X-Message-Number: 6499 Date: Thu, 11 Jul 96 18:33:54 From: Steve Bridge <> Subject: Alcor and foreign television To CryoNet >From Steve Bridge, President Alcor Life Extension Foundation July 11, 1996 Twice during the past week I received calls from cryonicists who have been told by a reporter from NHK (the large Japanese television network) either that "Alcor is greedy and charges for interviews" or "Alcor is prejudiced and doesn't want to do interviews for foreigners." This fellow is either a typically pushy television person or has misunderstood Alcor's policy. Since others of you may have heard the same thing, I thought I would try to cut off the rumors quickly. Alcor is large for a cryonics company; but small in real terms. I am usually the best person to do interviews (and, as President, the staff member most requested); but I have many other responsibilities. The other staff members who could do interviews are also very busy. We simply don't have time to waste filling the insatiable maw of television unless we will get some kind of benefit for it. *Time* is a key word: most TV crews want a full day (often more!) of the time of 2-5 staff members. They don't just want talking heads (so to speak); they want simulated suspensions, ghostly nitrogen vapors, and variety, variety. Alcor cannot afford to have staff time used in unproductive ways. It does not seem likely to me that spending a day (several staff days) in television interviews which will be broadcast only in Asia will benefit Alcor. I think it is unlikely that Koreans, Japanese, or Chinese (or residents of many other countries in the world) will have any significant interest in cryonics for several decades. It is not clear to me that we would even have the logistical ability to *handle* members in Asia, should a lot of interest develop. Therefore, Alcor has developed a policy that we give priority to English-language interviews which will be broadcast in the United States, Canada, England, and Australia. We have recently turned down several interviews even in these areas. We have on rare occasions done programs for Asian television networks; but our policy now is that we only do these when the television company is willing to pay a substantial fee for the time of myself and our staff, since such a fee is the only benefit Alcor is likely to receive from the interview. Interviews for European stations or other locations in the world are done for free only if the benefits appear to worth the time. Otherwise they are offered the same option as the Asians. We usually do try to accomodate foreign *print* reporters, since one person can do the interview and the interviewers are rarely longer than two hours. Steve Stephen Bridge, President () Alcor Life Extension Foundation Non-profit cryonic suspension services since 1972. 7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale AZ 85260-6916 Phone (602) 922-9013 (800) 367-2228 FAX (602) 922-9027 for general requests http://www.alcor.org Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=6499