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graham
Social climber
Ventura, California
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Jul 11, 2009 - 10:43pm PT
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It wasn’t bad.
I wish things like this weren’t thrown together as indicated in the opening post (filming today). But it’s all old news now and I doubt someone will return to it to give in the time it deserves. I would agree they should have had an affiliate out west go deeper into the source. Although they my have been afraid of you guys.
If anyone thought this place was private think again. Stuff has been snatched off this site and distributed throughout the known universe.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
Sprocketville
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Jul 11, 2009 - 10:43pm PT
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they never asked me to climb, so screw em.
so what if i stepped on a bolt back in 76.
it was an accident, ok?
drop me to 5.11, sheesh.
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tom woods
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
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Jul 11, 2009 - 11:00pm PT
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It wasn't as bad as I thought. While boulderer doesn't pass the red squiggly line spell check, it does beat boulder climber.
As a member of the news media, I guarantee that reporters lurk here. It's a public forum. Hopefully they use this forum to improve their stories.
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nick farley
climber
bishop
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 11, 2009 - 11:19pm PT
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The story did not turn out that bad I agree, although with T.V. news the bar is currently set low.
I really wish that ABC news would have taken either the time or expense to contact and interview someone who could really translate to the public the gift that John's life brought to all of us. Maybe someday someone will.
I am frustrated with the media and the need to scare and shock us and get it out right away. On to the next story...
I am frustrated that everyone in my community didn't see it the way I did.
But mostly, I'm just frustrated that JB is gone.
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
Sprocketville
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Jul 11, 2009 - 11:24pm PT
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Gone where?
People hang around a while, some others have probably experienced this.
Don't feel lonely, he reads all this, thats my belief.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 12, 2009 - 02:17am PT
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I just noticed that the introductory line in ABC's print version of the story is "Hanging by his fingertips from a 100-foot ledge..."
Awful big ledge to need to hang from.
It looks like ABC posts the videos the day after they're broadcast. They're at http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex - the toolbar on the left lists "World News with Charles Gibson" - click on it and the dates for the last week come up. The articles broadcast on that day then appear at the bottom.
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apogee
climber
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Jul 12, 2009 - 02:43am PT
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Glad to hear the general consensus thusfar is that the piece wasn't as bad as network news TV is usually known for. Sadly, that's impressive all by itself.
When someone finds a link to the story (w/o the rest of Charles Gibson's newscast), please forward it on.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jul 12, 2009 - 02:47am PT
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I did not see the piece, but I would be interested in seeing it.
Anders when you mention the misspelling of John's surname and then write (Patrick?) I assume that you are referring to the post of mine on the thread where I mention that one of the first rules of good journalism is to get the name right.
Damn straight. Shoddy journalism if they cannot get the name correct. Typos and misspellings are one thing, but ALWAYS get the name correct.
I don't apologize for my profession. Journalist are just as likely to be wrong than right.
Tom, in one way I agree with you, but on the other hand, NO, a good hack should try his/her best to get it right, though experience tells me that this can be difficult sometimes. I have worked on national newspapers, television etc, and sometimes, like anything else, mistakes happen. At least I am not a surgeon who cut off the wrong leg. And I have never been sued for libel (although I have been threatened with injunctions).
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Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
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Jul 12, 2009 - 03:13am PT
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Been gone today. Wasn't able to view the tv thing. Speed read your posts just now....no horror stories reported and that's good.
Patrick, I worked as a journalist for a small newspaper with a great owner/editor....got paid, but not much. If I got my basic facts wrong he would have been......Very Unhappy. Peace, Lynne
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Mimi
climber
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Jul 12, 2009 - 03:15am PT
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The segment was lame and sensational, but it's hard to expect anything better from a major network. Serious flaws in their fact finding and overall composition. As usual, a big disconnect with regard to an understanding of climbing.
Why didn't they try and get the scoop from Rich Gottlieb? He soloed alittle, like Kansas City....He probably wouldn't want to talk to those jokers anyway. With good reason.
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Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California now Ireland
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Jul 12, 2009 - 03:37am PT
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I'd still trust a journalist over a politician...
... but just (and I've been a journo for some 34 years in five countries).
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tom woods
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
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Jul 12, 2009 - 10:28am PT
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patrick- I have some sympathy for the reporter who walks into a situation he knows nothing about and walks out with a story at least as good as this ABC piece.
What I mean by journalists getting things wrong is systemic. You can have a completely accurate story that is entirely untrue.
I recently wrote one a story about our local politicians arguing over a flatulence tax for livestock. It turns out that there is no such thing as a flatulence tax for livestock.
Had I accurately reported the meeting, and presented the arguments, the reader would be left with the impression that the gubmint is so damn stoopid that they are going to tax cow farts.
I did some research on the cow farts, and now the local politicians hate me.
If your sources are full of sh#t, your story is full of sh#t. Sources can be checked, facts can be verified, but it takes time, which translates to money.
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Brunosafari
Boulder climber
OR
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Jul 12, 2009 - 10:29am PT
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We would all prefer a Ken Burns treatment rather than a two minute spot, but over-all, considering everything Ms. Sy did a pretty good job. I mean, she did a field interview of a "professional," she was only given two minutes of airtime, she actually strapped on a harness and hung by a rope, she avoided judgement but only posed a question. We should consider that she possibly had no previous inside knowledge about climbing and possibly had a limited amount of time and resources to do the story.
Of course, it is so disrespectful to get the name spelled wrong. That should have been double checked. Maybe it was the source. We should definitely ask for a correction of some kind, which I expect would make it to the web site.
Perhaps Ms. Sy will be given the chance for a follow up story and could interview some of the excellent and personal sources here.
Yes, we have a certain perspective and make distinctions about risk, but to pose the question about it, I expect would be considered essential by any general press editor. Climbers should think about risk justification and should not be threatened by the question, or the misunderstanding press and public. The rise of extreme sports has many people asking the question, and any parent instinctively will be hesitant to give Climbing a free pass. But like so many things, the real story (Bachar himself) is infinitely more interesting, and it remains to be seen if mass journalism can really step up to the plate. ...Say, the Home Run Derby starts today I think. (Better pump a zillion dollars into the media coverage...)
Given that she was unable to come West, I was glad for the great photos in the piece which speak louder than words. Thank you Phil, Karl, and others, for that.
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rgold
Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
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Jul 12, 2009 - 10:49am PT
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Y'know, we can quibble about the details and wish for something better, but the fact that JB got prime-time ABC air and a very substantial amount of space in the NY Times speaks volumes about his stature, which was big enough to surpass the exclusive notice of the climbing world.
I suspect there are very few climbers who would ever get this level of attention in the mainstream media. Maybe we should think of the whole thing as a lovely testimonial to John's greatness and move on.
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Jul 12, 2009 - 11:15am PT
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"Maybe we should think of the whole thing as a lovely testimonial to John's greatness and move on."
I agree. I have to feel that John would have liked a nod on the national news when he made his exit, and this was about as good as it gets, given the medium.
Bad thing about journalism, the closer you are to the story, the more inaccurate the picture they paint seems to be.
Don't forget to apply equal skepticism to the news we get about everything else.
PEace
Karl
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Dr.Sprock
Boulder climber
Sprocketville
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Jul 12, 2009 - 11:45am PT
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journalism is a "catch all" for misfits and f*#k ups.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 12, 2009 - 12:16pm PT
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Thanks, Patrick. One of my simple tests for journalists is whether they can be bothered to spell my names correctly.
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Mimi
climber
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Jul 12, 2009 - 12:25pm PT
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Many of you are right, the main point is, the coverage of John's story by the NYT and ABC is a testimony to his greatness and impact he had on the climbing world and beyond. They did what they could on very short notice.
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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
Arid-zona
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Jul 12, 2009 - 12:28pm PT
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Mimi- It doesn't need to be done on short notice though is kind of the point. It's not exactly a "scoop" kind of story.
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