grattonja
Line Up and Wait
Smoketown was the center of a media vortex yesterday, as no one can really imagine. As we have, and will continue to, quarterback the actions of the others involved, I thought I would give all a bit of insight into what can be expected at your airport if something like this happens. My wife, who is also an attorney active in litigation and versed in dealing with the press, went out to make sure that they were not taking advantage of some of the folks at the airport who have no idea what all this stuff is about. So I have a bird's eye view of the events of yesterday.
Some things went well at S37 and some things not so well, and I figured this is the place to share for all.
First, it is impossible to really understand what national media scrutiny is like. I try homicide cases, and am used to a few reporters around. Janet told me that she recognized people from every major media outlet between Philly and Harrisburg, all with camera crews, all poking about trying to get a quote from everyone at S37. Anyone who knows Smoketown knows that it is a little, hometown airport where everyone knows everyone and it is close knit. It was a shock to all to be under such scrutiny. These people were literally there, shoving microphones under people's noses, demanding quotes. Literally. Janet had to shoo away CN8, who chose a bad person to bother, as she hates having stuff stuck in her face.
Things that went well:
By dumb luck, the FBO got rid of it's Nixon era carpet yesterday, and the office was effectively closed as the carpeting got replaced. So the media couldn't get into the office to pry about security issues and a bunch of the employees were not in or could easily be sent home. I am going to talk to the rental agency about security here in a day or two. I assume, as the press now knows where we are, they may come back to "test" security.
Mel Glick, the owner, did a decent job of dealing with the media. He had a prepared statement for the general press, and only gave one prearranged interview, to a local reporter, that came off well. He did a good and simple job of managing pr for the airport.
My wife managed to intervene in a couple of attempts to interview young CFIs and others who might not realize how truly evil the press can be when they want something.
As attorneys, we have both learned valuable things about the press. First, THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND, don't talk to them. I tell this to my clients and I pass it along to all of you. It applies to anyone who is a target of the media. Second, they have their own agenda. No matter how well you speak, or what you say, they will work it to their own agenda. They clip words, focus on off hand comments, and otherwise manipulate their words to fit their agenda. Third, they get it wrong. You all have had a dose of that from a distance, but it is way worse when you are in the firestorm. Fourth, people get stupid in front of the cameras. No one from S37 did that, but some of the neighbors of the pilots did. If you saw the coverage from them, you saw the "dumb as dirt glazed look say anything" appearance of these people. Some people find a video camera and a mic irresistible, and will really get dumber. I seriously think they lose IQ points when video rolls. If I talk to the press as an attorney for a client, I have thought out ahead of time what I want to say. Sometimes, even then, it doesn't go as I thought it would.
Most folks from the S37 made themselves scarce. That was good. Less people equals less chances for the media to take advantage.
Things that went not so well:
We Monday morning quarterback. We are already doing that here. And we are all used to doing it in the comfort of our own little airport worlds. But now S37 has the press prowling, listening to and reporting these conversations. I can tell you, without naming names, that some folks at S37 were quoted (accurately or not god knows) as commenting on the experience, and recency, and knowledge of these guys. One, it hurts GA when the media nails us eating our own. Two, I can guarantee there will be hurt feelings after some of the quotes (or misquotes) get around, which, since it is national news, they already are. Things said about the flying club that own the plane will be reverberating around at S37 for some time to come.
The local DE gave a few quotes, and, through no fault of his own, has now been quoted as "the FAA said" in the local rag. Not good, especially when those quotes involve the recent experience of the pilot. Again, the press are NOT OUR FRIENDS. And they GET IT WRONG.
On the whole, if these folks come knocking, everyone should give a few minutes thought to how to deal with it. You want to keep your opinions to yourself, probably. Your airport manager or owner should have given some thought to dealing with the press. Perhaps a bit of training by AOPA would be a good thing? They always say we are the goodwill ambassadors for GA, and, when the wolves are howling at the door, they are right. We can control the spin that is put on an incident like this, to some extent, by what we say and how we behave.
I cannot emphasize enough, having watched this unfold for a day now, you cannot imagine the insanity that the press can bring down upon your little airport.
Jim G
Some things went well at S37 and some things not so well, and I figured this is the place to share for all.
First, it is impossible to really understand what national media scrutiny is like. I try homicide cases, and am used to a few reporters around. Janet told me that she recognized people from every major media outlet between Philly and Harrisburg, all with camera crews, all poking about trying to get a quote from everyone at S37. Anyone who knows Smoketown knows that it is a little, hometown airport where everyone knows everyone and it is close knit. It was a shock to all to be under such scrutiny. These people were literally there, shoving microphones under people's noses, demanding quotes. Literally. Janet had to shoo away CN8, who chose a bad person to bother, as she hates having stuff stuck in her face.
Things that went well:
By dumb luck, the FBO got rid of it's Nixon era carpet yesterday, and the office was effectively closed as the carpeting got replaced. So the media couldn't get into the office to pry about security issues and a bunch of the employees were not in or could easily be sent home. I am going to talk to the rental agency about security here in a day or two. I assume, as the press now knows where we are, they may come back to "test" security.
Mel Glick, the owner, did a decent job of dealing with the media. He had a prepared statement for the general press, and only gave one prearranged interview, to a local reporter, that came off well. He did a good and simple job of managing pr for the airport.
My wife managed to intervene in a couple of attempts to interview young CFIs and others who might not realize how truly evil the press can be when they want something.
As attorneys, we have both learned valuable things about the press. First, THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND, don't talk to them. I tell this to my clients and I pass it along to all of you. It applies to anyone who is a target of the media. Second, they have their own agenda. No matter how well you speak, or what you say, they will work it to their own agenda. They clip words, focus on off hand comments, and otherwise manipulate their words to fit their agenda. Third, they get it wrong. You all have had a dose of that from a distance, but it is way worse when you are in the firestorm. Fourth, people get stupid in front of the cameras. No one from S37 did that, but some of the neighbors of the pilots did. If you saw the coverage from them, you saw the "dumb as dirt glazed look say anything" appearance of these people. Some people find a video camera and a mic irresistible, and will really get dumber. I seriously think they lose IQ points when video rolls. If I talk to the press as an attorney for a client, I have thought out ahead of time what I want to say. Sometimes, even then, it doesn't go as I thought it would.
Most folks from the S37 made themselves scarce. That was good. Less people equals less chances for the media to take advantage.
Things that went not so well:
We Monday morning quarterback. We are already doing that here. And we are all used to doing it in the comfort of our own little airport worlds. But now S37 has the press prowling, listening to and reporting these conversations. I can tell you, without naming names, that some folks at S37 were quoted (accurately or not god knows) as commenting on the experience, and recency, and knowledge of these guys. One, it hurts GA when the media nails us eating our own. Two, I can guarantee there will be hurt feelings after some of the quotes (or misquotes) get around, which, since it is national news, they already are. Things said about the flying club that own the plane will be reverberating around at S37 for some time to come.
The local DE gave a few quotes, and, through no fault of his own, has now been quoted as "the FAA said" in the local rag. Not good, especially when those quotes involve the recent experience of the pilot. Again, the press are NOT OUR FRIENDS. And they GET IT WRONG.
On the whole, if these folks come knocking, everyone should give a few minutes thought to how to deal with it. You want to keep your opinions to yourself, probably. Your airport manager or owner should have given some thought to dealing with the press. Perhaps a bit of training by AOPA would be a good thing? They always say we are the goodwill ambassadors for GA, and, when the wolves are howling at the door, they are right. We can control the spin that is put on an incident like this, to some extent, by what we say and how we behave.
I cannot emphasize enough, having watched this unfold for a day now, you cannot imagine the insanity that the press can bring down upon your little airport.
Jim G
. 
