Advice needed please

[NRGboy]

Our system was busted over the Solstice weekend. It was quite a big operation, helicopters, riot vans and road blocks were involved. I couldn't believe the extent that the police had gone to stop our party. We were miles away from any houses and the noise couldn't even be heard from 800m away. What got my back up was that my brother was mugged last year, in a village (rural crime) and it took the police over 7 days to respond, subsequently they never caught the thieving scum.
I was out raged at how much money and effort had gone into stopping us from partying when the police are not concentrating on the real crime problems in our area.
Our local paper had published an article a few days after titled 'Police take hard stance against illegal raves'. I also found an article a few days later from a resident of a near by town the title of that article was 'Police are tackling the wrong sort of crime' the guy talked about how bad the crime is where he lives and the poor response time of the Police and why were they targeting party goers when they can't even stop real crime.
This prompted me to write a letter to the editor of the local paper expressing my views on the matter. I have just had a reply from the newspaper saying that they want to publish my story. I feel that this could be a good opportunity for the public to see that parties are not bad and that they don't generate crime, but are just a group of friends enjoying the summer in the outdoors, the way it should be. My concern is though, that the press may write the story from their own perspective and not from mine. Has any body ever done anything like this before that could give advice?
Is it a good idea to speak to the press? I am happy for them to publish my letter but I'm just a bit wary of them taking a story from me. What are your thoughts, please let me know??

[hollyhock]

You sound like someone who is intelligent and coherent enough to deal with the press... just stay wary. Don't miss the opportunity, if you can get the message out there, I'm sure that a lot of people would be sympathetic. Even those people who are against parties would rather the police don't waste everyone's money fighting them (they'll never win :) and start actually preventing crime.

[NRGboy]

Hi ya...Thanks for replying to my post. I am speaking to the press on Wednesday evening. I'm still a bit wary of what they will actually print but they have promised me that they will keep my anonymity.
Where abouts do you live and what parties do you go to?
Our next party probably wont be until the Aug bank holiday but we're planning on joining up with a couple of other systems from our area for a 3 day fest. If you wanna come, let me know and I'll send you more info closer to the time.

[MKP]

I wanna come! pick me pick me pick me (Mike´s jumping about with his hand up)

[Wridmuld]

How did this end?
Did they publish your story as you wrote it or did they screw it up according to the usual drug-myth prejudice?

Just curious.

[NRGboy]

I didn't go ahead with the story in the end. Firstly they told me that they would print my name because the article would be refering to an illegal activaty (not sure why that is) then they wanted to print a picture of me !!! hahaha.........I doooon't think soooo. Shame really, it would have been a good opertunity to let people hear our side of the story.

[General Lighting]

sadly the attiude of the media does not surprise me. Most local newspapers are 90% crime reports direct from the old bills press office, these provide reporters with cheap, easy and mostly accurate copy on a plate.

OTOH dealing with "naughty people" can mean a journo is themselves questioned by cops, made to hand over material, has equipment like cameras and recording gear seized "to obtain evidence" or is held in cells so they miss their deadline (and thus their pay, if they are freelance) - not surprising those who suceed in the business tend to be on the cops' side (They also get inside info about stuff and even accompany cops on raids etc - and having "friends in blue" is important for crime reporters now radio scanners no longer work in much of the UK...)

You do get the odd idealistic young journo trying to put a positive message across - but they will get leaned on by their bosses (even music press would be unlikely to fully support free party reports when their paying advertisers are commercial clubs) - remember media jobs are scare, hard to keep and there is a lot of competition.

Even the most idealistic reporter will cave in when their dream job is under threat..

[globalloon]

Originally posted by NRGboy
they told me that they would print my name

Haven't they heard of maintaining the anonymity of press sources? It's the basic principle of a free press :eek: