It’s nice that amateur radio is getting some air time, but unfortunately, these two reports may not be the most flattering…..Dan
Learning about the art of ham radio operation
The Gaston County (NC) Amateur Radio Society convinced a local TV station to come out and watch them do a POTA activation.
Don N4KC says
Dan:
I’m curious about what you thought was not very flattering about these reports. Both appear to be small market stations or websites and are, I agree, not very professionally done. The first did not even mention Parks on the Air or why the hams were out there in the field in the first place. But I would think either piece would create some positive interest in our hobby.
Note that there is no Gaston County, Alabama. Based on a couple of callsigns I picked out from that first report, the hams and the TV station that aired the report are in North Carolina somewhere.
73,
Don N4KC
Tony Jones says
First let me set the record straight. The original plan was that a interview was supposed to be on the oldest living amateur radio operator in the USA, Oscar Norris W4OXH who had just turned 106 years old. Due to Oscar’s health the video that the reporter wanted to do with Oscar had to be canceled.
We wanted to set up stations outside where Oscar lives In Gastonia, NC. The reporter asked if we could set up at Mountain Island Educational State Forest instead of where Oscar lives. No one convinced a news reporter to come out and do a video on a POTA activation and yes we told the reporter we were doing a Parks on the Air activation once we got setup. He was told what we do and what POTA is all about.
If the entire video had been played then it would have been much better. I do not agree with bashing anyone and yes the news station could have taken better parts of the video and aired the best parts.
The reporter turned it into a report about GCARS and we “NEVER” asked him to do a report on our club. After we got set up what we thought was it was going to be about POTA activations and on amateur radio in general. The main goal in the interview was we were trying to get others into the hobby. I would suggest trying reach out if possible and asking from those involved before I post something negative.
Dan stated in an email to me, well, that’s interesting. I guess this is an example of what can go wrong when dealing with the media.
Tony Jones, N4ATJ
Rob W4ZNG says
I tend to agree with your sentiment on these two stories, Dan. In the first video there were numerous phrases like “old school” and “you don’t need new technology to use it” being thrown around. The field operation had goofy old-timey background music added in. It gives the impression that amateur radio is just harmless old men doing harmless old man stuff, and anyone under 70 need not apply. Then the closing banter: “Oh solve those problems friends!” “How cute is that!” Then some lame references to a 25 year old B-movie. *groan*
The second video was more respectful. However it still very much focused on the past, with references to getting licensed in 1950, relatives getting licensed in the 1920’s, Vietnam-era phone patches, etc. Which is all fine, we have to preserve and show our history. However when only that side is presented, again it comes off as “harmless old men doing harmless old man stuff.”
Still, these reports weren’t hostile and they didn’t get any facts badly wrong, so at least that is something. Thanks for the backstory, Tony, and congrats to Oscar Norris making 106.