Latest Media Coverage: Greensboro News & Record

[Fred]

     I'm told this report on our Ramseur RBC this week is on the front page of today's Greensboro News & Record.

     Here's the on-line verson:http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/09/04/article/appleseed_project_focuses_on_marksmanship_american_history

     Some of the statements are factually questionable; the ADL gets almost as much coverage as anyone; but generally speaking, is this a pretty fair article?

[hawkhavn]

I would say it is a very fair article all things considered.

Yes, the reporter has to run off to a perceived 'neutral' third party for validation rather than standing on their own reporting.  But even the ADL still can't say anything more than they have already. 

The article actually gets the programs major points (heritage, marksmanship, civic involvement) across.

HH

[scuzzy]

I'd say it is good enough to put up on the latest_news page. Any objections?

[Fred]

    Not from here...

[EEL]

Reads pretty well, I thought

[boltgun71]

Honest opinion, I think the article is well written and fair but the picture is horrible and portrays us in a sense we do not want.  The article covers Appleseeds reference of militia's, possible links to our attendees intentions, etc., and here the only picture is a picture of a man at an RBC wearing a "Infidel" t-shirt, camo pants, and holding a AR-15.  This picture leads one to wonder of Appleseed's intentions and/or that of our attendees.  I know better but the general public may not.  Though the article is good in my opinion, a picture is worth a thousand words, and the picture damages the article and possibly our image.

[Fred]

   BG71, your comment is right on point. Plus the guy has a "I'm tough, look at me" aspect which would tend to frighten a lot of people who don't ever get near any "I'm tough" aspect of life.

   But we can agree that we don't write these things; that they'll prob never be a perfect one written (altho a good job was done by a reporter on that first big IN AS - I remember saying, "couldn't've written it better, myself"); and that we'll put on our best side (which is our only side) and do the best job we can, getting the AS message out.

    So we take 'em like they come - and if there's enough factual or contextual error, we write a rebuttal so there's a chance both sides will be heard.

[jmdavis]

Honest opinion, I think the article is well written and fair but the picture is horrible and portrays us in a sense we do not want.  The article covers Appleseeds reference of militia's, possible links to our attendees intentions, etc., and here the only picture is a picture of a man at an RBC wearing a "Infidel" t-shirt, camo pants, and holding a AR-15.  This picture leads one to wonder of Appleseed's intentions and/or that of our attendees.  I know better but the general public may not.  Though the article is good in my opinion, a picture is worth a thousand words, and the picture damages the article and possibly our image.

The amusing part is that the photo is of a Nassau County Police Officer and Firearms instructor:
"Tommy Jacobellis is one of the six participants who made the trek to last week's Appleseed boot camp in Ramseur.
He's a police officer and a firearms instructor for the Nassau County Police Department in New York."

[scuzzy]

I think most people have learned to read between the lines when it comes to Media stories.

I'd read recently that 74% of Americans no longer trust media. While I have no idea how accurate that is based upon my area I'd say it was a fairly accurate statement.

[yellowhousejake]

Overall I think it is very good. But I find this to be the real telling point,

"On the surface, their giving people an opportunity to shoot is not something we think, in the broadest way, is a problem," said Bill Nigut, southeast regional director of ADL.

"But the first thing they do is have participants sit through a lecture about the Revolutionary War and the colonists who formed a militia who won the Revolution, and that clearly makes us uncomfortable."

Hmmm, I could not have said it better, the ADL is against Americans knowing that their founders fought for the right to control their own destinies. Might put ideas in modern American's heads...

YHJ

[Rocket Man]

The amusing part is that the photo is of a Nassau County Police Officer and Firearms instructor:
"Tommy Jacobellis is one of the six participants who made the trek to last week’s Appleseed boot camp in Ramseur.
He’s a police officer and a firearms instructor for the Nassau County Police Department in New York."

Good catch.     It's not the photo I'd have wanted either, but if he and his department are comfortable with it, I don't see why it would cost us.  Students can wear what they want.

It's not a bad article.  Some of the ADL's commentary is kind of bizarre, though:

they glorify the militias of the Revolutionary War and citizens who took up arms. It does lead you in the direction of thinking about the value of that.

Of course we glorify the militias of the Revolutionary War.  They earned that glory.  Wasn't so long ago that practically everyone viewed them as heroes, which they were.

The problem is language and education.  ADL hears "militia," even in Colonial times, and think of a bunch of ragged guys in camo dreaming of overthrowing the government.  Revolutionary militias were about as far away from that model as you can get.  But to know that, you have to know something about history.

I wonder what they think of General Washington?   

Anyway, on balance, I think the paper did a respectable job.  Some readers will be intrigued, some will want to see if we're a bunch of crazy folks or not.  When that happens, let's be on our best game and invite them to see what we're really all about.

[Fred]

    There's good news!

   The actual article as it appears in the paper makes a much different impression from the on-line version.

   First, it appears "above the fold" - in fact, excluding the banner above the paper's name, it takes up about half of the front page, including 3 of the 4 columns above the fold.

   Second, the images on the front page comprise a big 5" X 9" color photo of a guy with a Ruger .22 in the classic extreme wide-angle from the muzzle (we'll deal with the safety aspects of that when I get to the range this PM ).

   A second, smaller color image shows people reviewing targets.

   Third, the article continues to page 6, where it takes up another half a page, with two more photos - one of the SB showing the route the redcoats took on a big map, the other the same image as is on-line.

   I'd say the "on-line" impression - the one BG71 (and I) noticed - is about as far as possible from the actual layout.

   I'll try to find someone who can scan by Tues - assuming someone hasn't by then - and get the actual thing posted here.

   If I can add a "Fourth", the article is topped by this quote in large letters: "Marksmanshp is far more than a hobby; it's far more than something pleasureable to do. It's part of a great tradition that is wrapped up in the entire history of our country."

   And last, a Fifth: The caption of the large photo has this sentence: "The Appleseed Project, based in Ramseur, NC, teaches rifle marksmanship and history lessons about April 19, 1775, the day the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired."

    OK, that latter phrase has dark implications - but it's even more depressing when you think it was no doubt added because it was thought a lot of people would not recognize the date.(!)

[PHenry]

"At this time I don't think the ADL is involved in anything illegal or subversive, but I don't know where they are headed." I made that up - not my opinion nor that of anyone else here. Merely offered of an example, taken directly from a quote by Bill Nigut in the NYT mag article in order to make a point.

Factual enough, but me thinks it would raise an eyebrow or two at the ADL if placed into print - possibly a lawsuit. We just have to place our faith in people's judgment and hope they see the rather obvious bias offered by some folks.  

I have seen this sort of "attention" coming from the git-go, and now it is here. We have no control over what people say about us, not should we. All we can hope to do is to keep doing exactly what we have always done, which makes certain that when anyone speaks ill of us, they have to exaggerate, extrapolate, or flat out lie to do so. History and the Creator of all things will be our judge. Deeds are the only true measure of man and groups of people, and Appleseeds will no doubt be judged kindly.

Our cause is just and our methods unimpeachable. I hold no "subversion" in my mind or my heart. I love my country and the form of government handed down to me and I seek only to maintain the traditions of the Founders, as they have resulted in the freest, most prosperous nation the word will ever know. For that, I will apologize to no one.