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Newspaper Column

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Post  Nick Hughes Tue Dec 06, 2011 8:19 pm

My new newspaper column is up and running...

Newspaper Column

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Post  Jagunco Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:37 pm

Just flicked through it mate, not bad at all. Oh btw, saw you on Dedliest warrior as well. I couldn't get the full thing but I was disgusted by the rifle bit, you were clearly better than the other bloke there, and loading a unfamiliar rifle....
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Post  Nick Hughes Wed Dec 07, 2011 10:50 am

Well if I'd had a strip loader like he did the time difference would have been negated and I'd have won but there was clearly an agenda going on so what are you gonna do? I even had one numpty argue on a forum that hitting stationary targets was more relevant than hitting moving. WTF?

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Post  Jagunco Thu Dec 08, 2011 3:53 am

The bugger if I know mate. Actually you had an biased crowd while I watched it, but in fairness we were all Engishmen and proud of the Gurkers and you.... well you were working for the Frogs Very Happy

Don't worry I stood up for you mate Very Happy and from what I watched you were doing better, but as you say there was an agenda, they can't have someone winning all of the four contests I suppose. And how seeing how effective people are after giving them weapons that went out of service before either men were born works is beyond me.

Anyway I'm hijacking here, good colum
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Post  Average Dude Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:51 am

Good job, Nick! Cool
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Post  Mr Nobody Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:27 pm

There's some good advice in that there column Nick.
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Post  Nick Hughes Tue Jan 03, 2012 6:33 pm

Here's a link to the latest post in the paper...

self protection tips newspaper article

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Post  Nick Hughes Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:51 am

So, the editor at the paper didn't like my latest offering. I wrote about maintaining a safe driving distance, checking overpasses for people lest it's kids dropping rocks and not using cruise control in the rain.

She claims that's not self protection...I maintain it is. (doesn't make much sense to learn how to fight like Jackie Chan on crack if you have someone drop a brick through your windshield while driving down the highway.)

What do you guys think?

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Post  Ade Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:38 am

precautionary measures whilst driving are definitely self protection Nick,your editor has an odd view of SP if she can't see that
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Post  Chris Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:46 am

Self Protection = any action taken which affords a measure of mental, physical or emotional safety.

I would say good driving practices clearly qualifies but, hell, it's not Hollywood sexy. They obviously want material that is red of tooth and claw. Shame really.
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Post  Socrates Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:11 am

I've been a full-time news reporter since 1995. IMHO, it's best not to argue with editors. They are always right, even when they are wrong.

My advice would be to rewrite the story explaining why self-protection encompasses more than fighting skills. You could include some statistics on likely causes of death in your state. You have a good point in your book about overweight people training with firearms instead of going to the gym and sorting out their diet. If you can sell that to the editor, you can then do some follow-up columns on specific tactics to stay safe, including repackaging this one.
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Post  Ace Ventura Thu Jan 12, 2012 2:26 am

Editors are they to makle sure the content sells the paper, not to make sure it is useful, relevant or correct.

So you are correct (as you are the expert) but as Socrates says - not sexy enough!

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Post  Average Dude Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:40 am

Nick Hughes wrote:What do you guys think?
That you met one of those people who have a very narrow way of thinking when it comes to self-protection, what it means and incorporates. A bit like the guys that show up for a self-defense related class and when it comes to verbal elements like defusing or descalation exercises they tell you, that they "don't need that kind of stuff", but then ask about some cool deadly killer techniques ... Rolling Eyes

I remember that you used to write a blog - why don't you just put those rejected article(s) on it? Discussing with your editor seems pretty pointless here, as she obviously knows what she wants, no matter how her subject-matter-expert sees it... you could save that time and write another article instead... one, that pleases her. About "real" self-protection. Whatever that is. Whatever she thinks it is. silent



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Post  tonyk Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:05 am

Nick Hughes wrote:So, the editor at the paper didn't like my latest offering. I wrote about maintaining a safe driving distance, checking overpasses for people lest it's kids dropping rocks and not using cruise control in the rain.

She claims that's not self protection...I maintain it is. (doesn't make much sense to learn how to fight like Jackie Chan on crack if you have someone drop a brick through your windshield while driving down the highway.)

What do you guys think?

Nick

Hmmm...the only death during the 1984 Miners strike was caused by concrete being thrown from a bridge onto a moving taxi.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/16/newsid_2512000/2512469.stm

Another incident.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2071552/Carol-Manley-First-picture-woman-hit-concrete-hurled-bridge.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2070522/Essex-A12-concrete-block-maniac-linked-30-THIRTY-attacks-road.html

And a copycat attack due to the above incident.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/12/concrete-blocks-gloucestershire-police


I thought the article was pretty good,plenty of sensible advice that anyone can apply.



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Post  Mr Nobody Fri Jan 13, 2012 5:41 pm

Nick,

Your editor is an idiot.

That is all.
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Post  Nick Hughes Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:46 pm

Thanks for the advice guys - especially Socrates. I'm about to write this week's column so I'll try and explain it to her when I do and see if she gets it. I can't believe they approach you 'cause you're the subject matter expert and then try and tell you what you should write about. scratch

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Post  Socrates Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:46 am

Good luck with it. The trick is going to be to convince her with the text of the story itself...
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Post  JKA Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:35 pm

Hi Nick,

This is an interesting subject, and worthy of discussion as it will effect how your relationship with this news organisation continues, if it does, and hence how many readers you reach.

I write this having worked under eight editors and countless section editors, in major daily newspapers for nearly 25 years.

First off, ask yourself why you decided/agreed to write this column. Is it to educate the readers/members of your community, for the remuneration Laughing Laughing , for your own marketing, for ego gratification, or other reasons? I'm not challenging you on this; I'm simply saying ask yourself why you're doing it. This will effect how you respond: do you throw your toys or work with the organisation to get your message out there.

Next, look at the organisation and understand the role of the editor that you are in conflict with. Others have suggested that she is an idiot, cutting your stuff because it isn't "Hollywood Sexy", won’t sell papers, etc.

Consider instead the role of an editor; it is to decide what is going to interest the readers of "their" paper/website. The editor should know who the readers are; their age, income, location, loyalties etc. From this they decide what would interest, educate, or entertain them. If it was simply a case of "selling newspapers" then that's easy: Fill it with gossip, celebrities, boobs, and call it The Sun. There's a gap there now. Laughing

From doing that it's easy to see that the editor simply has a different take on what would be of interest to the readers than you do.

You are the specialist subject expert, she is (hopefully) the expert on her media organisation.

Time for you to do some educatin'!

The intro to your first column states;

“We are pleased to introduce a new columnist, self-defense expert Nick Hughes, who each week will share strategies not only for defense in an attack, but for avoidance of an attack altogether.”

I’m assuming that this was written from something you had provided, or from discussion with you. This clearly states that avoidance was to be part of your brief, so you need to challenge - NOT attack! - the editor about your definition of that.

Socrates has written that you need to convince her with the content of your article, but I think it goes beyond that. Journalists (and editors) are seldom experts in any field that they report about, instead their skill is (should be) in cutting through the layers of lingo, confusion and complex issues to find and make a story that is understandable to their readers. Your editor is simply not able to do that in this case.

Sit down with her, assuming that she is accessible, and explain what you saw your role as and make sure that confusion is cleared up. I recommend face to face as we all know that email is a bad communication tool when you’re pissed off!

If she still argues that her way is the right way you have a couple of options, both of which you know! It comes back to the earlier question of motivation: reach the audience that the organisation has, or stick to blogs which reach only those already interested in the subject.

Mind you, it might be simply because you’re an Aussie and she's a bloody shiela!

Good luck,

JKA

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Post  Nick Hughes Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:34 am

Hey JKA,

No, it's a good question. Not being paid, and not for ego gratification...it was a) to give back as the paper wanted to do something wiht crime stoppers (a local non profit that pays rewards for info leading to convictions) and b) exposure to pick up more members for my Krav classes.

I did write back explaining my position (didn't think to quote the bit she's put up about avoidance unfortunately). What I submitted was along the lines of "not every post is going to relate to her (she's a woman and was complaining that because she follows the road rules what I wrote didn't apply to her) and that we'd look like jackasses if a month from now she was writing about some local who got hit by a brick thrown from an overpass etc.

I left the ball in her court and asked what her opinion was but so far haven't heard anything back.

N
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