Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Sperber
This brings up a very important point!
With Dean's 2008 Homework Assignment, it is our responsibility to ensure that we clearly communicate the important things about FIRST.
In reality, whose fault is it that this reporter interpreted the FRC Kick-off event as a "robotics convention," and the Segway as a "scooter?" Is it his for not listening clearly, or ours for not explaining explaining clearly?
It is very important that we all realize that not everyone "gets it." That not everyone understands what FIRST is all about, or what FRC, FTC, FLL and JFLL stand for.
It is our responsibility to ensure that we are telling the right story to the media. If we properly tell the story of FIRST, I truly believe that the media will properly report it....
In short, we shouldn't blame the media for what may very well be our own problem for assuming that they get it! Our goal is to make sure that they get it!
-mike
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Mike -
I completely agree with the central elements of the point you are making. We have to be sure to be clear, concise, and consistent in the message we provide to the media. The information we provide, whether it be about one team member, the team, the region, or the entire FIRST program, must be sufficient to accurately communicate what the program is all about and what we are attempting to accomplish.
However, I am willing to cut folks a little bit of slack in this particular incident. The press interactions during this event were conducted by Giuliani's press team, not by FIRST or anyone actually connected with the kick-off activities. The candidate's press team was provided with the appropriate information about FIRST and the event. However, their focus was to emphasize the particular candidate for whom they work, not the event he was attending. Promoting the event to the press in attendance was a secondary or even tertiary concern for them. It is unfortunate that the FIRST activities could not have had a more prominent role in the resulting stories. But that was driven by the unusual circumstances of the event, not due to inaccurate or incomplete information being provided to the press by FIRST.
-dave