Follow up interview with WFAA Channel 8

[Big Daddy D]

All your emails and comments were heard. Jonathan Betz from WFAA contacted me last night about doing a follow up to the earlier story about the Dallas Wave. I just finished an interview with him by the park at 11 this morning.

I leave the interview feeling unsure. I feel like I just walked through a mine field. I was careful and thoughtful about what I said. I wanted to portray a positive view of the park, but it became apparent that he was trying to lead me with many of his questions. I felt like a fish and they just kept throwing baited hooks at me.

I stated that I felt the park was safe. I think they'll try to spin it to attack the city for wanting to spend more money to improve the bypass channels. I said I wasn't an engineer and couldn't speak to that. They asked if I thought the park should be open. I said because of the construction over the top wave, that I understood why they didn't want people paddling on it yet. He responded that that was a separate issue. So I imagine that part of the comment will be edited out. He asked if I was disappointed about it not opening in May. I said of course, but again with the construction overhead, I understood, and I'd just have to be patient. We'll see how that gets spun.

I'm just guessing here, but based on the questions, I imagine it will be a story about why the city of Dallas hasn't opened the park yet when experienced whitewater boaters say it is safe. We have this perfectly good park that isn't being used.

Maybe I shouldn't have done the interview, maybe I should have. Who knows how they will spin it, but I tried my best and I figured it was worth giving a counter point of view to Charles Allen and the other naysayers. I imagine the press is trying to play both sides against the city. Those for it and those against it.

My guess is the story will air tonight or within the next couple of days. I don't know why I keep sticking my neck out there. We'll see if they make me a friend or villain.

But no matter what angle they take, I think you all know where I stand.

SYOTR

[okieboater]

Big Daddy D, No man, you did the right thing by doing the interview. If you had not, they would have spun that against the boating community.

I have been interviewed both as a boater and before I retired for business. Even when the end product was positive, I was astounded at how my comments were used. Bottom line, hope for the best and expect the worst.

The person being interviewed is at the mercy of whom ever does the editing of the Spot or Article.
The editor will cut almost all of the interview out just looking for the comment that can be used to create conflict because conflict sells in their opinion. This works both ways as if the editor likes the project, you can be sure the end product will be supportive of the project.

I think you were wise to be very careful in your responses as well. I have seen comments that were made to support something be turned around to attack it. And, remember reporters interview and edit every day while most of us rarely get a chance to be interviewed. They are experts in getting the person being interviews to make a explosive comment!

You did the right thing, hopefully your remarks will be edited honestly.

Thanks for taking this on as it affects most all of the boating community.

[Dean]

I haven't been there yet but was planning to go.
Thanks for fighting for it's existence!

[Cowper]

I can't wait to hear your final report, or better yet a link so I can see it for myself.

No matter how it turns out, I think you did the right thing to give it your best shot.

[Fish]

Been there before too with interviews and all you can do is exactly what you did. You might request the a copy of raw footage of the interview- you may not get it but it doesn't hurt to ask. If it comes out and they use you to slam the city unfairly, definitely contact the city government people and let them know what happened. Some of them have no doubt been interviewed and they'll have some sympathy. Finally, if it goes badly, it can't hurt to go for an editorial submission to the local paper expressing what you really told the TV interviewer and pointing out that they misrepresented you. The press may enjoy running something that makes their TV counterparts look bad...

- Fish

[fryingsquirrel]

I know it is a little late now, but it might have proven to be in your interest to carry a clandestine recording device of your own such as your cell phone. That way, you would have had proof of the whole interwiew, not just the 7 second spot they show that could be way out of context.
Jon Ellwood