Informing the media about what we do

Media response to "Monitoring Activities in Yugoslavia"

by Sheldon Harvey

3 April 1999

(This is the preamble to the version of the press release published in the April issue of the Messenger and posted here on the CIDX Website. -- Ed.)

For several years, I have attempted to make the general public, and the media, aware of what CIDX is all about; what information we have to share with people; and what sources of information we have access to through shortwave radio and international broadcasting.

Each time a major world event occurs, I inform the media, in particular, of information available via shortwave. As the Balkan situation worsened, I put together an information package with details of what was available on shortwave relating to the crisis. This was nothing new. I have done this for most major international events, including wars, civil unrest, elections, natural disasters, search and rescue operations, to name just a few.

On March 29, 1999, I sent the following document, by fax, to 17 daily newspapers, 7 radio station newsrooms, and 9 television newsrooms, across Canada, both English and French services.

The material is prepared in a very clear, concise and easy to follow. Methods of reaching me for questions, or further information, are clearly indicated. Surely, with the world media focused on this major international event, someone would be interested in what we had to offer them. I even added a few Internet websites to try to catch their attention.

The results

Within minutes, I was contacted by the producer of CBC Radio One's Montreal morning show, Daybreak. They wanted to do a live telephone interview with me the following morning to discuss what I was hearing from overseas. That resulted in a 15-minute interview at 7:15 AM on March 30. The club got some publicity, as did Daniel Sampson's website, and shortwave radio in general.

The only other response was from Global TV in Montreal. They considered a spot for their TV news, but it never materialized.

As for the rest, not a phone call, fax or e-mail from anyone else. To my knowledge, none of the information was passed along to the public via radio, television or the print media, by any of the recipients.

Discouraging? Yes, but I'm used to it. My theory is that if you keep hitting someone over the head enough times, you might eventually get their attention. At least we, as shortwave listeners, know the advantage we have over the rest. We should consider ourselves fortunate for the knowledge which we have.

Anyway, here is the text of the release. You might make use of it for yourself, or consider passing it along to a friend who might be interested in the information.

Sheldon

Back to Feature #3: Monitoring Yugoslavia.    

Copyright © 1999 Sheldon Harvey and Canadian International DX Club, all rights reserved.
Last modified, 0600 UTC, 04 April 1999.