Bad press?
 

I just read an article in my local newspaper about a GLO. Unfortunately, it was not a favourable story. Any suggestions as to help a GLO and / or the Greek community overcome bad press and possible negative attitudes of the local community?

That's rather vague... gonna have to give us more to go on that than :)

tell them you do what you want, you're in a fraternity.

Haw Haw, that is to funny!

When does one ever see good press about a GLO in the media?

Well almost never!

1 % of the time when GLOs do a hell of a lot more than just party and kill people or maime them.

Agree with KDDani, how about more information?

I DO WHAT I WANT!

http://yozora-comet.net/image_set06/cartman.jpg

:D

Maybe this would fit better? http://clicksmilies.com/s0105/schlaf...smiley-003.gif

Can I post a newspaper article here? I have never done this before.

Yes, but give credit due. I know I will catch heck over this, but do it anyway if can!

Interesting read if it opens a few mor eyes.:)

Just post a link so people can click on it.

My advice to you is for your alumni organization to hire a pr firm.

Well, to get back to Your original question about getting better press.

Set up charity events with other GLOs and make sure they are high enough profile for media coverage. Work with local food pantrys, youth groups, senior groups, or what ever.

I have mention before our Hot-Tub-A-Thon where we would have a hot tub on the front lawn in conjunction with a Sorority in the winter.

Manned for 72 hrs. by LXA and Sorority with the steam coming off of the water makes a terific photo.:D Everything was donated and a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood was used to list all donors of food stuffs or money. Pizza was even given to the GLOs free to get their names on the board.

The Charity was the Ronal Mc Donald house so it was well known and apprecited. Made the 3 local TV Stations, City Newspaper, and College New Paper and their web sites.

Cost to us, was electricity and water, pretty cheap for all of the good PR!:)

The media jumps on the stereotypes about Greeks as alcoholic, sex-crazed deviants. That won't change, especially with the excess of binge drinking that goes on in colleges-- they single out fraternity parties. And they single out fraternities (and sororities) because fraternities are esoteric organizations and non-members are absurdly curious as to what goes on behind closed doors. And when isolated hazing incidents occur, additional media speculation and public scrutiny occur.

To overcome bad attidues and bad press, you need to lead by example. Demand academic excellence from your members, treat your members with respect and as adults (read: no hazing), hold events for the community at large that benefits the community and area charities. Hold networking events with alumni (Greek and non Greek), and honor your professors at a special reception. Simply doing the right thing and telling others about it, as well as including them in your organization through special receptions and events will go a long way in shaping public perception.

< journalist >

If something in the story was outright WRONG or inaccurate, please write the editor of that section a (polite) letter explaining the mistake, editors DO print corrections. If it is a style error (example, calling certain sororities a sorority rather than women's fraternities), they keep those things on file for future notice.

However, if the story was just not favourable (example: reporting on hazing)...you're sorta stuck. If it is accurate, it is not really the paper that is at fault, it is the GLO.

Now if this was an opinion piece, you have every right to go ahead and fire off a letter to the editor, and you probably should. Again, if it is well thought out, well written, and makes a point, it will have great impact. Name calling and what have you will only reinforce the stereotype.

Now, on the larger scale of things, to combat bad media image, you've got to stop looking at the media as the enemy. They can be a great tool for your chapter. If you've got a PR chair (or whatever you call it), have them send the local weekly and daily publication press releases on a regular basis about your events. Papers get a TON of stories just from the press releases sent by PR reps, and they are always looking for community stories. Plus, it might bring in more people to your events! If all they see is a PR report about XYZ chairity events coming across their desk every couple of weeks, their opinion is likely to be changed to the better.

Just some thoughts.

Excellent points!:)

I am a former member of the media myself. You know as well as I do that a story about a tragic death (regardless of it being attached to Greek Life) is going to interest your readership and your editor much more than the fraternity bake sale.

Blueangel, you said, "The news stories about hazing incidents occur because the media regularly reads police reports! If you don't want bad press about your fraternity or sorority, don't break the law."

I am in complete agreement with you. The media reports what happens. They also choose what to report. There is nothing wrong with this. What is the "So What" angle on a fraternity bake sale? I'm a bit tired of people whining that the media portrays Greeks negatively. They are reporting what has actually happened. But there is an inherent bias in writing and reporting. We write and publish what we think will be read, talked about and what will sell.

It's nice to have an ally or two who are journalists.

What they've said above has been said before, but nobody really wants to hear it.

When you break the law, it will likely be reported because every media outlet checks with the police and other safety agencies. No newspaper or broadcast organization has enough staff to call every organization in town to find out if they're going to do something good. It's up to you to get the word out, and to do that, your chapter should have a meida relations person of some sort.

Saying that everything in the media is negative toward the Greek System is a cop out.

If you don't want to read bad things about yourself, don't do bad things.

Reporters don't make this stuff up. On the other side, if you want to read or hear something good about yourself, let the media know about it. Every good little thing you do won't make it into the paper or onto the evening news, but if you keep trying, sooner or later you will change what may be a bad attitude toward your chapter or the system.

One final time -- If you break the law, sooner or later you're bound to get that "bad ink." If you obey the rules and the law, you'll be fine. If you break the rules/law and get caught -- don't whine -- you brought it on yourself.

So while all is true, does the news media look for more Eye Catching headlines than the Honey covered ones?

Tom, You know how I feel at times. I do get upset with some of the reporting, but I can also understand why Items are reported. It is Stupidity of said GLOs and then they wonder why?

It always seem bad is reported and good is last page with a 1/3 column.

I do know that We get a lot of press for our hot tub charity event! It is good PR and impressive to boot!

But, a 15 second spot is not a lot?

Here's the link to the original article:
http://www.canoe.ca/Slam/Lacrosse/20...86445-sun.html

and here's how one GLO's response to the original story:
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/CityandR...88269-sun.html

I think the fact that there is a second article talking about them cleaning it up helps a lot. Do they own that house or do they rent it? I know the Alpha Gams at UWO rent their house and sometimes have to fight with the landlord to get things done, but it's a really beautiful, old house with unique architecture.

Okay...

Right first point I should make is that the LFP is always looking for negative articles about the debauchery of the UWO students... and Fraternities make even better targets than the nameless student. They've done exposes of Saugeen, they were the ones that printed numerous articles slamming any parties by the students (except for homecoming because of the $$$ that rolls into London), and of course the articles that constantly attacked The Ridout... until it was shut down.

As for how to combat the bad press... basically ignore it publically - so no angry letters to the editor, and no outbursts by members to the media looking for follow-up. Privately look to the issues that the article brought up; if they are even remotely valid then take measures to eliminate or mitigate them.

As for getting out good press - have a member or members draft "press-releases" to be sent out for philanthropy events, or community relations events (clean-ups, charities, and such), or even homecoming stories from alumni polishing the "townies" egos.

Finally don't get discouraged - after all I understand the frustration of dealing with the overwhelming negative stereotype that first comes to the minds of the Canadian press (and well Canadians in general)...... for our US readers: most in Canada don't really know that Fraternities exist in Canada, so getting the word out that they do exist is the first hurdle... and once that's done then next combatting the negative stereotypes out there - it's another step that can get very taxing at times.

(another former member of the media here - 5 years reporting and a B.S. in Journalism)

These are all good points. Reporters (and more importantly, editors), are going to publish the stories that people want to read. A hazing death or anything that involves the police will get more inches on a page than, as adpiucf said, a bake sale or most philanthropy events. Unfortunately, bombarding papers with press releases isn't always going to work, either. It's not always going to balance out the way it should.

It's not fair to the Greek system, but that's the way journalism works. If your org has done something big (raised a lot of money, done something great working with children, etc.), then by all means get the word out about it. However, also be ready for the fact that the bad news is still going to get published, for the reasons outlined (reading police reports, etc.).

This doesn't mean that the media only wants bad news. It means it wants to publish the news that will affect the greatest number of people in some way, and thus get the readers.

That is what is so sad though is that the public would rather see and wail about bad news than see good news and feel good.:(

Because of the noterity l of what Greeks do, We are always targets and it is called stupidity on Our parts isnt it?

We are a supposed elite group fo persons and then do totally stupid things that make the news and it reflects upon all of us.

Can someone with media experience explain how a story about a lacrosse team's bad experience renting a house is newsworthy?

No, but I can tell you how a story of a lacross team's bad experience renting something else is newsworthy.


Ok, she left it wide open...it had to be said.

wide open mind you

LMAO

Elite, no. Exclusive, yes. The majority of active members: ages 18-23. You do the math on the scale of stupid decision making that goes on outside the organization's guidelines.

Don't know, unless the team was a national team. Even then, I didn't think either of the stories were that well-written. It must have been an extremely slow news day.

Exactly. So blueangel's statement "If you don't want bad press about your fraternity or sorority, don't break the law" isn't necessarily true, because someone somewhere will write a negative story about fraternities or sororities anyway -- as we see in the article here.

The story speaks more to the stupidity of the lacrosse team than anything else. If you rent a house you've never seen (in person or even a photo) expecting it to be a certain way because of what's in the movies, I can't imagine how anybody should be expected to give a rat's ass when you get a dump.

I stand Corrected!

But, I think You know what I ment!:D

I am not sure, but aren't most GLO Members, well except for The South more open to P Members?:D

I guess you'd have to understand the mentality of the London Free Press... right picture a paper that disaproves of everything that doesn't go on in a seniors residence or that doesn't support a "traditional agenda" (think Norman Rockwell) and you essentially have the paper's thrust over the last decade and a half.

They have attacked pretty much everyone and everything that doesn't fit into their small little world of the Rockwellian painting - they don't bother to look any deeper than the surface, nor do they try to acknowledge that there might be other views or even realities... think of a paper run by Rumsfeld, with his "golly gees" and such as a journalistic medium,

Or if you rent a house whose upkeep is restricted by both the annual budget of the active chapter... and the expoitive bylaws of the local community (this is the biggie... if they rent) - then hey suddenly you've conviently, somehow, gotten more fuel for the "students are bad", "educated people ain't all that smart", and "us right thinking townies have always been right" attitude.... now golly gee how did that happen?:rolleyes:

Promote promote promote
 

Organizations that do well getting attention to their projects known how to promote them.
Do you know basic journalism style?
Do you know the name of the managing director, assignment editor, it depends on the media. Go in and meet them, find out when the are off daily deadline.
Ask them what is of interest.
Do you know their deadlines for copy? Alot of club events are put into a wrap up and that is written in advance.
Get a sense of what's good visually. Most papers, local stations stay away from the handing over check shot. Have members engaged in an activity.
Don't assume they (this is mainly local media this all applies to) won't be interested.
Ah, they won't be interested so why bother guarentees the result.
One never knows what will get attention, especially on a slow news day.
I spent a Saturday notebook in hand running around a steamy hot small town with a photographer doing a story on organization car washes. Yep, kid baseball teams, band boosters. It was the editor's idea, which meant it would be done. Had these groups not sent in their notices for the clubs page they wouldn't ended up on the front page article and story.
And when something bad happens, follow a crisis communication plan. If one isn't at hand, ask your national for ideas. Whatever, don't lie to the pesky press, defer to someone capable or cleared to handle such matters. You don't want to be seen in a sound bite followed by XYZ station has learned instead....