Dear FT'ers,

More than once, after posting on FT, I've received a form letter from a reporter, asking for me to be interviewed for a story on that topic. Often, it seems that they just email everyone on that thread, because I get the email even if I made a commented not related to the thread's subject heading.

An example of such a letter is below. I received it just a few minutes ago, and, out of courtesy toward the reporter, I've deleted identifying information from it.

Just wondering: do you talk to them, or tell them off, or something in between?

My response is the same as my standard response when approached by any media. "I am willing to talk with you, but certainly not for free. Currently, my billing rates for my time are..."

So what do the rest of you do? Do you like your name appearing in the paper? Or are you, like me, wary of giving free consultations to FT-roving reporters?

---

Hi,

My name is [name], and I'm a travel reporter with [newspaper]. I saw your FlyerTalk post about your experience with
[topic], and would like very
much to do a story about [topic]. I am grateful that you brought this to
my attention, and hope you'll be willing to speak with me.

Please e-mail me back with your name, number and a good time to reach you.

Best,

[name]

If its a patently form letter from a paper I haven't hear of, I usually hit delete.

If it appears to be a legitimate news source and an actual personalized email, I will reply.

My experience is that the 'reporter' is just trying to get information AND ideas, that he wouldn't think of. It is not so much as to use you for an 'INTERVIEW'. They look SMART when they come up with the many more ideas, that float around here.

After a couple of experiences, I try to get information from them as to how the information will be used, if I do respond. After all, it will make them look better. I doubt if you or anyone will collect one red cent from them!

I have done many TV and radio programs and articles for magazines, newspapers, etc. The tabloids will misquote you and attribute potentially libelous statements to you without even a blink! Watch out!

[This message has been edited by ROADRUNNER (edited 06-14-2001).]

So what do the rest of you do?

Depends on the specific news source seeking the info and the individual reporters also! For example, if it's a quality publication such as Newsweek or the Wall Street Journal where I actually know many folks, I will - but for others I'm a bit more wary for good reason. Yet I've never personally had a truly bad experience thusfar!


Do you like your name appearing in the paper?

No! And I frequently speak "off the record!"


Or are you, like me, wary of giving free consultations to FT-roving reporters?

IMHO, they are, frankly, very wise to view FT and to contact possible contributors via email. Yet, particularly with some, one is wise to tread cautiously, as I've known of quite a "few" horror stories! Bear in mind that in many cases the story is essentially already written and you are possibly being simply fit in as a personal experience to make it more "interesting!"

If you look back at some of the recent threads on AC/Canadian you'll see the dangers of too much publicity. What began as a simple newspaper article on the MHD (Mexican Hat Dance)- a way to avoid high transcon fare s in Canada by flying through Mexico using legal routings - ended up with AC/MX/MX changing the rules on those routes. Almost certainly, this was a consequnce of the widespread discussion of this technique. Several of us on the AC/CP were approached by reporters, one of whom even wanted to do a flyalong.

My advice, be cautious, unless it's an innocuous story, and even then, be cauious.

A very recent example of this in today's WSJ.

The thread where the story was "trolled":

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum78/HTML/000050.html

And the WSJ article:

Check Your Insurance
Before Renting an SUV

By JANE COSTELLO
WSJ.COM

Steven Chan won't be renting a Ford Excursion on his next trip.

Mr. Chan, a consultant from Oakland, Calif., reserved a full-size car from Budget Group Inc. in Seattle to drive over Easter weekend. When Mr. Chan arrived at the counter, the rental agent pitched him an upgrade to a Ford Excursion for an additional $25 a day.

"She told me it was very easy to drive," Mr. Chan says. "But when I saw it, I realized it was huge -- like a tank."

He was tired and didn't feel like walking back to the counter to complain, so he drove off into the sunset in the super-sized SUV...

http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/...8854259871.htm

When I receive such a letter (3 times now from different reporters) I usually send them back a canned response You seem to have confused me with someone who cares about your newspaper and your job.

I used to reply to these and used to talk to reporters. I have never been misquoted or taken out of context by a reporter for a major publication on anything travel-related.

However, a few months back a reporter for a major business daily got an airline employee who had posted on these boards into hotter water with her employer than she already was. The reporter named the employee, even though the employee did not want to be in the story and refused to comment for it (which the reporter also stated).

I consider this a major invasion of the privacy of a person who is not a public figure or otherwise newsworthy at the national business press level. As a result, I have since ignored all these requests. If they can do this to someone who did NOT talk to them, whose only sin was to be supportive of her employer on these boards and who got into trouble as a result of people distorting the meaning of her posts, what could they do to someone who DOES talk to them if they think it will spice up their article?

To all the well-meaning and honorable writers out there: sorry, but one bad apple has soured me on you.

To my fellow FTers: the fact that it hasn't happened to you yet doesn't mean it can't.

To the afore-mentioned reporter for that paper, who surely recognized herself if she read this post: I hope whatever you got for that article was worth the knowledge that you ruined a major part of someone's life, that of an innocent person who never hurt you. If you have a shred of remorse, I hope you'll rethink your standards of sensationalism at any cost to anybody.

I have been contacted several times by the same reporter from the Wall Street Journal. This reporter has always been very courteous and respectful. Generally, the reporter will send me an e-mail along the lines of: Have you had any experience with (fill in the subject) while on a flight. Thus far, I have not been able to provide the reporter with much information. But in my opinion, if I have interesting or useful information to offer, why not have it read by more than just the people on this board. I admit, my feelings might be different if the reporter were from a lesser-known publication. But I think that spreading useful information is one of the best things about the web.

I've also talked to a number of WSJ reporters, and have been quoted twice. In every case they have been professional and well versed on travel trends.

I was contacted by someone claiming to be from the New York Times during the CDG crazy fare time. After verifying that the reporter was legit, I did speak with him for a bit.

the guys from the WSJ are harmless - quite corteous - allthough I take a slightly more bullish stance proffessionally

As a travel editor and journalist, I personally frown upon writers contacting people with form letters. It's impersonal, it certainly doesn't inspire trust in the interviewee, and sending out form letters to every person who participated in a particular discussion is, frankly, lazy reporting.

The few times I have contacted someone because of a post they made on a newsgroup, etc., it was always in specific reference to a piece of information they offered online.

If I'm looking for someone to interview on a specific subject, I'm more likely to post a message in a specialized forum asking if anyone with knowledge of the topic would be willing to speak with me. Then, I'll check on the credentials of anyone who has contacted me, if said credentials are important to the story.

While I frown on the practice of using anonymous sources, if someone I contact wishes to remain anonymous, I will weigh the value of that person's statement against the possible harm of having an anonymous source. If I think it isn't worth it, I just won't quote the person.

One thing I thought I should mention about the story of the airline employee. People should be advised that publishing anything in a newsgroup and attaching their names to it means that said quote is up for grabs. It doesn't matter if you don't want to talk about it further, what you've already said or the fact that you said anything can be used by any publication and every court in the U.S. will uphold their right to do that, provided they don't libel you in the process.

We are all posting in a public forum, after all. I don't know all the facts about what happened to the airline employee, so I'm theorizing here: while it may have been socially irresponsible on the part of the reporter, merely quoting the employee's name and the fact that she posts on this list doesn't constitute improper reporting.

Thanks for your insights sherlock21b.

If I recall, this particular airline employee never signed her real name to her posts (like most of us). However, I believe her full name was written in the article in question. Someone else (perhaps an FTer) must have divulged her name.

Yes, I would talk to them....I found out about FT from the article in USA because the "source" was a member and was interviewed because of her mileage runs. This seems to be a way of communicating that will let the knowledge and truth (good, bad or otherwise)reach the most people. Most will take a polite no comment or no response as an answer....