Newspaper Interview

[shãybare]

Recently I placed an ad for the River Valley Naturist, a Travel Club some friends and I started in January this year, in the Sallisaw,OK newspaper, the Sequoyah County Times. I received an e-mail from one of the Staff Writers that she would like to interview me, not only about the Club but also about naturism in eastern Oklahoma. She thinks it would make for an interesting and informative feature story. She said that she herself is ignorant of what exactly naturism is.

I have set up a meeting with her Thursday, April 8th. Although I have met with a lot of people and have talked about naturism, I have never done an interview with the media. I would appreciate any advice or help y'all can offer.

Thank you,
Shaylin

[shãybare]

Recently I placed an ad for the River Valley Naturist, a Travel Club some friends and I started in January this year, in the Sallisaw,OK newspaper, the Sequoyah County Times. I received an e-mail from one of the Staff Writers that she would like to interview me, not only about the Club but also about naturism in eastern Oklahoma. She thinks it would make for an interesting and informative feature story. She said that she herself is ignorant of what exactly naturism is.

I have set up a meeting with her Thursday, April 8th. Although I have met with a lot of people and have talked about naturism, I have never done an interview with the media. I would appreciate any advice or help y'all can offer.

Thank you,
Shaylin

Hey Shay, that's the day I turn 39--for the 20th time!

Just be yourself--whatever that is! Be sure that when the interview is over that she has no doubt as to what naturism really is--a time to throw off all your stress and inhibitions along with your clothes. We're all just everyday people doing what other people prefer to do WITH their clothes--although it's much better and more fun WITHOUT clothes /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif .

[shãybare]

Thanks Jon-Marc. Your a good friend and I appreciate the advice. Hope things are getting warmer there at Turtle Lake for you.

[NuTex]

Shaybare,
I echo Jon-Marc's advice.

From reading your posts I think you'll do us proud.
NuTex

It's 30 degrees here and SNOWING! I had a good time in the clubhouse tonight though. We played trivia games; my team won one game. I also enjoyed the hot tub and conversation with others in the tub. I watched about 18-20 people play water volleyball. Due to having a lot of pain in my fingers because of arthritis and carpal tunnel, there's no way I can play.

[Vin]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by shaybare:
...I received an e-mail from one of the Staff Writers that she would like to interview me, not only about the Club but also about naturism in eastern Oklahoma.... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>One thing you might want to do is read some of her articles to see what kind of features she writes. Are they human interest type stories? Or does she normally go for more hard hitting stuff? Knowing the kind of writer she is will help you anticipate whether she's more interested in a conversation to explore naturism or getting you to defend it against society's stereotypes.

Good luck!
Vin

Edited to fix a typo

[TXK NUDE]

Shay, I agree with everything that has been said so far. I would definitely arm your self with lots of research on nudism before the meeting, AANR stats, reports on the positive aspects of social nudism, health reports on positive body image and teen eating disorders, etc. The more you show you know, the less likely they are to make you out be a fool. Basically what I'm saying is.."Be Prepared" for any direction the conversation may end up going.

[EricNY]

Shaybare....I hope you will share this article with us if you can. I am sure that if you simply be yourself it WILL be a great article.

erc

I would like to read what she writes. I just hope she's one who will not interview you with her mind already made up as to what a nudist is, and I hope she will write a favorable article.

[RalphVa]

Don't show your prejudice about people who have seen naked people in a different context from what you've experienced.

You're very opinionated. Hold it in.

[nudeM]

Will you be doing the interview in the nude? That would be interesting. Getting an interview about nudist issues and sitting there talking with nothing on. It would add to the conversation. It would be interesting to read the article. Could you post it when it comes out, so you can share with the rest of us? Thanks in advance. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Nude in the North]

Lucky you.
It would be fun to have a chance to make a positive impact on people.
I'm sure you will represent the nudist lifestyle in a very good light.

I'm looking forward to reading the article.

Steve

[shãybare]

Thank you for the good tips. No, I wasn't planning on doing the interview in the nude although that may be a good idea. I've been going over material that I think will be helpful. I didn't think about going over her written articles but that is a great idea and will do that.

RalphVa is correct in that I am opinionated and will keep that in mind. I am not sure how long it will be after the interview that the article will come out. When it does, however, I will share it with the forum. Good or Bad. I will review the article before it is published. Hopefully she will approach this with real curiosity and will stick with facts.

[fred950]

As the others have said, do your research on the reporter first. and, may I add, /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif ask to see a text of the article before it is published. Just a few words here or there can change the entire meaning... for the worst. /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif
Good luck and be sure to share it with us! /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[melissastarr]

Be sure to say what nudism/ naturism is rather than what it isn't. For example, if you say "Naturism isn't about orgies, child abuse, perversion, exhibitionism, public sex, etc." you are putting a lot of negative words with nudism and those words together will paint a nasty picture in people's minds, even if you have said ISN'T. So tell what nudism IS about: body acceptance, freedom, comfort, etc. This paints a positive picture of nudism and may gain some recruits. I believe AANR has actual seminars on how to promote nudism via interviews and such, so maybe you could write them and receive some good ideas from them.

Melissa

[Frank R]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by melissastarr:
Be sure to say what nudism/ naturism is rather than what it isn't. Melissa <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Excellent point Melissa and I am in total agreement. If you just point out what nudism is, then I think the average person would indeed know what it is not.

[Naturist Mark]

Oh, I think it is OK to say some things that nudism isn't, without getting too negative or angry sounding. For instance, you can puncture some stereotypes humorously by pointing out that we don't 'prance', 'cavort' or 'frolic' in the nude, we are just normal people who do normal activities with fewer clothes, no special verbs necessary.

You'll probably be asked about the Janet Jackson/Superbowl controversy, since too many people think that has something to do with nudism. My response would be that Janet's breast was probably the least offensive part of the half-time show.

Sound bites:

A nudist party is like a church social, only with an extremely lax dress code.

Nudists don't care what you look like, we do care how you behave.

We believe that Nude is not Lewd.

Any other sound bites?

-Mark

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by shaybare:
Hopefully she will approach this with real curiosity and will stick with facts. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Since when do news people "stick with facts"? They usually already have an opinion formed beforehand--as we all do. They're not looking for facts; they're looking for a great story that will get them noticed.

Just do as Vin said and make sure she's wanting to print an article that is positive and not one where she's after slamming us.

Reading her past articles should give you a huge clue if she is genuine or not. There have been too many interviews that were twisted around to make the nudists look bad right after they were smiling at you during the interview.

[NuTex]

I agree with doing some background on the reporter. Also, I understand they often come across as very interested when they're really just setting the person up.

I would say don't do it nude. And dress in a conservative manner. Remember textiles read a lot in clothing. And I think sticking with the positives. Let her bring up any "negatives". But be ready with what you'll say if she does. And keep your statements short and to the point.

Those are my two cents. I still say I think you'll do good.
NuTex

[Rex]

My second wife and I were interviewed many times by the media, local newspaper, national newspaper, general lifestyle magazine, radio, including talkback, and TV.

On every occasion we were treated well.

The only times we were interviewed nude, were when we were on a nude beach, or a beach we reckoned should be.

Otherwise, we wore "smart casual", or once gardening type clothes, in our back garden.

Two quotes made by Kathy, on a TV current affairs program, both of which were favourably picked up on by the media:

"Nudism is healthy, wholesome and harmless."

"Bathers are unhealthy, uncomfortable and unnecessary."

If you can come through as a nice sort of person, who does not heavily criticise people who are not comfortable with nudism, but instead regard them as probably not adequately informed, that is likely to be better than appearing aggressive.

Whatever the journalist writes, that could be altered by an editor, or sub-editor, for various reasons.

It could be worth mentioning to the journalist that you realise that her article may be edited, for length, and that, as a result, the intent of something you say could inadvertently be altered.

You really appreciate the opportunity to be part of an informative, public interest article, and you know that she wants to "get it right", too. So, it would be best for both of you, if you can see the final article, prior to publication.

I'm sure you'll do yourself, and us, proud.

Good Luck!

[hw]

Shay buddy...I know you can do this! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif You are very much into the nude life; have been for years. You have a way with words and you are very intelligent.

Put on your "Sunday" best and flash that great smile of yours! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Who knows? Maybe you just might recruit not only the writer of the article, but others into your club. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

(As one of your best buddies can I ask a favor? If you get your picture in the paper with the article can I have an autographed copy?) /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Best of luck Shay, but I know you'll do just fine! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rex:
My second wife and I were interviewed many times by the media, local newspaper, national newspaper, general lifestyle magazine, radio, including talkback, and TV.

On every occasion we were treated well.

The only times we were interviewed nude, were when we were on a nude beach, or a beach we reckoned should be.

Otherwise, we wore "smart casual", or once gardening type clothes, in our back garden.

Two quotes made by Kathy, on a TV current affairs program, both of which were favourably picked up on by the media:

"Nudism is healthy, wholesome and harmless."

"Bathers are unhealthy, uncomfortable and unnecessary."

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I wish that were the case here in the states. Unfortunately many shows seem to want to push their own agenda and nevermind the truth.

Just a week or so ago they had Paris Hilton and her buddy at Caliente and they had them wearing French maid outfits supposedly as a job hired by Caliente. Nobody wears French maid outfits at nudist resorts for goodness sakes!

And then there was that fiasco a few months back that INA handled with the porn star and the out of work actors.

I can name lots of interviews that were just about nudist resorts and were pretty much twisted way out of context.

[FLslimguy]

Hi Shay, I think that doing the interview clothed says that you are respectful of her and makes her feel at ease with her questioning. Toward the end of the meeting you may ask her if she would like to try it by being nude for the rest of the interview and see if she would enjoy trying it. It might give her an opportunity to actually do it and that may be one possible motive for her interview in the first place. It sounds like fun and I am sure from reading your other posts that you'll do a great job!

[Vin]

A few more things to keep in mind.

Much as it's a good idea from the subject's point of view to review the story before publication, no reporter worth her salt will agree to that. As a news director, I would have fired anyone who did. And even if you do see HER final draft, her editor may change it.

From a PR perspective, I'd keep any negative words out of the interview at all, even in a context of what nudism is NOT. That way if they show up in the story at all, they can't be attributed to to you.

There was a link, I think here at INA, a couple of years ago to a nudist resort profile by a TV reporter in Indiana. He shot the final segment at least shirtless, and the camera work gave the impression that he was nude behind strategically placed furniture. With any luck, your reporter is also genuinely curious and will approach the story with an open mind.

[shãybare]

Thanks guys for all your great ideas. I contacted both AANR and TNS this morning and they were helpful. Bob Martin, the Exec. Dir. of NAC called me and we went over some ideas also. It turns out Bob is a fellow Oklahoman although he lives in Austin,TX. I understood every word he said. lol

I have decided to have the interview here at my ever be it so humble abode and asked Bob about whether to do this nude or clothed. He said for me to put the ball in Monica's court. He suggested I call Monica and tell her that I go nude most of the time when I am home but if she felt uncomfortable with that, I would put on shorts and a t-shirt. So that's what I'll do. Bob bet me that she would say nude is fine with her. He didn't set an amount for the bet, but we will see what she says.

Shaylin

I'd also be willing to bet that she will say that nude is OK with her if that's what you want. Asking her first is the way to do it. Don't bother to to dress if it isn't necessary, and you wouldn't want to prejudice her by forcing nudity on her without asking first.

[shãybare]

Well, Jon-Marc, you and Bob lose the bet. Monica said she would be much more comfortable if I wore something. As much as I hate it, I guess I'll have to wear some shorts. I had hoped she would say nude is OK but in this case I will have to respect her wishes. I feel a lot better and not quite so nervous about the interview since you all have put your input. I am not trying to cram alot of stuff in all at one time. I give my brain time to digest what I have learned. Small brain, slow process.

[nunne]

Shaybare - I haven't tried to offer you any advise about the interview, because I am not sufficiently knowledgeable about the subject to be of much use. I am, however, glad that she is coming to interview you since I believe that you will be an excellent representative of the nudist lifestyle.

Well, Shay, at least you tried. I'm sorry she said no. I'm looking forward to reading about the interview.

[hw]

Today is the big day Shaybare. Best of luck to you with the interview. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Let us all know how it went. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[shãybare]

OK, it is over, It lasted about an hour and twenty minutes. My friend Bruce came over and joined in and between the two of us I think we presented everything in a very positive manner. Monica seemed very interested in what nudism was and what benefits it presented. I feel real good about the interview and think Monica will present nudism in a positive light. The article will come out in the paper Thursday, the 15th, and will also be posted on the papers web site, www.sequoyahcountytimes.com. (http://www.sequoyahcountytimes.com.)

[EricNY]

Can't wait Shay buddy....I am proud of you...I am sure you did great!!@!

[NoodJuggler]

How did this turn out?...Cheers...NoodJuggler.