CTV Coverage of Airsoft in Prince Albert
 

YouTube- CTV News - Airsoft in Shellbrooke, SK


Troy, fantastic work! Thats one of the most balanced news reports involving airsoft that I've seen to date. Your on camera demeanor and your very clear message comes through and I think this kinda of coverage is what we need.

Kudos!

+1...Well done indeed.

Very well spoken.

Would love to get some feedback on how they edited it.

Very well covered, the most important point I would have stressed after the Police officer spoke of their risk, outline our risk and responsibility in owning them as well. Only uncase it at the field or at home for repair/maintenance and their wont be a problem.

Anyone else here think we need a thread that's stickied that has a basic list of speaking points that anyone in the community could use if they have an opportunity to get in front of a camera?

We were issued a card for the Forces and it's really well put together. It covers how to handle media types as well. How to take control of an interview etc.

I think making something like that available to the community here might be worthwhile.

Troy did a great job because he was clearly lucid and quick enough on his feet to keep his wits about him. Do you honestly believe that just because we post a list of "talking points" anyone upto and including the guy that wrote said talking points will remember them or if by miracle of chance they actually kept the card on them they would remember to use it it could prove useful so it's really a 50/50 kinda thing.

What would serve this sport infinitely more then a list of what to say would be a group of individuals already involved in the sport that are well versed at public speaking and are willing to represent the community in the capacity of media relations. However having thus said this, this is an extremely tall order and can easily backfire.

Cheers.

Great piece, shows a greater focus on the legit use of ASG's.
Blackthorne I think the ASC community could definatly use a reference card for chatting with the media or the Airsoft PooPooers.
But keep telling Paintballers that Airsoft Hurts more.
Cheers

Rarely is there ever any media coverage of airsoft in Canada that isn't lopsided and edited to shit. No matter how great their initial intentions of the resporting is, their ultimate purpose is usually to instill fear into the hearts and minds of the ignorant masses as if airsoft guns are a an evil, scourge that will bring an end to civilized society as we know it.

I don't think the piece as a whole was spectacular, but it was good. To someone ignorant of airsoft, it may raise more questions than it answered. But I will give it full credit in the sense that it was well balanced and showed both sides of the equation without bias. I commend the reporter and / or editor for not applying the typical fear mongering attitudes and editing the clips to make us sound like some crazy militant gun nuts or budding criminals-in-training. The lack of bias is what any reporter should aim for - report the facts from all sides of the argument without injecting personal ideologies. Kudos to CTV for that.

That went surprisingly well, with all things considered.

Yes I honestly believe it or I wouldn't have posted it. Not everyone on this board are complete idiots. Even if folks had a chance to read it only once, some of it might stick, and be useful when cornered by a media weasel.

Been tried, and as has happened on many occasions, the community proved it couldn't organize itself out of a wet paper bag.



A post is free, has good exposure, and can happen right now. Organizing figureheads could take months, has no owner or driver, and might very well need funding.

I see what you are aiming for but I think my idea is simpler :D

Dude, we the community are not the ones that chose who and when to talk to the media. A reference card crap shoot that it is, would be better. As a direct to media reference, and as a reference to the players on how to present AS to inquiring minds. Also some things that a player would think cool or funny to say and not realize how the edit would make it look. We need some cunning linguists to draft this:)

"Prince Albert", not "Prince Alberta". Hehe. (Some people might think it's from Alberta or something)

Yes, I am a retard. Thanks, fixed.

I'm happy some people can see our sport. Might have some people interested someone should plug ASC

Well done man!

fairly ok,,,but generally just a crock of crap,cuz nothing is gona be changed in the future since this piz of news...

News Reports never seem to do justice to airsoft. There was a CBC report a few months ago on the quality of the gun compared to real firearms.

Now I've shot both electric and gas airsoft guns but, this woman presenting the cbc report seemed to recoil back like she was shooting a 12 gauge shotgun...

Her general conclusion seemed to be that they should be banned.

You said CBC - of course they say they should be banned. It the CBC -the largest liberal mouthpiece in Canadian media. And the best part is - your taxes pay for it!

Actually that is pretty much the opinion of all networks, not just CBC.

What had happened before this is there were two incidences of individuals in Prince Albert being arrested at gunpoint by police for carrying/brandishing/shooting AirSoft guns in public in the city of Prince Albert. None of us who enjoy this sport like to hear about such things. I felt compelled to contact CTV news and offer them a perspective on "real" AirSoft. I fired off an e-mail and heard back from a reporter in a week or so.

We arranged a day for him to come out and film and interview. Before the camera was rolling we talked a bit about it and then he started filming. His line of questioning was reasonable, and there was a LOT more I commented on that what made it into the final segment. I had no idea he was going to juxtapose what I was trying to convey with the concerns of law enforcement, but it gave the story context which would be invaluable for the average viewer. Sure there are a few points that were left out that I would have liked to see included like the fact that AirSoft is good physical activity and that it is essentialy a form of "tag" not actually simulating the killing of someone.

My goal was to elucidate people as to the merits of AirSoft as opposed to the usual "guns are evil" mantra that is pervasive in the media. I feel that was done fairly well and that more milage is coming out of the YouTube video than the original blurb on our local tv station.

Also it is Shellbrook without the "e" on the end

Troy your answers were well delivered and you're a great public speaker; thanks for being such a good spokesman for the sport.

It was a very good piece, and surprisingly balance considering it comes from CTV a network only slightly less socialist than the CBC. Typical police reaction though( I will refrain from expressing my opinion of policing in this country today)

Sorry forgot to mention the most important part, Troy you were perfect in the interview and your initiative to counterbalance the image damage done by some idiots was brilliant.

Actually I thought the police reaction was honest and non-judgmental. Being a member of the emergency response community, I appreciate his concern for his members safety and the safety of the public in their response (ie: not wanting to initiate a high risk take down in public) and the fact that his suggestion was to act responsibly and keep them in your home. Notice he did not say ban or outlaw them. I think it was one of the most balanced responses from a police spokesman that we've so far had on camera. Give him some credit guys.

I'm with Scarecrow here. The cop said nothing negative at all. All he said is that police have a concern over the realistic looking guns, and it's a legitimate concern. And his advice was correct as well. It basically boiled down to saying if you own them, use them responsibly and there won't be any issues. If you ask any responsible airsoft gun owner on this forum, they'll tell you the same thing.

Sir, I don't think you know what socialism is.

Troy, great job with the interview! It would have been nice to see a longer piece, but it was still good. Also, props for wearing a russian uniform while doing it. Go Motherland! :p

WTF is this liberal bashing? Do you really think the conservatives and the Christians are going to vote FOR these?

It doesn't matter who brings it up, if it becomes an issue, both the liberals and conservatives will ban it. It's about emotions and votes. Black guns are scary. Scary things get banned for votes.

This political system is pretty fucked up, but it's not because of a single party. If you want to preserve some liberties though, vote Libertarian.

And Bob Sickinger, yeah, Tubyboulin is right. You don't know what socialism is.

I give it five years.

In five years, either pot will be legal, or airsoft will be banned.

Depends on the direction of our country - towards civil liberties, or away from them.

I agree there isn't any specific political side that will be FOR them if it becomes an issue. It'll just turn into a similar debate like the one about violent games being the cause of violence.

Although an impossible thing, let's just hope that not too many idiots get a hold of Airsoft guns and commit crimes.

Loved the report, glad to know there are some honest reporters out there still.

And Kid, you have your own thread to talk about Airsoft being banned, keep it there.

Post was made before I made the thread. 16 minutes before.:)

Thanks for the summary at the end of it, BTW.

Liberal is a political view NOT JUST A PARTY. Conservative is the opposite view also NOT JUST A PARTY. Just thought i'd clear that up for you.

So? What's your point?

Does that make it cool to bash liberal thinkers?

http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dicti...rch&va=liberal

"Liberal" minded people aren't the ones who tend to ask for things to be banned.

no, nor is it cool to bring politics into this thread. Can we just say "good job on a (finally!) balanced news report", or do we have to have another session of armchair quarterbacking about politics?

There's already enough of that bullshit on ASC. You want to change something? Stop ranting about it and go cast a vote in the next election, or run for an office.

I, for one, VOTE we keep this political crap to a minimum.

...so did anyone else get infraction points yet? I got two. One for "useless post" and one for calling pus an idiot.

And BTW, what is this thread doing in Airsoft Gun Discussion?

You earned both... be proud.

/sarcasm

*edit* I know we're not supposed to discus infractions, but if your gonna boast about it like that...

Yeah, one of my friend's friends got his gun confiscated when Police were investigating explosions reported by the neighbors. Why he would just leave it out in the open on his bed is one boat load of stupidity. But then again, this is also the same guy who told me "I just go out with shorts and a t-shirt. Why do I need goggles?"

I do the same with my newsroom. I have them well versed now when it come to coverage of airsoft. They know there are for sport and don't buy into the fear that is generated by authorities.