What would YOU tell a reporter?

[MlrGrl]

I know a TV reporter.

I have never crossed the line of bringing her a story before because I feel our relationship is on a mom-to-mom basis and not business, but I honestly believe in e-cig as a safe alternative to analogs. Not just because I’m a recovering analog user, but because I have seen loved ones pass away from what studies claim are direct results of their smoking.

As I’m planning out my story pitch, this is where you all come in:

We’ve all seen the various TV stories already run on this subject. After seeing what has already been done, discussed and shown around the country -
What do you believe needs to be emphasized more?
What do you find yourself yelling at the reporter ‘cause they just don’t get it?
Do you have a story to tell?
Do you have any other comment?

Especially after seeing the WENY story, one thing I will do is inform her of this site to research the product & hear from actual users BEFORE the story is aired and people from around the country start emailing the station! LOL!

Thanks in advance for anything you'd like to share!

 

[chief druid]

go jump !!!!


edit ... that's what i would say to a reporter ... not you mlrglr .. lol

 

[usamare]

The thing that seems to keep getting lost is....IT IS NOT SMOKING!
People come up with all manner of utterly ridiculous nonsense, and expect their nonsense to dispel the HUGE fact that it is not smoking.

 

[asidrave]

If your friend is a TV reporter..im sure she would be interested.

Reporters are always looking for a story.

 

[scintar]

I would tell them how discusted I am with the media and the government about the whole e-cig thing and that although there has been no long term studies that have been done, it's a no brainer that the e-cig has to be a better alternative opposed to tobacco. Tell them you are a grown Woman and you as an American living in the land of the free should have the right to make your own decisions on how you wish to live your life and that you are tired of big brother getting in the way for their own selfish reasons.

How about that ?

 

[chief druid]

wow ... all these posts make my initial pst look .. kind of ... dumb ..... but reportes make their ownstories up regardless of the fact ... or am i just going on the steriotypicall film reprter#????

 

[OutWest]

I'd also try to dispel the myth that theyre marketed to kids and point out that the so-called candy flavors are simply because if you had a choice between something that tastes nice vs. something that tastes like ..., which would you choose? I'd also mention that the false argument that the nice flavors are simply to lure in kids is no different than claiming that apricot brandy, apple martinis, strawberry daiquiris, pina coladas, and other similar alcoholic beverages are flavored that way simply as a means to market to kids. That all the ingredients ARE known, despite what some in the media have been saying. And, so what if theyre used long-term rather than as a quit smoking device? It's still better than smoking traditional cigarettes, which we know has several carcinogens, whereas all the ingredients in the ecig are considered to be safe.

 

[chief druid]

its the whole alcho-pops all over again

 

[scintar]

its the whole alcho-pops all over again

Yeah, well the truth hurts sometimes.

 

[scintar]

I'd also try to dispel the myth that theyre marketed to kids and point out that the so-called candy flavors are simply because if you had a choice between something that tastes nice vs. something that tastes like ..., which would you choose? I'd also mention that the false argument that the nice flavors are simply to lure in kids is no different than claiming that apricot brandy, apple martinis, strawberry daiquiris, pina coladas, and other similar alcoholic beverages are flavored that way simply as a means to market to kids. That all the ingredients ARE known, despite what some in the media have been saying. And, so what if theyre used long-term rather than as a quit smoking device? It's still better than smoking traditional cigarettes, which we know has several carcinogens, whereas all the ingredients in the ecig are considered to be safe.

Ditto on this

 

[MlrGrl]

I would tell them how discusted I am with the media and the government about the whole e-cig thing and that although there has been no long term studies that have been done, it's a no brainer that the e-cig has to be a better alternative opposed to tobacco. Tell them you are a grown Woman and you as an American living in the land of the free should have the right to make your own decisions on how you wish to live your life and that you are tired of big brother getting in the way for their own selfish reasons.

How about that ?

I like it!

wow ... all these posts make my initial pst look .. kind of ... dumb ..... but reportes make their ownstories up regardless of the fact ... or am i just going on the steriotypicall film reprter#????

Not at all!! LOL At the time, I figured probably best that I didn't comment, but in the interest of not making you feel alone....
Like any occupation, there are good cops and bad cops; good lawyers and bad lawyers and good reporters and bad reporters.
With that said; after what I witnessed last summer during the presidential elections and how the media was reacting - well, lets just say on the food chain of life, most reporters are lower than the lawyers, in my opinion. What ever happened to the good old days of "here is the story; here's the positive; here's the negative; now, look into it and make your best decision. Instead, what passes for news has more to do with the heart and not the head.
Which is all funny of me to say, since I'm about to ask a friend to have her station do a story on something that I'm passionate about LOL! But, when I've seen her stories, she's done a good job and that's why as long as I have my ducks in a row & treat it professionally, I'm sure she'd treat this story with the same respect.

I'd also try to dispel the myth that theyre marketed to kids and point out that the so-called candy flavors are simply because if you had a choice between something that tastes nice vs. something that tastes like ..., which would you choose? I'd also mention that the false argument that the nice flavors are simply to lure in kids is no different than claiming that apricot brandy, apple martinis, strawberry daiquiris, pina coladas, and other similar alcoholic beverages are flavored that way simply as a means to market to kids. That all the ingredients ARE known, despite what some in the media have been saying. And, so what if theyre used long-term rather than as a quit smoking device? It's still better than smoking traditional cigarettes, which we know has several carcinogens, whereas all the ingredients in the ecig are considered to be safe.

Wasn't it Jell-O last summer that was coming out with all the pina colata and daquari flavors? Right out in the open where any kid could purchase it! Good point!!

The part I highlighted was the one part especially that I think every news story has failed to mention: WHO CARES! IT'S BETTER THAN AN ANALOG!!!



I'm wondering instead of the 'oh; lets go see what happens when she takes it into the bar/cafe and lights up", what does the Heart Assoc. think (which anyone can find video on that everywhere via Google), what if they were able to use the "OMG! I can breath in the morning! I can taste things! I don't have to take blood pressure meds anymore, now that I've kicked the nic......and if you try to ban this, and block them in customs, then I'm going back to analogs and you can put this in your pipe and smoke it at my funeral! (no pun intended....it just flew off my fingers)???

 

[scintar]

I like it!



if you try to ban this, and block them in customs, then I'm going back to analogs and you can put this in your pipe and smoke it at my funeral!

This is My point, Big bro makes a ton of money on cigarette tax. They don't want them because the are not regulated so they can have a high tax base. Thier loosing $$$$ SO, they want them banned. Don't care if you die. (population control?) just want Mo money.

 

[chief druid]

wow wish i knew how to domore than one quote

 

[playerags]

What pisses me off is when they will ask a "professional" about them and they will say that they don't know much about e-cigs, then the "professional" gives an opinion.


That would be like me saying I really don't know who won the world series in 1943. But it was probably the Yankees. Now make an informed decision off of that.

 

[chief druid]

so the yankies won the 1943 world series ... just wit till i correct my mate ....playerags is an expert and he told me so .. so there

 

[playerags]

Actually, I don't even think there was a world series in 1943. The men were off saving the world from the nazi's I think. All speculation and to lazy to look it up.

 

[TropicalBob]

Much of this thread sounds just sore and grumpy. That will win over no one.

Neither will hatred of the press, especially press you expect to do a fair and balanced job on political news but ignore all controversy surrounding e-smoking. Unreasonable. Not going to happen with a "good" reporter, publication or TV show.

Tell the reporter in your pitch that thousands of people have found what they consider a safer way to obtain nicotine while not smoking cigarettes. Explain the e-cig. Tell the reporter what it has done for you (did you stop cigs, cut down?). Say that this forum right here has stories of hundreds of smokers who think the e-cig is practically a gift from God, that it has worked miracles in their lives that could not happen with standard nicotine replacement therapy products. Tell the reporter e-cigs are on the verge of a full ban, and that ban would mean sending many e-smokers back to cigarettes, with all the attendant health problems and costs.

Offer to "show and tell" your story, and offer to find others if the reporter desires more stories. Then know that fair and balanced means the reporter will find a medical person to quote. You might not like those quotes. Too bad. You have no say in what that person says. It's called balance. The reporter will almost certainly mention the WHO statement. It's a fact and an important one. And the reporter will update the FDA and the suit. Again, that's not for you to censor or criticize. It's covering all sides, being fair to all sides of the issue, balancing a single viewpoint with a counter one, if one exists.

(Personal note: Yes, I was a reporter for 45 years, a good one, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize one year. Yes, stomping on the press irritates me no end. 'nuff said.)

 

[gep]

I'd also try to dispel the myth that theyre marketed to kids and point out that the so-called candy flavors are simply because if you had a choice between something that tastes nice vs. something that tastes like ..., which would you choose? I'd also mention that the false argument that the nice flavors are simply to lure in kids is no different than claiming that apricot brandy, apple martinis, strawberry daiquiris, pina coladas, and other similar alcoholic beverages are flavored that way simply as a means to market to kids. That all the ingredients ARE known, despite what some in the media have been saying. And, so what if theyre used long-term rather than as a quit smoking device? It's still better than smoking traditional cigarettes, which we know has several carcinogens, whereas all the ingredients in the ecig are considered to be safe.

I have to agree here. The opposition is playing the "Child" card (no offense meant by this expression) and that has to be refuted. The cost of e-cigarettes should be emphasized, the difficulty in obtaining one if not of legal age(which btw, needs to be enforced more stingently by suppliers....).

Also, one argument against the e-cig that I heard lately was that people who gave up smoking because it was bad for them might go back to using e-cigs because they miss the nicotine! WTH? Does ANYONE really buy that nonsense? Honestly, the opposition is so desperate they are grasping at any and every possible reason to ban these simply because they believe they have the right to dictate to the rest of us how we should live our lives....

....ooops....stepped on the soapbox for a mo' sorry 'bout that.

 

[optmaxx]

Tell the reporter that you can get different mg of juice or carts, because I saw a story on Fox where the FDA said you could not choose how strong the nicotine was.

 

[Sun Vaporer]

I think the movie Absense of Malice with Paul Newman really pointed out the reality of the Press. Newman really made it a point to tell it like it is in making that movie--The press can and will do anything they want to---absence of malice--and malice is damn hard to prove. With repsect to the e-cig--I disagree that the press will ever give our devices a fair shake----Sun