Jerry Bromenshenk and others have commented on the devious behavior of
reporters.  It reminds me of the posting by Tom Sanford in a beta edition
of his newsletter (May, 1999), as follows:

**********

Here is the beta edition of the May Newsletter.  Again, comments are
solicited.       Tom Sanford

Apis-Apicultural Information and Issues
Florida Extension Beekeeping Newsletter
Volume 17, Number 5, May 1999

The following should always be kept in mind when talking to reporters:
1.  Individual Rights -- No one from the press has the right to violate
your individual rights.

2.  Honesty -- Never mislead or lie to a reporter. If the situation is
under litigation, say this is so; if there is a question about profits,
dollars or proprietary information, you can defer/refuse answering based on
not informing competitors in the marketplace.

3.  Buzz Words -- Never repeat an expression or inflammatory statement made
by a reporter. As an example, if you are asked to what do you attribute
this catastrophe, do not repeat the word "catastrophe." It then becomes
attributable to you and you alone; you will "own" it.

4.  Hostility -- Never get angry; keep cool and remember the reporter
always has the last word.

5.  Off the Record -- There is no such thing; if you don't want it
reported, don't say it.

6.  Estimates -- Never make numerical estimates in time or dollars. Say
that the incident is under investigation and you will provide accurate
information when it becomes available.

7.  Reporter Verification -- Ask for identification, the purpose of a
reporter's activities, media affiliation and telephone number.

8.  Bridging -- Try to bridge the gap between a reporter's wish to be
negative and providing a positive statement about your activity.

9.  Statistics -- If you are not aware of statistics provided by a
reporter, say so and ask for them in writing before commenting.

10.  Deadlines -- All reporters are on deadlines, but you are not. Take all
the time necessary to avoid hasty comments. The fact that a microphone is
stuck in your face doesn't mean you have to say something. Dead air time is
not likely to appear on television.

********

   Those rules, of course, hardly apply when writers breach professional
behavior to the extent given in the recent postings.

                                                        Adrian

Adrian M. Wenner                    (805) 963-8508 (home phone)
967 Garcia Road                     (805) 893-8062  (UCSB FAX)
Santa Barbara, CA  93106  [http://www.beesource.com/pov/wenner/index.htm]

********************************************************************
*
*    "To have one's opinions prefabricated can be a source of great
*   comfort and relief.  It relieves one of the responsibility of
*   choice."
*                                          Murray Levin, 1971
*
********************************************************************