[Boy, do I agree with Dennis on this subject
By Dennis Balthaser
Truthseeker at Roswell - Dennis Balthaser Independent Roswell Research, Journalist and Lecturer
I have in previous editorials vented about my feelings toward the media and how they report events related to the subject of UFO’s, and in particular their expectations from researchers. I’ve discussed these issues with other researchers I have worked with over the years, and we all seem to be of the same opinion. I don’t expect this editorial will cause any changes in the media’s method of operation, but for those reading this that believe we researchers make a lot of money for doing conferences and radio and TV interviews, I’ll present some examples of that false belief.
Perhaps due to the economy or the information available via the Internet, many groups, (several MUFON chapters included that I’ve dealt with recently), are anxious to ask researchers to speak to their group, but when it comes time to discuss an honorarium or travel and lodging expenses for the researcher, the discussion becomes stalemated and the researcher is not invited since they are not willing, or don’t have the finances to pay for the speakers expenses. I am appreciative to those groups that I have lectured to about my research that were willing to pay my expenses to get there. In those cases covering my expenses was my only motive, as I’ve never done this research for profit, continuing to believe that sharing the research is important, and it should be compensated at least for the many years it has taken to obtain the information.
Basically what it comes down to is the fact that the media, and many groups want the information that we researchers have obtained over the past 20 to 30 years at our own expense and time, for free. I know of very few other organizations that expect their speakers to share their information for free as we UFO researchers have had to do for years.
The TV documentaries you see on TV about UFO’s are on the air for two reasons; (ratings and profits), and many times they distort the information we shared during the filming with a crew that knows nothing about the subject. So we’re at the mercy of some editor back in New York or Los Angeles. (Researchers do not have the opportunity to review what will be aired prior to it being broadcast.) I have never received any compensation for the hours of filming I did with any film crews that I’ve been involved with. Brad Meltzer’s “Decoded” series on the History channel was an exception, i.e. the information I shared with the crew was depicted as I presented it in the final product, and the crew had done their homework before the interview with me. A National Geographic Network show several years ago was the opposite, when they filmed me for 6 hours, using my vehicle to get around, and the show aired as a total distortion of the information I shared. Stanton Friedman was also involved in that show and we both informed National Geographic about our displeasure with the results... Rest of article HERE:
By Dennis Balthaser
Truthseeker at Roswell - Dennis Balthaser Independent Roswell Research, Journalist and Lecturer
I have in previous editorials vented about my feelings toward the media and how they report events related to the subject of UFO’s, and in particular their expectations from researchers. I’ve discussed these issues with other researchers I have worked with over the years, and we all seem to be of the same opinion. I don’t expect this editorial will cause any changes in the media’s method of operation, but for those reading this that believe we researchers make a lot of money for doing conferences and radio and TV interviews, I’ll present some examples of that false belief.
Perhaps due to the economy or the information available via the Internet, many groups, (several MUFON chapters included that I’ve dealt with recently), are anxious to ask researchers to speak to their group, but when it comes time to discuss an honorarium or travel and lodging expenses for the researcher, the discussion becomes stalemated and the researcher is not invited since they are not willing, or don’t have the finances to pay for the speakers expenses. I am appreciative to those groups that I have lectured to about my research that were willing to pay my expenses to get there. In those cases covering my expenses was my only motive, as I’ve never done this research for profit, continuing to believe that sharing the research is important, and it should be compensated at least for the many years it has taken to obtain the information.
Basically what it comes down to is the fact that the media, and many groups want the information that we researchers have obtained over the past 20 to 30 years at our own expense and time, for free. I know of very few other organizations that expect their speakers to share their information for free as we UFO researchers have had to do for years.
The TV documentaries you see on TV about UFO’s are on the air for two reasons; (ratings and profits), and many times they distort the information we shared during the filming with a crew that knows nothing about the subject. So we’re at the mercy of some editor back in New York or Los Angeles. (Researchers do not have the opportunity to review what will be aired prior to it being broadcast.) I have never received any compensation for the hours of filming I did with any film crews that I’ve been involved with. Brad Meltzer’s “Decoded” series on the History channel was an exception, i.e. the information I shared with the crew was depicted as I presented it in the final product, and the crew had done their homework before the interview with me. A National Geographic Network show several years ago was the opposite, when they filmed me for 6 hours, using my vehicle to get around, and the show aired as a total distortion of the information I shared. Stanton Friedman was also involved in that show and we both informed National Geographic about our displeasure with the results... Rest of article HERE:
