The Chainlink

Bike safety story

I'm looking for a someone who bikes frequently and could talk about safety on the road for a video story. Filming would be in the morning at your home. Particularly, someone who has had a bad experience with cars and would like to talk about it.

 

Please e-mail me at davidcharns2011@u.northwestern.edu.

 

Thanks,

 

David

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on May 9, 2011 at 9:24pm
I second this question.  I may be interested but would like to know what it will be used for and what, exactly, you are looking for.

Chris C said:

What is the video footage to be used for?

 

 

Permalink Reply by Michael A on May 9, 2011 at 9:52pm
You could follow me on my commute home from work as an example on how NOT to ride in traffic
Permalink Reply by Duppie on May 10, 2011 at 8:14am
So what's the angle of your story? Are you trying cover that mythical bike-car conflict once more? That horse has been beaten to death many times over. I don't the biking community would be served by that.
Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on May 10, 2011 at 8:29am
Agree-- the media is going to continue to try to create a wedge between motorists and cyclists for the sake of controversy-- it's up to us to sidestep any such effort as it serves no-one.

Duppie said:
So what's the angle of your story? Are you trying cover that mythical bike-car conflict once more? That horse has been beaten to death many times over. I don't the biking community would be served by that.
Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on May 10, 2011 at 8:31am
But David did join the chainlink over 14 hours ago, so at least the piece will be thoroughly researched...

H3N3 said:
Agree-- the media is going to continue to try to create a wedge between motorists and cyclists for the sake of controversy-- it's up to us to sidestep any such effort as it serves no-one.

Duppie said:
So what's the angle of your story? Are you trying cover that mythical bike-car conflict once more? That horse has been beaten to death many times over. I don't the biking community would be served by that.
Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on May 10, 2011 at 8:36am

Let me gently suggest that the transformation of America into a nation of amateur press critics has not been a sound development. Reporters get their stories by... reporting. It sounds like David wants to do some. Deciding that participating is bad because (the generic) you don't like the angle is pretty silly, as you have absolutely no idea what his angle is and if he's reporting honestly—and there's no reason to think a guy at a top j-school isn't—he probably doesn't either.

(I'd be glad to help out in theory but I hate being filmed.)

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on May 10, 2011 at 8:52am
That was pretty gentle, thank you. I like the "safety on the road" angle. I don't like that most, if not all stories about riding a bicycle on the road including the obligatory "bad experience with cars" angle. I think it makes it seem less safe than it is and discourages novices from trying it.

Dr. Doom said:

Let me gently suggest that the transformation of America into a nation of amateur press critics has not been a sound development. Reporters get their stories by... reporting. It sounds like David wants to do some. Deciding that participating is bad because (the generic) you don't like the angle is pretty silly, as you have absolutely no idea what his angle is and if he's reporting honestly—and there's no reason to think a guy at a top j-school isn't—he probably doesn't either.

(I'd be glad to help out in theory but I hate being filmed.)

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on May 10, 2011 at 9:01am

Reporters also get their stories from twisting quotes, tricky editing and misrepresenting the story/angle/image they want to use you to portray.  I have been in/in the news three times in my life and of two of those times my position, my words and my message was grossly twisted to fit the story that the reporter wished to put out there.  One time it was excerpting my statements and taking things out of context to completely change what I was saying.  The other was a chopping up my statements, editing them to fit in with other stuff creating a story that conveyed the exact opposite message the reporter told me the story was going to convey; that tricky fucker interviewed me for over and hour only to use about 3 minutes of footage which reinforced his message leaving tons of interview that invalidated almost EVERY SINGLE POINT HE MADE IN THE STORY on the cutting room floor.  I also have several friends who have been abused/betrayed by the media in the exact same manner.  Now, I am not saying EVERY reporter or journalist is scum sucking goat boy but based on my life experience there is an awful high percentage of them who are dirt bags.

 

Does this mean I think no one should ever talk to the media?  No.  It is still one of the best ways to get a message out to the masses.  However, I think that if you do choose to make statements to the press it is in your own best interests to find out as much as you can about the individual you are talking to, the story they want to do and the image they are going to try and convey.  Take the time to think about what you are going to say and choose your words well keeping in mind that only small snippets of what you say may be used.  Be wary of questions that seem to be leading you away for the image/story/message you wish to convey because it is a good sign your message and the one the reporter wishes to convey are opposed to one another.

Not all journalists are scum and going to screw you over but I think enough of them are that it pays to protect yourself; it really sucks to believe strongly in something only to have your own words used against what you believe in.

 

 

Dr. Doom said:

Let me gently suggest that the transformation of America into a nation of amateur press critics has not been a sound development. Reporters get their stories by... reporting. It sounds like David wants to do some. Deciding that participating is bad because (the generic) you don't like the angle is pretty silly, as you have absolutely no idea what his angle is and if he's reporting honestly—and there's no reason to think a guy at a top j-school isn't—he probably doesn't either.

(I'd be glad to help out in theory but I hate being filmed.)

Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on May 10, 2011 at 9:03am
I completely agree, my point is more that having experience from the other end of this the process of story construction and sourcing works much differently than people tend to think it does. Sometimes the angle you throw out there is deliberately vague because you don't want to prejudice people; sometimes the angle you throw out there ends up changing because of what people tell you. Sure, a lot of reporters are lazy or incompetent and just write a story in their heads and find some people they can quote to fill in the blanks Mad Libs-style, but even and maybe especially such reporters can benefit from talking to people who know what they're talking about. It can be infuriating to talk to someone for half an hour and find they've used six words of what you said, but that's just how it goes, and believe me that the half hour you spend is not wasted, because what you say ends up informing the finished product.
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on May 10, 2011 at 9:09am
It's not the half hour for six words thing that bothers me.  It's when the six words are out of context and completely misrepresent what you said.  I think that you are absolutely correct that the reporters with a preconceived notion can benefit from having some real knowledge laid down on them but it is important to remember that not all of them are willing to be swayed and some are even willing to flat out twist your words.  I have no issue talking to the media because I think that it is important to make sure your message gets out but I am very, very conscious of  how my words could be used outside of my intentions because, sadly, there is really no good way to take a journalist who f's you over like that to task for it.
Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on May 10, 2011 at 9:27am
^ Funny because it's true!
My general tip for civilians dealing with hacks is this: The main Jedi mind trick reporters are taught is that people hate awkward silences. If I'm interviewing someone I'm going to ask them either yes/no questions ("Were you sad when a toilet fell out of an airplane and crushed your garden gnome?") or, more often, questions that are meant to provoke them into rambling at length ("Talk to me about the toilet falling out of the airplane and crushing your garden gnome."). The latter gets more information and more color but because people who aren't trained in extemporaneous speaking tend to go on nonsensically when asked to tell someone about this or that, they will end up tripping themselves up, saying lots of mutually contradictory things and so on, especially because as they are flailing the reporter is declining to throw them a lifeline by saying something to fill the silence that would ensue if they stopped to think about what they were saying.
The point isn't that everyone should speak like a chirpy PR flack, but that you should be aware the reporter is using your natural aversion to uncomfortable pauses against you and the best defense is to not let them bother you. Stop, think about exactly what you want to say, and say it. This isn't a good defense against ending up like Homer Simpson, but it helps when dealing with someone honest, and most reporters are honest. (They really aren't in it for the money.)
Also, if you ever feel you've been actively misrepresented, get in touch with an editor. Believe it or not, reputable shops really do take that sort of thing pretty seriously.
Permalink Reply by Davo on May 10, 2011 at 9:35am


Was this reporter dressed like a pimp or in any other silly get up?

Maybe you were James O'Keefe'd.

notoriousDUG said:

Reporters also get their stories from twisting quotes, tricky editing and misrepresenting the story/angle/image they want to use you to portray.  I have been in/in the news three times in my life and of two of those times my position, my words and my message was grossly twisted to fit the story that the reporter wished to put out there.  One time it was excerpting my statements and taking things out of context to completely change what I was saying.  The other was a chopping up my statements, editing them to fit in with other stuff creating a story that conveyed the exact opposite message the reporter told me the story was going to convey; that tricky fucker interviewed me for over and hour only to use about 3 minutes of footage which reinforced his message leaving tons of interview that invalidated almost EVERY SINGLE POINT HE MADE IN THE STORY on the cutting room floor.  I also have several friends who have been abused/betrayed by the media in the exact same manner.  Now, I am not saying EVERY reporter or journalist is scum sucking goat boy but based on my life experience there is an awful high percentage of them who are dirt bags.

 

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