Clutch Magazine

[AngelPhiSig]

I did a search and didnt find anything...

This came over our Phi Sig advisors and such listserve and we are told to tell all of our chapters that this is a BIG no-no and that we do not represent ourselves this way...

Heres the email:

Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 3:30 PM
Subject: Spread the word- sorority contest for national magazine
In the Clutch Sorority Contest
To Whom It May Concern:

Hitting the newsstands June 1, "In the Clutch" will be a combination of Sports Illustrated and Maxim all wrapped up in one. With our list of qualified writers and publishers, we are bound to reach and exceed all magazines currently in circulation. So why are we contacting you? Well, I have been asked by the CEO of Intensity publishing to contact every nationwide sorority that I possible can in order to find the most "Clutch"
sorority. Our decision will be based on group personality, appearance, and sorority chemistry.

In order for us to base our decision we will need a few points of
information from you. First we will need a group picture preferably
digital) from a picnic or social event that includes the majority of your sorority. Next, please send us a brief article (250- 1000 words max) explaining a little about your sorority and events that you participate in. Comedy is always a plus and will be viewed in a higher light. If your sorority is chosen, we will contact you immediately for your group consent.

Every monthly issue will include a whole section for the conference winner where we will include your article and picture(s). This is a great way to earn national recognition and will benefit your sorority, especially around rush time. At the end of the year, we will choose finalists from each conference nation wide. The winner will receive $500 towards any charitable event, 50 two year subscriptions and an invitation to the first annual "In the Clutch" party.

If you have any questions or want to request information, you can email, write, or call to the address below. We will be contacting you soon.

Thanks for your time,

Travis Russell
Jenny Jardim - Editor
(contact info removed to prevent people from contacting them about doing this)

In the Clutch is a college sports magazine which features athletes, sports, students, and college life in a way that has never been attempted before. The ultimate goal of the publication is to find the yet- uncovered action, humor, and truth in all aspects of college sports and the culture of its players and fans. The contributor's voices and photos represent the great variety of ideas, places, faces, and experiences across the college
campuses of America- big and small. From hilarious half- time games and jokes to one- of- a kind sporting coverage, a new leader has emerged in youthful and hip journalism

What are eveyone elses opinions? Have you heard about this?

[GammaPhiBabe]

I'm an advisor for a chapter of Gamma Phi and our international headquarters sent out a memo stating that none of our chapters should participate in this.

I agree with them. I would strongly discourage it...you never know how you will be represented when you do something like this!

[AZpinkkittie]

"In the Clutch" will be a combination of Sports Illustrated and Maxim all wrapped up in one.

Well, based on this description, I can only guess that "wholesome" is not one of the things they will try to convey about you.

[33girl]

The $500 to your philanthropy is nice, but what is the point of offering 50 free subscriptions for what seems to be a men's magazine to a sorority??!!?

Now if they were offering gift certificates to Saks or something, I think people might start saying phooey on nationals....LOL.

[WhiteDaisy128]

The $500 to your philanthropy is nice, but what is the point of offering 50 free subscriptions for what seems to be a men's magazine to a sorority??!!?

Yes, $500 is nice, but there are other ways to make or raise the money. We are super lucky and we have a fraternity that is willing to give Service for Sight $500 if we send 6 girls out this summer to help then with one of their philanthrophy events that takes place in the summer (which is why they are having trouble getting help)...all we have to do is draw names out of a container for a raffle! Sounds like a good deal to me! I'll be there!

[Beryana]

AOII's International President also sent out a memo telling chapters they are not to participate as most media does not portray Greek Life in a positive manner. ("As you know, the media is very good at portraying Greeks in a negative way; therefore, this would not be positive PR for AOII. Please do not respond to or participate in this opportunity")

Sarah

[CutiePie2000]

I tipped off Delta Gamma's PR lady,and here is the word from Delta G:

WARNING

Representatives from a new magazine titled In the Clutch are in the process of contacting collegiate chapters of Delta Gamma and other inter/national sororities. In a self-proclaimed Maxim-like format, they hope to name the most “Clutch” sorority, based purely on superficial characteristics.

Be advised that no chapter of Delta Gamma may participate in this contest.

[aephi alum]

Why don't they just change the name to "Sorority Life Magazine"

[Kevin]

Originally posted by Beryana
AOII's International President also sent out a memo telling chapters they are not to participate as most media does not portray Greek Life in a positive manner. ("As you know, the media is very good at portraying Greeks in a negative way; therefore, this would not be positive PR for AOII. Please do not respond to or participate in this opportunity")

Sarah

That attitude might be at the root (certainly not the sole cause) of our PR problems. If you assume the media doesn't have anything good to say and then do not tell them anything good.. well the bad things have a way of happening on their own.

[33girl]

ktsnake, I agree somewhat, but not on this one...it sounds like another boobfest mag. If it was a professional journal or something that would be a different story, but I have the feeling the group they choose will be based primarily on their average cup size.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by 33girl
ktsnake, I agree somewhat, but not on this one...it sounds like another boobfest mag. If it was a professional journal or something that would be a different story, but I have the feeling the group they choose will be based primarily on their average cup size.

I'll agree with you on the specific magazine. However, from a national PR director a statement that essentially calls the media "bad" is not exactly putting the best foot forward with them. If I were a member of the media and caught wind of how I was thought of, regardless of how I'm supposed to be unbiased I think that would change the way I communicated with the organization. I'd treat it more as a hostile entity.

That forces the organizations PR style to be reactionary only. That's NEVER good.

[The1calledTKE]

Note to self, subscribe to clutch magazine.


j/k ya'll! lol

[madmax]

Originally posted by ktsnake
That attitude might be at the root (certainly not the sole cause) of our PR problems. If you assume the media doesn't have anything good to say and then do not tell them anything good.. well the bad things have a way of happening on their own.

Ditto. You lose $500 bucks and a chance to sell yourselves in a positive manner. The bad PR will still make the news and these policies only prevent positive PR.

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by ktsnake
I'll agree with you on the specific magazine. However, from a national PR director a statement that essentially calls the media "bad" is not exactly putting the best foot forward with them. If I were a member of the media and caught wind of how I was thought of, regardless of how I'm supposed to be unbiased I think that would change the way I communicated with the organization. I'd treat it more as a hostile entity.

That forces the organizations PR style to be reactionary only. That's NEVER good.

I agree. If you think about it rationally -- the chapters who follow their organizations' rules and WOULD give positive PR to Greek life if given a chance wouldn't talk to magazines or newspapers about their sorority because HQ forbids it. Those who don't follow the rules HQ has set -- about drinking or hazing or whatever -- would also be more likely to break rules and appear in this magazine, thus making it more likely to inspire a negative portrayal of Greek life.

I do think the sororities are wise to avoid participating in this particular contest, but in general I think it's a rule that needs to be rethought.

[Kevin]

Say I'm a reporter.

I'm doing a story about the Lambda Lamda Lambda fraternity house. The lead is that their neighbors have been complaining because they are noisy.

I knock on the Tri-Lams door. Their president tells me that per HQ they cannot speak with reporters. I still have a deadline... So I go to the neighbors. They tell me all kinds of stuff, not much of it can be printed but I do find a few citizen's noise complaints on file at the local PD.

At this point I have a story and I air it. If I'm a TV reporter I'll have sound bites with police spokesmen, pissed off neighbors and plenty of b-roll of the Lambda Lambda Lambda house. I fairly gave the fraternity the ability to give their side -- which would probably be that this is a dry house, there are no parties here and that the music wasn't even coming from their house. That would have totally changed my story.

So now the fraternity and all GLO's in the area are backed into a corner. There is new public senitiment that GLO's next to people's property will lower property values even further. New zoning restrictions are called for by the public.

This MIGHT be where your HQ, local alums, the school or IFC/NPC would step in.

Problem is, the whole situation could have been lessened or even completely averted had the chapter been allowed to speak for itself.