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646 online
Server Time:
2024-05-14 14:25:38
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 avoidsreality
  
Location: Philadelphia
Gender: Female
 |  |  | asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
< on 2/15/2007 9:44 PM >
|  | | | Long story short, I've been approached by a small time local paper reporter for information on my interest in asylums/photography/etc.
I've seen a lot of media coverage on exploration and photography of abandoned places in the past couple years, and have had mixed feelings on finished product.
Anyone have any input as to what to say and what not to say? I personally would not feel comfortable taking a reporter to a specific location or even naming a location, as it could lead to other people who don't have the most noble of intentions going there and potentially "ruining it" for others. And of course there's the legal aspect. However I HAVE seen media coverage that resulted in a REALLY positive light being cast on explorers and photographers of the forgotten urban landscape.
How far is too far, and how far it not far enough in order to get a good name for us out there? (Not that a small time local reporter is going to have much clout when it comes to anything, but still...)
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dixiesquare
| | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 1 on 2/15/2007 10:15 PM >
| | | | Sadly you will have no control over it.
And just when you think you can trust a reporter, and felt it was a great interview, the editor will butcher it up as they please.
Small paper, why not? You can try, right?
DSM
"sadly alot of explorers in Chicago are 'park hipsters who take boring pictures to impress girls who smoke Parliaments and listen to Wilco." |
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kjohnnytarr
 
Location: Columbia, Missouri
Gender: Male
Team Asbestos: CoMO
| | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 2 on 2/15/2007 10:35 PM >
| | | | I've been involved in an ongoing project like this for a while now. So far it's been fun.
If I were you, I'd just be sure not to make UE out to be anything it isn't. Be conservative, because your reporter my have the impulse to sensationalize a bit.
The way I see it, you really don't need to make this an expose; if someone is really interested in UE, they can do their own research, you don't need to make any hand-outs.
It seemed like a good idea at the time... |
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startedsmoking
Location: Edinburgh, UK
Gender: Male
| |  |  | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 3 on 2/15/2007 11:48 PM >
| | | | You should just go with it. Be honest, don't embelish, play down anything that could construe us in a bad light. I think that now that UE has become established in the media we're only going to see more and more of these stories so our primary concern is damage control.
In the coming years a narrative will be formed in the minds of people who have contact with UE and all we can do is do our best to present our own, competing narrative.
The previous poster is absolutely right that the editor might rip this apart. The easiest king of journalism to write is sensationalist and the only counter we have is the truth. We're not thugs, we're not a threat and we're sure as shit not a problem.
So in conclusion, (heh) go for it, make this reporter know what it is we do and the wide range of people who choose for a variety of reasons, to engage in this most unusual of interests.
"take nothing but pictures, leaving nothing but footprints...unless it would be really fun" |
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Allva
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Gender: Male
I have my moments.
| |  | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 4 on 2/16/2007 12:54 AM >
| | | | The best thing to do is to ignore your ego and try to forget visions of fame...
Don't be involved in anything assisting media. Nothing good can come out of it.
You are correct in having second thoughts about taking reporter to the locations or discussing UE in general. Think of the bigger picture...Just don't do it.
Life is hard, but it's harder when you're stupid. |
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blackhawk
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: Mission Control
UER newbie
| | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 5 on 2/17/2007 5:30 AM >
| | | | Posted by Allva
The best thing to do is to ignore your ego and try to forget visions of fame...
Don't be involved in anything assisting media. Nothing good can come out of it.
You are correct in having second thoughts about taking reporter to the locations or discussing UE in general. Think of the bigger picture...Just don't do it.
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Amen.
Use your head. Do you want EVERYONE to know your favorite spots? Including all the vandals and copper thieves? Any copper that is shown will doom that site for sure. The police will not appreciate it either, and will be obliged to step up their patrols.
The only sites safe to show are ones that are now gone or converted into say condos. Even that will light the fire with Goths and such to find dark places to party.
No media is good media.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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c1rc4
Location: Northern Virginia
Gender: Female
| | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 6 on 2/17/2007 5:35 AM >
| | | | I was questioned for a local paper regarding a local site..I didn't feel too good about it either. I left myself as anonymous and gave him a piece of my mind. The article didn't turn out that bad, could have been better though.
It's one of those things you just have to consider as sometimes crap like this gets you in trouble. Being anonymous helps, but sometimes that won't, as your name gets out by a contact from the people. I didn't really care if my name got out, it would have been campus police coming after me again and I don't think they want me to file another complaint against them...so yea.
Do it only if you feel comfortable doing it, and you feel it will have a good outcome. Maybe even ask if you can proof-read his finish product over..
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shelka04
Location: Alamogordo, New Mexico
Gender: Male
| |  | | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 7 on 2/17/2007 6:45 AM >
| | | |
'nuf said!
[last edit 2/17/2007 6:46 AM by shelka04 - edited 1 times]
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blackhawk
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: Mission Control
UER newbie
| | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 8 on 2/17/2007 7:06 AM >
| | | | 
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Allva
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Gender: Male
I have my moments.
| | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 9 on 2/17/2007 4:16 PM >
| | | | Here's a better one.
Life is hard, but it's harder when you're stupid. |
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Brooks
 
Location: Fall River Ma
Gender: Male
| | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 10 on 2/17/2007 4:45 PM >
| | | | I work for the media. Do you all hate me? I hope you do =)
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elbowgeek
The needle and the damage done...
| | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 11 on 2/17/2007 5:13 PM >
| | | | I feel it's most important to make sure that the reporter doesn't lump urban explorers in with the neds and chavs who tag and destroy and use abandonments as drug dens.
Make a point that frequently UEers photograph beautiful architecture in endangered buildings and have documented many such structures just before the true criminals, the developers, bury history. Put the bad light on the greedy bastards who let beautiful buildings demolish by neglect when they want to level historic places for modern condos. Yadda yadda.
Good luck with it...
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Allva
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Gender: Male
I have my moments.
| | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 12 on 2/17/2007 5:25 PM >
| | | | Posted by Blend
I work for the media. Do you all hate me? I hope you do =)
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It's a very strange statement.
Nobody hates you, guy. Some things should just be left alone.
Not everything is scoop, not everything is a story.
Very simple.
Life is hard, but it's harder when you're stupid. |
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Mr.Coffee
Location: Coming to a theatre near you!
Gender: Male
Everyone agrees, I'm Rad.
| | | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 13 on 2/17/2007 10:09 PM >
| | | | you can talk about the hobby, but I'd suggest you keep your locations and anecdotes that could be "figured out" to yourself. the fact of the matter is that they can take anything you say on the record and put it together in whatever order they want to make it sound however they please.
Coming To a Theatre Near You!
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Allva
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Gender: Male
I have my moments.
| | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 14 on 2/18/2007 1:44 AM >
| | | | ...but the best thing is not do it at all.
Life is hard, but it's harder when you're stupid. |
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Azubi.UK
Location: UK / KSA
Gender: Male
| | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 15 on 2/18/2007 10:15 AM >
|  | | | Media = Bastards.
You really think that a couple of friends walking round an abandonment taking photos will sell newspapers?
No it doesn't. The reality just isn't interesting enough for Joe Public. Telling the world that we break in, risking the lives of rescue services and running from the police, however, does sell newspapers. You know, that growing craze that is "condemned" (it doesn't say who by though). Oh and they will just have to get in there how these places are the haunt of drugged up morons and how we are vandals, smashing the place up.
No matter how much you try to tell people how sweet and innocent we all are, it will just end up an article putting everyone in a bad light. You have no control over anything. If you think you do, then you are kidding yourself.
I have had the BBC contact me, a production company for c4 and a local newspaper. Each and every one of them I told in no uncertain terms to "FUCK OFF".
Media attention is bad for a hobby that relies on making sure you don't get caught by the authorities and security. Bringing the hobby to the attnetion of the local community/country won't help anyone in the long run. Especially when some little kid reads it, goes somewhere, dies and then the entire community gets a shafting in the media.
The 11th Commandment: Don't get caught! |
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Atrix
Location: Toronto
Gender: Male
Veni. Vidi. Video.
| | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 16 on 2/19/2007 10:40 PM >
| | | | Proceed with caution. Whether they spin the story in a positive or negative light, it could proved detrimental to the entire culture.
At the same time, if you don't talk, you run the risk of leaving it up to the reporters to make up the story. I can also see the benefit of alternative media, like docs (I really need to see that Doc that's starting to make the rounds...I hope it's not a recruiting video...) but it would depend on the focus.
As with most things, it's best to stay off the radar.
C'est en faisant n'importe quoi qu'on devient n'importe qui.
It's always easier to get forgiveness than permission. |
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rainman8889
Location: H.T.S.F.C. Time to gain and a time to lose.
Bye for now.
| | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 17 on 2/19/2007 11:22 PM >
| | | | Posted by blackhawk
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Darn blackhawk! I was going to post that! You beat me to it.
And to put in my $0.02 worth: Be very careful. Just put it off as a curiosity in history that can't be satisfied with just a trip to the library and above all, don't show them your photos or discuss the sites you explored.
Keep it nice and boring and they will go away. No sense in inviting trouble.
Gone for a while. Be back when I'm back. |
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blackhawk
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: Mission Control
UER newbie
| | | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 18 on 2/19/2007 11:47 PM >
| | | | Posted by rainman8889
Darn blackhawk! I was going to post that! You beat me to it.
And to put in my $0.02 worth: Be very careful. Just put it off as a curiosity in history that can't be satisfied with just a trip to the library and above all, don't show them your photos or discuss the sites you explored.
Keep it nice and boring and they will go away. No sense in inviting trouble.
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Pretty much sums it, don't it Rainman8889?
I like this poster a lot
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Team Leader
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
Location: Uptown,downtown,all around.
Gender: Male
| | Re: asked to contribute to a reporter - advice?
<Reply # 19 on 2/20/2007 12:53 AM >
| | | | Posted by Allva
Here's a better one.
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Yup
Death Sentence- Live to die (good ole one)
http://theaumc.com/forums |
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