X-Message-Number: 15831
Date: Fri, 09 Mar 2001 12:10:40 -0800
From: Natasha Vita-More <>
Subject: Re: CryoNet #15821 - #15826

>Message #15825
>Date: Thu, 08 Mar 2001 14:08:03 -0500
>From: fair4us <>
>Subject: Does Alcor Discourage Publicity; If So, Why?
>
>Perhaps someone "in the know" would care to comment on the below excerpt 
>from the recent Salon.com article:
>
>"Alcor is not as forthcoming as Ettinger, either, charging journalists 
>$2,000 for access to its facilities and asking that they sign a media 
>agreement before granting interviews."
>
>First, is this accurate information?  If so, why is Alcor apparently 
>discouraging publicity with its benefits such as membership growth?

I don't' see this as discouraging publicity.  However, I think Fred
Chamberlain could answer your question. I wouldn't even assume to be in the
know, but charging a basic fee for an interview or for using one's business
or home for location filming is totally acceptable.

I also agree with asking journalists and filmmakers to sign a type of media
agreement.  I'm beginning to this is essential, especially for an
organization such as Alcor or one of its stature.

Journalists can and often do perform an interview (whether hand written or
tape recorded) and then totally misquote the subject and even fabricate a
story which is seeded with factoids.  Filmmakers can cut and edit anything
a subject is saying to make it suit their particular angle which was not
agreed to or even mentioned in the onset by the producer.

Not all journalists or filmmakers do this.  Some do.  Why would Alcor or
anyone put themselves in a position to be publically insulted just to
benefit an "edge" to a story that brings attention to the periodical or
journalist for the sake of looking good?

I have been interviewed enough to realize that journalist can and do make
up words and put them in quotes and then attach my name to it.  Fortunately
this has never happened in a documentary film or televised program.

The long and short is that Alcor has every right to ask someone coming into
their facility to sign a waiver.  The fact that they care so much about
their reputation enhances my respect for how they conduct their own publicity.

Natasha

metaCulture
http://www.natasha.cc

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=15831