point in that in order to use a 3rd-party facility, one must be insured. While organizations like 4-H and others have an umbrella policy for liability, in Michele's case I'd be willing to bet that she must also be able to provide PROOF of insurance, stating that the specific organization providing the venue will not be held liable and in the event of a claim, their policy will be tapped first- we would be a secondary claim. (As a board member of a big gun club, this is our policy for any outside group who wishes to use the facility). This policy is not unreasonable, but I assure you that some groups who wanted to use our club were, in effect, turned away because their insurer either wouldn't touch it, or wouldn't name us specifically.
Anyone who has tried to rent/borrow a facility to to much of anything these days knows that insurance is a requirement- that or a hefty deposit (sometimes non-refundable).
Those lucky enough to have their own range must of course address the other side of the coin- that is, how to cover themselves legally, and how to handle requests for range use for "outsiders".
Folks, we live in a society where people just love to go legal when it suits them. The NRA and USAS might just be able to help.
Bill
.46428.46322
Anyone who has tried to rent/borrow a facility to to much of anything these days knows that insurance is a requirement- that or a hefty deposit (sometimes non-refundable).
Those lucky enough to have their own range must of course address the other side of the coin- that is, how to cover themselves legally, and how to handle requests for range use for "outsiders".
Folks, we live in a society where people just love to go legal when it suits them. The NRA and USAS might just be able to help.
Bill
.46428.46322
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Pat McCoy
Re: Agree... and in addition
:in Michele's case I'd be willing to bet that she must also be able to provide PROOF of insurance, :
This is simply done all the time by a Certificcate of Insurance issued to the lessor, usually at no charge.
:stating that the specific organization providing the venue will not be held liable:
This is a separate thing. A "hold harmless" clause is often included in a lease.
: and in the event of a claim, their policy will be tapped first- we would be a secondary claim. :
Exactly what a Certificate of Insurance accomplishes.
:(As a board member of a big gun club, this is our policy for any outside group who wishes to use the facility). This policy is not unreasonable, but I assure you that some groups who wanted to use our club were, in effect, turned away because their insurer either wouldn't touch it, or wouldn't name us specifically.:
In this case you are not asking for a Certificate or Proof of insurance, but to be named as an "Additional Insured". It is not surprising that an insurance company covering someone wanting to use your facility will not do this, as most insurance companies will not insure ranges, and this is exactly what you are asking for. Usually the lessor only wants to know that the leasing party has coverage so that the lessor's policy does not become the first to respond, and does not want to be an "Additional Insured".
patmccoyagency-at-hotmail.com.46447.46428
This is simply done all the time by a Certificcate of Insurance issued to the lessor, usually at no charge.
:stating that the specific organization providing the venue will not be held liable:
This is a separate thing. A "hold harmless" clause is often included in a lease.
: and in the event of a claim, their policy will be tapped first- we would be a secondary claim. :
Exactly what a Certificate of Insurance accomplishes.
:(As a board member of a big gun club, this is our policy for any outside group who wishes to use the facility). This policy is not unreasonable, but I assure you that some groups who wanted to use our club were, in effect, turned away because their insurer either wouldn't touch it, or wouldn't name us specifically.:
In this case you are not asking for a Certificate or Proof of insurance, but to be named as an "Additional Insured". It is not surprising that an insurance company covering someone wanting to use your facility will not do this, as most insurance companies will not insure ranges, and this is exactly what you are asking for. Usually the lessor only wants to know that the leasing party has coverage so that the lessor's policy does not become the first to respond, and does not want to be an "Additional Insured".
patmccoyagency-at-hotmail.com.46447.46428