Bad press?

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by blueangel

Ouch! As a member of "the media" I find that generalization a bit unfair. "The media" also includes fraternity and sorority members (like me). There is no a conspiracy to unearth the secrets of fraternities and sororities. 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.

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.

[Tom Earp]

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?

[WesternAlumn]

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

[AGDee]

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.

[RACooper]

Originally Posted by WesternAlumn

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

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.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

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.

(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.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

(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.

[valkyrie]

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

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

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.

[tunatartare]

wide open mind you

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

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.

LMAO

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

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.

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.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

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

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.

[valkyrie]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

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.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

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.

I stand Corrected!

But, I think You know what I ment!

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