Re: [meteorite-list] Fact Sheet - Possible Media Solution?
Steve, Your fact sheet is an excellent idea. It brings to mind a couple of publications from ASU called "have you seen a meteorite: and another by U of A's David Kring called "Meteorites and their properties"(1998). Both are very small brochures that give all of the basic facts and even journalists could read it within a few minutes. I have a copy of each if you'd like to see them. I think you are correct in everything you do. After all no matter what you say can be disputed. 5 cents to over $1000. per gram is a good range but certainly misleading. Unless you add a bunch more words and make your point even longer. For example. I doubt that you will ever buy a fall for 5 cents and I believe the record price ever paid for any meteorite was NWA 011. It's initial offering was from $119,000. to $58,000. per gram back in 2003 before pairings were found.. But if you disclose this info you may well get robbed while out in the field. And as for Rubens fossils? We are looking for meteorites with fossils so why not just say it? So, if you find a rock covered with fusion crust and it has fossils I will be happy to take it off your hands. Haha. Although unless it hits someone on the head it will likely be discarded unless we do inform the public of this fact that they may be out there. Like Elton always says " don't ignore the Science". Carl -- Carl or Debbie Esparza IMCA 5829 Meteoritemax meteorh...@aol.com wrote: > Hello List, > > I was greeted this morning with a front page story in the Baltimore Sun. > While it could have been worse, it made me realize I need to do something > to help writers focus on the facts and the real story and not to slide over > and just use the more sensational answers or comments given in an > interview. > > Also, some reports do actually attempt to do more research on their own > before writing, and sometimes they interview amateurs that are even better > at > saying not-so-smart things like those of us with experience are also so > good at doing. > > As Darryl mentioned the other day, reporters tend to resist writing from a > Press Release and usually will work to manufacture their own story from > the ground up based on what they uncover in their interviews. > > So maybe a solution might be a "Fact Sheet" I can have preprinted to give > to the reporters at each interview. > > Of course, if I am not asked a certain question by a reporter, there is a > greater chance I won't offer that fact in my interview. Or if I do, it can > be out of the context of the interview and the reporter might not > understand why what I said was important. > > Time is often a restraint, both in the interview and in the writing to > meet a deadline, so it isn't always the reporters fault that they don't get > around to asking the questions that would paint a clearer picture. > > Maybe a Fact Sheet could be in a F.A.Q. fashion? Or just stated as Facts, > billet style? > > So, I would like some help from you guys. > > I would like some suggestions as to what should be included in a fact > sheet, so that when handed to the reporter, they can refer to it during > and/or > after the interview as they might need. > > For starters, I can list my name and contact information, that would be > good. (Nothing worse than one's name being spelled wrong in the paper.) > > I can list my correct age (which is 43 not 42 as erroneously stated in > today's story). Which does make you pause, if a reporter can't get > someone's > age correct, is it any wonder that other aspects of the story might get > skewed a little (or a lot) one way or another. However, in the case of > Robert > Haag in the Astronomy story a few years back, they listed him as 40 years > old and not 50 years old. A "typo" I am sure! ;-) (Or as someone hinted, > maybe a little slice of Zagami under the table might have helped that typo > to not be spotted in time!) > > How about "Why are meteorites are valuable to science?" Q, with an > appropriate and pithy answer. After all, if it wasn't for the science, we > really > wouldn't have much in the way of higher demand for many of our meteorites. > > Of course, there is a collectors market. And while the words "treasure" > and "hunter" together can give a negative connotation, they can give an > adventurous one as well. And we all have to admit, while it is not all just > for the money, that does play at least a part in why those of us in the > field > do what they do. How can the fact that we are also hunting for the source > of knowledge, not just cash be stated? > > I suppose I could go through all the media stories I have seen lately and > pull out the errors and try to find out why the reporter might have got the > reporting of it wrong. Then find a way to stress, in the Fact Sheet, what > is the correct take should be on it. > > For example, after talking about
Re: [meteorite-list] Fact Sheet - Possible Media Solution?
On Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:06:15 EDT, you wrote: >I would like some suggestions as to what should be included in a fact >sheet, so that when handed to the reporter, they can refer to it during >and/or >after the interview as they might need. > >For starters, I can list my name and contact information, that would be >good. (Nothing worse than one's name being spelled wrong in the paper.) > I was thinking about that yesterday (about building a boilerplate FAQ, not one about you specificly) after that last article. Stay tuned to this bat time, this bat channel. __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Fact Sheet - Possible Media Solution?
G'Day List A lot of good suggestions, but you might want to look at taking some lessons from the politicians, they are really good at balking at questions =) Cheers John -Original Message- From: meteorite-list-boun...@meteoritecentral.com [mailto:meteorite-list-boun...@meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Bob King Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 6:30 AM To: meteorh...@aol.com; Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Fact Sheet - Possible Media Solution? Hi Steve, Since I work at a newspaper as a photographer and understand your frustration, I think a fact sheet is a great idea. Reporters would really appreciate an FAQ-style, one sheet resource. Here are my suggestions on what to include: * Your name and phone number plus one or two other sources to reach and their numbers * Definition of meteor, meteorite, meteoroid, asteroid * Average speed of meteor/meteorite as it enters our atmosphere and then strikes the ground * Average price of the most common type of meteorite (ordinary chondrites) found in a typical fall plus the range as you mentioned * Common misperceptions about meteorites: they're hot, they come down flaming, they're all worth a million dollars. * Where meteorites come from and why they're important to science * Where to send a suspected meteorite to be tested I hope this helps. Bob On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 8:06 AM, wrote: > Hello List, > > I was greeted this morning with a front page story in the Baltimore > Sun. While it could have been worse, it made me realize I need to do > something to help writers focus on the facts and the real story and > not to slide over and just use the more sensational answers or > comments given in an interview. > > Also, some reports do actually attempt to do more research on their > own before writing, and sometimes they interview amateurs that are > even better at saying not-so-smart things like those of us with > experience are also so good at doing. > > As Darryl mentioned the other day, reporters tend to resist writing > from a Press Release and usually will work to manufacture their own > story from the ground up based on what they uncover in their > interviews. > > So maybe a solution might be a "Fact Sheet" I can have preprinted to > give to the reporters at each interview. > > Of course, if I am not asked a certain question by a reporter, there > is a greater chance I won't offer that fact in my interview. Or if I > do, it can be out of the context of the interview and the reporter > might not understand why what I said was important. > > Time is often a restraint, both in the interview and in the writing > to meet a deadline, so it isn't always the reporters fault that they > don't get around to asking the questions that would paint a clearer > picture. > > Maybe a Fact Sheet could be in a F.A.Q. fashion? Or just stated as > Facts, billet style? > > So, I would like some help from you guys. > > I would like some suggestions as to what should be included in a fact > sheet, so that when handed to the reporter, they can refer to it > during and/or after the interview as they might need. > > For starters, I can list my name and contact information, that would > be good. (Nothing worse than one's name being spelled wrong in the > paper.) > > I can list my correct age (which is 43 not 42 as erroneously stated > in today's story). Which does make you pause, if a reporter can't > get someone's age correct, is it any wonder that other aspects of the > story might get skewed a little (or a lot) one way or another. > However, in the case of Robert Haag in the Astronomy story a few > years back, they listed him as 40 years old and not 50 years old. A > "typo" I am sure! ;-) (Or as someone hinted, maybe a little slice of > Zagami under the table might have helped that typo to not be spotted > in time!) > > How about "Why are meteorites are valuable to science?" Q, with an > appropriate and pithy answer. After all, if it wasn't for the > science, we really wouldn't have much in the way of higher demand for > many of our meteorites. > > Of course, there is a collectors market. And while the words > "treasure" and "hunter" together can give a negative connotation, > they can give an adventurous one as well. And we all have to admit, > while it is not all just for the money, that does play at least a > part in why those of us in the field do what they do. How can the > fact that we are also hunting for the source of knowledge, not just > cash be stated? > > I suppose I could go through all the media stories I have seen lately
Re: [meteorite-list] Fact Sheet - Possible Media Solution?
In a message dated 7/10/2009 8:32:40 A.M. Central Daylight Time, deannari...@gmail.com writes: Hi Steve, How about a copy of some facts and maybe misconceptions (eg. they are not radioactive) with some nice photos of other fresh falls that might be published as a 'what to be on the lookout for.' Best, Whitney * Whitney, Thanks. Good ideas. In the past we have provided high res photos at our website(s) for public domain use. Providing that online, and then providing a URL to those photos in the Fact Sheet would be very useful. Thanks, Steve **A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221323031x1201367232/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= JulystepsfooterNO62) __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Fact Sheet - Possible Media Solution?
In a message dated 7/10/2009 8:23:06 A.M. Central Daylight Time, carloselgua...@hotmail.com writes: Hey Steve, You might want to put this first on your fact sheet: "I am not from Chicago." Carl LOL. You know Carl...while I assume you stated that as a joke, that probably is a great idea, to at least put on the Fact Sheet somewhere. It would only take once, for a reporter to make that mix up, and assign a quote to me that came from that other guy, and I would really regret it forever. Thanks Carl. That is definitely going on my fact sheet. Steve **A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221323031x1201367232/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= JulystepsfooterNO62) __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
Re: [meteorite-list] Fact Sheet - Possible Media Solution?
Hi Steve, Since I work at a newspaper as a photographer and understand your frustration, I think a fact sheet is a great idea. Reporters would really appreciate an FAQ-style, one sheet resource. Here are my suggestions on what to include: * Your name and phone number plus one or two other sources to reach and their numbers * Definition of meteor, meteorite, meteoroid, asteroid * Average speed of meteor/meteorite as it enters our atmosphere and then strikes the ground * Average price of the most common type of meteorite (ordinary chondrites) found in a typical fall plus the range as you mentioned * Common misperceptions about meteorites: they're hot, they come down flaming, they're all worth a million dollars. * Where meteorites come from and why they're important to science * Where to send a suspected meteorite to be tested I hope this helps. Bob On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 8:06 AM, wrote: > Hello List, > > I was greeted this morning with a front page story in the Baltimore Sun. > While it could have been worse, it made me realize I need to do something > to help writers focus on the facts and the real story and not to slide over > and just use the more sensational answers or comments given in an > interview. > > Also, some reports do actually attempt to do more research on their own > before writing, and sometimes they interview amateurs that are even better at > saying not-so-smart things like those of us with experience are also so > good at doing. > > As Darryl mentioned the other day, reporters tend to resist writing from a > Press Release and usually will work to manufacture their own story from > the ground up based on what they uncover in their interviews. > > So maybe a solution might be a "Fact Sheet" I can have preprinted to give > to the reporters at each interview. > > Of course, if I am not asked a certain question by a reporter, there is a > greater chance I won't offer that fact in my interview. Or if I do, it can > be out of the context of the interview and the reporter might not > understand why what I said was important. > > Time is often a restraint, both in the interview and in the writing to > meet a deadline, so it isn't always the reporters fault that they don't get > around to asking the questions that would paint a clearer picture. > > Maybe a Fact Sheet could be in a F.A.Q. fashion? Or just stated as Facts, > billet style? > > So, I would like some help from you guys. > > I would like some suggestions as to what should be included in a fact > sheet, so that when handed to the reporter, they can refer to it during > and/or > after the interview as they might need. > > For starters, I can list my name and contact information, that would be > good. (Nothing worse than one's name being spelled wrong in the paper.) > > I can list my correct age (which is 43 not 42 as erroneously stated in > today's story). Which does make you pause, if a reporter can't get someone's > age correct, is it any wonder that other aspects of the story might get > skewed a little (or a lot) one way or another. However, in the case of > Robert > Haag in the Astronomy story a few years back, they listed him as 40 years > old and not 50 years old. A "typo" I am sure! ;-) (Or as someone hinted, > maybe a little slice of Zagami under the table might have helped that typo > to not be spotted in time!) > > How about "Why are meteorites are valuable to science?" Q, with an > appropriate and pithy answer. After all, if it wasn't for the science, we > really > wouldn't have much in the way of higher demand for many of our meteorites. > > Of course, there is a collectors market. And while the words "treasure" > and "hunter" together can give a negative connotation, they can give an > adventurous one as well. And we all have to admit, while it is not all just > for the money, that does play at least a part in why those of us in the field > do what they do. How can the fact that we are also hunting for the source > of knowledge, not just cash be stated? > > I suppose I could go through all the media stories I have seen lately and > pull out the errors and try to find out why the reporter might have got the > reporting of it wrong. Then find a way to stress, in the Fact Sheet, what > is the correct take should be on it. > > For example, after talking about how most meteorites are "common" and > don't offer all that much valuable new information, others do. I went on > that > some are far more desirous to researchers than others, and to collectors as > well. In that context I mentioned that "meteorites can be worth from 5 > cents a gram up to over $1,000 dollars a gram." > > There seemed to be some negative reaction from the York newspaper's story > here on the M-List where that range was mentioned. Well, now the Baltimore > reporter (who was in the same interview as the York reporter) decided to > drop the range I had given and just somehow averaged it a
Re: [meteorite-list] Fact Sheet - Possible Media Solution?
Hey Steve, You might want to put this first on your fact sheet: "I am not from Chicago." Carl _ Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 __ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
[meteorite-list] Fact Sheet - Possible Media Solution?
Hello List, I was greeted this morning with a front page story in the Baltimore Sun. While it could have been worse, it made me realize I need to do something to help writers focus on the facts and the real story and not to slide over and just use the more sensational answers or comments given in an interview. Also, some reports do actually attempt to do more research on their own before writing, and sometimes they interview amateurs that are even better at saying not-so-smart things like those of us with experience are also so good at doing. As Darryl mentioned the other day, reporters tend to resist writing from a Press Release and usually will work to manufacture their own story from the ground up based on what they uncover in their interviews. So maybe a solution might be a "Fact Sheet" I can have preprinted to give to the reporters at each interview. Of course, if I am not asked a certain question by a reporter, there is a greater chance I won't offer that fact in my interview. Or if I do, it can be out of the context of the interview and the reporter might not understand why what I said was important. Time is often a restraint, both in the interview and in the writing to meet a deadline, so it isn't always the reporters fault that they don't get around to asking the questions that would paint a clearer picture. Maybe a Fact Sheet could be in a F.A.Q. fashion? Or just stated as Facts, billet style? So, I would like some help from you guys. I would like some suggestions as to what should be included in a fact sheet, so that when handed to the reporter, they can refer to it during and/or after the interview as they might need. For starters, I can list my name and contact information, that would be good. (Nothing worse than one's name being spelled wrong in the paper.) I can list my correct age (which is 43 not 42 as erroneously stated in today's story). Which does make you pause, if a reporter can't get someone's age correct, is it any wonder that other aspects of the story might get skewed a little (or a lot) one way or another. However, in the case of Robert Haag in the Astronomy story a few years back, they listed him as 40 years old and not 50 years old. A "typo" I am sure! ;-) (Or as someone hinted, maybe a little slice of Zagami under the table might have helped that typo to not be spotted in time!) How about "Why are meteorites are valuable to science?" Q, with an appropriate and pithy answer. After all, if it wasn't for the science, we really wouldn't have much in the way of higher demand for many of our meteorites. Of course, there is a collectors market. And while the words "treasure" and "hunter" together can give a negative connotation, they can give an adventurous one as well. And we all have to admit, while it is not all just for the money, that does play at least a part in why those of us in the field do what they do. How can the fact that we are also hunting for the source of knowledge, not just cash be stated? I suppose I could go through all the media stories I have seen lately and pull out the errors and try to find out why the reporter might have got the reporting of it wrong. Then find a way to stress, in the Fact Sheet, what is the correct take should be on it. For example, after talking about how most meteorites are "common" and don't offer all that much valuable new information, others do. I went on that some are far more desirous to researchers than others, and to collectors as well. In that context I mentioned that "meteorites can be worth from 5 cents a gram up to over $1,000 dollars a gram." There seemed to be some negative reaction from the York newspaper's story here on the M-List where that range was mentioned. Well, now the Baltimore reporter (who was in the same interview as the York reporter) decided to drop the range I had given and just somehow averaged it all out to: "hundreds of dollars per gram" instead. Probably shorter and easier that way for him. I am sure his editor appreciated it being shorter, in fact, maybe it was his editor that shortened it for him. Of course, factually both reporters are not incorrect as to the values, and doing a search on any dealer website and on ebay shows both of those statements to be factually correct. However, maybe I can state that a fact on my Fact Sheet that majority of all meteorites are worth from $0.20 to $2 per gram. And that certain factors determine why they might be worth more or less than that range. Any other suggestions? Oh, I would imagine Ruben might suggest that I add that "Fossils are not found in meteorites." Any others? Steve Arnold of "Meteorite Men" **A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221323031x1201367232/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default
