My chance to guide the media (with your help)

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As many of you know, I will be speaking on a variety of topics at the upcoming Y2K Preparedness Expo in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

After speaking with the expo organizer, I convinced him to have a special session open only to media members with press passes. He has been inundated with requests for such passes. So, I have a chance to (gently?) guide them on how to cover the Y2K story in the next several months.

I have many ideas/suggestions, and I know that there was an earlier thread along a similar vein (which I will hunt down and print up). However, I am asking for input from anyone who cares to address the issue. If you had a room full of reporters, how would you help to steer them?

I am open to all suggestions. I will, of course, report back with the results of my presentation.

-- Steve Hartsman (hartsman@ticon.net), January 30, 1999

Answers

Steve,

give them GN's basic questions to ask utilities, etc...and challenge them to prove GN's conclusions wrong by using those very same questions with the local utilities in your area...

just a thought, Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), January 30, 1999.


I would invite Paul Milne as a guest speaker.

I'm serious. I'm sure Paul would do a good job - he grasps the macro- economic ans systemic nature of the problem very well, he understands what's NOT being done and the likelyhood of segments of the country making it or not. Finally his unique delivery style should get by even the most jaded journalist's pre-conceived notions.

Andy

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 30, 1999.


Steve- Good luck on your presentation. I think I would pick a couple of the reporters and do some research on the infrastructure in their home areas.... you know, power, water, local government readiness status, etc. Then present it and see if you don't motivate a few to do some investigative reporting!

-- R.A. Mann (ramann@hotmail.com), January 30, 1999.

"I would invite Paul Milne as a guest speaker. I'm serious. ..."

Just get him to wear a suit! I picture him as a guy with the a brilliant mind and vast knowledge on the topic, but the mouth of a drunken sailer, and the stage presence of Ted Kazinsky.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous.com), January 30, 1999.


Anon 99 --

Then you missed both his TV (voice only) appearance on CNN and the photo of him in the newspaper. He would do a very good job -- if the format allowed him to develop points.

-- De (dealton@concentric.net), January 30, 1999.



It was Gary North's voice and content that made me wake up and smell the coffee. Paul Milne would be perfect for the job! He is the voice of reason.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), January 30, 1999.

Steve: Make it personal. Show them the latest readiness report for the nearest nuclear power plant, the 10Q for the top three or four employers in the state, Rick Cowles deconstruction of the NERC report, the list of medical technology that is y2k senstive. That's just background for them, but point out you have just handed them the lead paragraphs for at least four major articles with local (!) angles. Note Leo's thread, above this one, on the survey showing that people want hard local/regional information to make personal y2k decisions, not more gun-toting survivalist kook stories. And make the point that their readers are interested in this!!! Lehman's and Walton's and WalMart aren't being stripped bare by nut cases, but by people just like them. "And no, I can't stand here and tell you with 100 percent certainty that we face disaster -- but I sure can't tell you we don't either. Our culture, our society, our civilization has never faced a challenge like this before. Anyone who tells you that everything is going to be fine or that everything is going to hell is talking through his hat. But there are people with a lot more expertise in this area than I have who are deeply worried. When a highly trained meteorologist tells me that the biggest, baddest hurricane in history could make landfall in my town, I don't smile and walk away shaking my head. I make a few sensible precautions. And there are plenty of programmers and other experts out there right now who are terrified of y2k."

Above all, Steve, don't say anything that will allow them to paint you as a fringe type. You are the guy next door. Do NOT bring up Paul Milne or Gary North in a roomful of reporters who are just aching to make them the poster boys for y2k. If one of the reporters brings them up, smile and say there is a wide sprectrum of opinion on y2k. I know the urge is there to say: "Worst-case scenario -- in 18 months half the people in this room are dead." Don't do it, because that's all their articles will focus on.

Cash, ex-newspaper reporter and editor.

-- Cash (cash@andcarry.com), January 30, 1999.


I mean spectrum, of course. As an addition, you might point out that even the American Red Cross is urging people to take precautions. And knowing the lead time needed for major decisions in large organizations, I would bet the warning process began during Elizabeth Dole's tenure there, a possibility that will certainly perk up a few media ears.

-- Cash (cash@andcarry.com), January 30, 1999.

Please keep us posted on the results and the articles that are written

-- Linda A. (adahi@muhlon.com), January 30, 1999.

Don't get conservative now Steve. The media are only getting ifs, maybes and buts and a barrage of optimisistic spin. I have talked to two reporters already and was quoted in the paper both times. I decided I was not going to be afraid to tell it like I believe it. You need to look these reporters in the eye and tell them this problem is severe. On Yourdon's other site he has a list of quotes from the experts, officials etc. Print it out and give each one a copy.

You need a psychology. How many people are preparing after they read articles that end up on a light note or are filled with optimism? My psychology is to give worst case because it invites questions, it makes news, and some of it gets through to readers. Explain to them what Sen Bennett said about the media in his article on y2ktoday.com . Reporters will never write to warn until they get convicted there is a problem. Pray and then do your best.

Be strong, be of good courage. And it is important when talking worst case to speak very calmly.

-- b (b@b.b), January 30, 1999.



Below are copied from my comments about the very misleading "CNN poll" results:

Answers to that poll, even when rigged to find outlandish results, show much more alarm than I expected + 40-60% predicting at least serious levels of "gloom".

The correct answer - in every case about Y2K, is "sometimes", "maybe", or "it depends" == for example, on whether power, telephones (nationwide and local) are available, and whether the individual agency or bank has prepared itself.

Also, even if the "ATM" for example works, will your account be credited (debited) correctly?

The results, even when so skewed by the poor questions, indicate a credible level of awareness - but about trivial stuff: why does the media give a d**m about VCR's? About old PC's in schools? About trivial hacked-over garbage "airplanes will fall from sky?"

Don't they understand that people will likely be completely without POWER, LIGHTS, JOBS, WATER, 911 service, SEWAGE, GAS and GASOLINE, and readily avaialble FOOD? Even "for short periods of time" (as promised by the federal government) doesn't this concern the media at all?

Also: remind them that polls don't matter - this is a technical matter that will happen regardless of whether get ready for it or not.

It doesn't matter what anybody, any expert, or any politician thinks will happen - the systems will either remain in service with only a few failures, remain somewhat in service with widespread intermittent failures, or will have widespread long-term failures lasting several weeks. It doesn't matter what they report now - they will be proved wrong - or proved right - next year.

Regardless of their personal beliefs or personal preferences, they will face the results of their decision to be ready for problems, or to believe the government and be ready for nothing - with no power, no lights, no heat, no water, no 911, no paycheck, and no food.

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), January 30, 1999.


Steve,

Michael Hyatt has a list of questions that reporters should ask when investigating Y2K compliance. Hope this helps. Here's the link:

http://www.michaelhyatt.com/editorials/journal.htm

"Where Is Investigative Journalism When You Need It?"

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 30, 1999.


Steve

My hat is off to you! Good luck!

My only advice to you would be to show yourself as the reasonable sort of fella I know you are, firm and fair. Stay away from G North and Milne D+G scenarios, it will diminish your credibility.

You are not going to convince them of the worst, but you have an excellent chance to prime the pump. As Francis used to sing, "Nice and easy does it, everytime"

Again, GOOD LUCK!!

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), January 30, 1999.


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