[MR] Maxim Magazine

Tue Apr 30 09:00:08 PDT 2013

We here in Cyddlain Downs/Nottinghill-coill have had a mixed bag of media relations. Our first one with The State was good, but folk focused on the brutality of a couple of our fighters, sigh. The one from Hidden Columbia was considerably better! The gentleman came out to our Baronial Birthday, got dressed up in garb, Dame Morwenna was appointed his "guide" (Wonderful person to do so!), there were a couple of people who tried to be "comical", but they were discussed and gratefully edited out.  feel free to view this - https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150108677341481

Now the background work was me. I contacted the station, arranged for Andy and his cameraman (lady) to attend, sent them the media relations packet, and kept the canton and the Barony in the loop, and lots of email correspondence with Andy!). There were a couple snags, but as a testament to how awesome my canton and barony is, they were quickly resolved. The media relations seneschal was also sent a copy of the broadcast (so did anyone else who asked for a copy). I'll locate my AAR (after action review) for this (a habit I got into because of Wilhelm)and shoot it out.

Personally, a good communication with the reporter is essential for a good story; but sometimes, they just want to lampoon a group in an attempt of humor. All I can say is:  Pick your media sources. 

Lady Marie Hélène of the New Forest
Chatelaine, Canton of Cyddlain Downs

________________________________
 From: "Groff, Garth (ggg9y)" <ggg9y at virginia.edu>
To: Merry Rose <Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 11:00 AM
Subject: Re: [MR] Maxim Magazine

M'Lady Lorelei and Friends,

It sounds like we were slammed. News outlets love stories about the unusual, and are always going to focus on what is odd and freaky. It is certainly disrespectful to the subjects, and is journalistic bullying. Sadly, there is no way you can undo the damage, except to rely on people forgetting over a long time. For the SCA it is embarrassing, but nothing compared to the hatchet job I was subjected to by a radio commentator in Los Angeles when I did media relations for the Coast Guard (I told her to stop the tape read her the riot act, and I don't care if she let the tape run while I dressed her down, though I doubt she would have wanted to broadcast me . . . uh . . . questioning her journalistic professionalism; it was a satisfying moment!).

In Isenfir we've talked about this sort of thing concerning our local media, and I was told not to try and contact TV and print sources regarding public demonstrations because bad stuff like this happened in the past. The conclusion of the more senior members was that we are better off avoiding the media, and I now agree. The only way I would bring in the media (with appropriate approval) is if I was already friends with a reporter, and he/she had been introduced to the SCA way in advance.

Yours Aye,

Lord Mungo Napier, The Archer of Mallard Lodge
Read "The Tale of Mungo Napier": 
http://people.virginia.edu/~ggg9y/napier1.html

-----Original Message-----
From: atlantia-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org [mailto:atlantia-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of Lorelei Elkins
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 10:23 AM
To: Siegfried
Cc: Merry Rose
Subject: Re: [MR] Maxim Magazine

One does not really expect "good reporting" from Maxim Magazine.

L

On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 5:43 PM, Siegfried <siegfried at crossbows.biz> wrote:

> So it appears that the SCA got a full feature length writeup in Maxim 
> Magazine, with big photographs/etc.
>
> It's not in a good light.
>
> The title of the article is "Game of ... Dorks".
>
> And they lambast the fact that we are sitting around drinking Monster
> Energy drinks, and have Cobra Commander stickers on our helms.   (I'll
> note that it wasn't an Atlantian Event, with our appearance laws.
> Therefore, the pictures show a lot of people in rather modern looking 
> equipment on the field)
>
> Just thought folks might want to know, since I hadn't heard it 
> mentioned here yet.
>
> Siegfried
>
> --
> Barun Siegfried Sebastian Faust, OP - Baron Highland Foorde - Atlantia 
> http://hf.atlantia.sca.org/ - http://crossbows.biz/ - http://eliw.com/ 
> ========================================================================
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