Rude or not? Journalist records you without permission

[Clinton1]

Situation:
I'm paid from the Public Purse.
I'm doing my job.
Jounalist walks over and sticks a microphone under my nose.... says nothing.
I shut up, they go away.
I start talking with my mates, journalist comes back over and sticks the microphone under my nose again, again the journalist says nothing.
Situation repeats about 5 times over the next 30 minutes.

Just because I'm a uniformed member of the Australian public, is my work life and my personal conversations open to being recorded?

If I say "excuse me, but you are being rude, could you go away".... I'm suddenly in a conversation with a journalist, and it is recorded, and I have no control over the way it is used.

Annoying.
So what do you think .... if you were in the same situation at your work?

[Sturdee]

What you did is the best thing to do, although it takes a lot of self restraint.


Peter.

[Groggy]

Find out who he works for.
Get a good photo of him.

Tell him if he records in that manner without your permission you will inform his paper and your chain of command of what he is doing.

You will also post his photo in all public places and email it to everyone on site with a description to be wary of him and describing what is is doing. That will just about finish him. I'd be tempted to let you CO know anyway - he will definitely be interested in someone bothering his troops.

He should get the message but be careful, he may take it out on you in other ways.

Edit: of course, do not do it on film or when being recorded. Journos usually carry a voice operated recorder as well so be doubly careful. Maybe pay a local to run a typed note to him.

[watson]

G'day Clinton,
what Groggy said is the go.
They'll just wait for you to react..and that's what we'll see at home.
Be cool........now you'll have to use the third eye to watch for Journos as well

Keep Well

[echnidna]

I wouldn't be as diplomatic as Groggy.
I'd tellem to sorf.

[ozwinner]

Clinton, just start by looking into the camera and saying "Hi Mum" really enthusiastically, and every time they come back do the same, they will soon get sick of the Forrest Gump in you....

Al :p

[Harry72]

Yep I reckon Oz has the answer or start talking about a totally different subject... woodwork maybe:)

[Toolin Around]

I curious to know why the smut peddler (at one time they were journalists - not anymore) was trying to provoke you.

[Barry Hicks]

Like you Clint (if I can call you that) I wore a uniform and was paid out of the public purse for 32 years and I don't trust journos unless I knew them as they are well versed in the art of quoting out of context etc etc.
The only ones I trusted were the regional ABC radio guys and they always checked if you wanted to be quoted.

[Clinton1]

why the smut peddler was trying to provoke you?


So they can assit the marketing staff sell the ad space for more $ by getting a sensational story that improves ratings and get themselves a bonus.

Really.... the "Hi, I'm a journalist and I need complete and unfettered access to everything as I am a defender of society" line is getting rather thin.

It wasn't the first time that day, I'd been hit on by 4 other journalists.... the presidential campaign has been honey to the flies.

Barry - Clint is cool.

The knight in shining armour on the white steed concept that journalism sells itself with has been replaced with Don Quixote on a mule, harnessed to the wagon of commerce.

Tossers.

On the up side, I met this person (http://www.sharmeenobaidfilms.com/)
Fantastic.

[journeyman Mick]

Clinton,
I admire your non-reaction. I would have been sorely tempted to tell them to bugger off or worse. I really believe that this or taking Groggy's course of action would just play into their hands, I can see the article now:

"Veiled threats made by defence force personel against our reporter in Timor."

I'd recommend reporting it to whomever you report to and trying to ignore it. I've known a few people who were briefly in the media spotlight in the worst possible way and the less you give them the less they can do with it. I don't know what you're doing over there in particular, and you probably can't say, and that's fine, but maybe you could invoke some sort of WH&S stuff to keep them at a distance. Get the commanding officer (or media relations officer, whatever) to explain that it's a workplace and for the safety of the troops and all involved, journalists will need to keep clear of troops whilst they are on duty. Of course they'll have to give the journos something, somebody who's practiced at guarded public speaking to interview and no doubt a few media briefings.

If they want to write a bad story they still can with this, but it's not nearly as much for them to go on as requests to back off etc. Good luck over there.

Of course if it's a camera crew, Al's approach will be much quicker and easier.:D

Mick

[Clinton1]

She, the rude one, was from the ABC.

Thats two instances of complete stupidity from the ABC in 4 weeks, the other one was Eric Campbell with this story (http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2007/s1869953.htm)

He was completely used, so much so that most of the Aussie expats over here, along with a heap of journalists from other countries, sent a letter of complaint to the ABC, pointing out the complete lack of credibility of the show.

I really don't want to use Al's suggestion...makes me look like a fool, although it would be effective. :rolleyes: :D

[Christopha]

Gently but firmly remove the mike from his/her grasp (should be easy due to the slimy grip!), sing the National Anthem and them say loudly "Gentlemen start your engines"

[joe greiner]

Do you know any foreign languages? Or better yet, several? Mixed together? Best of all would be pure doubletalk, ala Sid Caesar. For inspiration, see http://www.cooperativeindividualism.org/calvin-on-scientific-law.gif

Thanks, Cliff (Cliff Rogers).

Joe

[ozwinner]

Clinton start telling them about the local trees and how good a timber they are and you can do with them. Politely. :U

Al :cool:

[Ray153]

Clinton,
I am in an occupation where my colleagues and I often find ourselves in the public glare. Matter of fact, you may well know some of my colleagues who are over there right now............
Best advice I can give you is to say politely to the journalist, I am not prepared to be interviewed, if you want an interview with me, get clearance from my CO, his/her name is.......... Should do the trick.
Nothing that can be taken out of context, shows that you aren't straight out being unco-operative, you may be in a position to talk later if the proper channels are followed. Shows that you are aware of the preferred process for media to follow and that you are in a position to make waves for them if they persist. The journalist will think that if you get annoyed, you are going to go up the chain of command which can end badly for them in regards to future access.
If the journo persists in this manner of obtaining footage, then their reputation will soon become well known to all your colleagues, (mainly cos you tell them) and they will find themselves unable to get material for their network and will come round in due course or be brought home by their network because they are not producing the goods.
My constraints in dealing with the media are as follows, I cannot comment on matters that are not my direct area of responsibility, I cannot comment on governmental policy, I cannot pre-empt a decision a Court may make and I cannot make comment that may prejudice a Court hearing nor can I comment on operational practices or policies.
Usually, on the small number of times I have been interviewed, I have talked with the journalist first and been given an idea of the sort of questions I can expect and in return, given the journalist an idea of what they can expect from me. Makes for a less "deer in the headlights" experience for you and gives the journalist material that is more useful to them. It also starts building up some degree of trust on both sides, something of much more value to the media than you.
The fact that you are a member of the armed forces does not automatically mean that your thoughts, comments, opinions etc become public property that can be recorded at the whim of any journalist. The fact that your living is provided for by the taxpayer is immaterial in regard to having dealings with the media.
It may put you at risk of greater scrutiny but does not mean that you no longer have the same rights as every other member of society, ie the right to not be interviewed, recorded on audio or video etc....

[Clinton1]

I guess you are all in agreement that it was just rude.

Common courtesy.... not so common. :(

There have been some good tips for dealing with them, although we have our own ways of messing with their heads.... deploying the cone of silence is just one way, wild goose chases are another.

The trouble was, while they were focusing on annoying the Aussie blokes, they were missing the real story unfolding on the other side of the road. :~
We have our own media affairs officers (MAO), a little common courtesy would have seen me get their card and pass it on to the MAO with a recommendation 'to look after them'.
Not likely now!

Hey, just realised that was post 2000. Way too serious!

[Article99]

Pop 'em one in the foot with your Steyr, mate. Cretin journos... :~

[BrisBen]

It seems to me that more and more often, those who write "jounalist" on their resume are anything but, remember when they were called "reporters". The process of reporting is no longer the objective, the objective, it seems is not to report, but to one-up others of the same persuasion in the same area. Far too often do you see, read or hear quite different recollections of basically the same event (and I am not even referring to sensationalism). The various factions within the media feel that they need to express a different angle to make their version of events more valid.

I am greatly offended that by the interference most of these people create, these people had respect based on the quality and integrtity of their stories, now ad dollars and revenue drive the ever elusive "point of difference"

In closing I would like to say this: Journalists if you wish to call them that are by and large unaccountable for what they do, say and write. A politician can be pressured to resign by them, a police officer can be forced into investigated by them, a business can be crippled by them and persons very reputation, career and sometimes life can be ruined by them. No trial, no jury, no right of reply.

When was the last time one was dismissed for disorderly conduct or dodgy investments, drinking whilst on the job, reporting errors, - all those things they expect from the world outside there sphere.

Stand up proud to these spineless pr*cks and tell them in no uncertain terms that you are there to carry out your work as a legal, appointed representative of Australia and it armed forces to which you belong and any comment should be requested from the appointed media representative of such body/s

(rant over)