"Community Activists"

[portinfru]

How many of your cities have someone who doesn't really have a job other than to consider him/herself a "community activist"? If so, does this describe that person fairly well?

- Shows up at any event where he/she might be interviewed, even if they're not really involved
- Attends every local council/commission/board meeting and speaks out vehemently, regardless of subject
- Tries to tell you (local media person) how to do your job, and generally makes it difficult for you to do so
- Resists any sort of tough questions about him/herself
- Claims the local politicians, police, and media are "out to get me"
- Usually has a criminal record, often related to substance abuse, domestic violence, etc.
- Ends up dropping out of the public eye (or in jail) after some big local controversy

I've come across several of these people in the past, and they're always good for a laugh (when they're not busy pi$$ing you off).

Any others encounter the same type of folks? Funny stories?

[overthehill]

I'm convinced there are community activists in EVERY community--big or small, east or west, north or south, white or black or any other color.

Problem is, we (the media) seem to run to them fairly quickly when a controversy comes up. We tend to lean on them as a source/soundbite all the time. We all need to expand our source base.

How's that go in Casablanca? "Round up the usual suspects?" smile.gif

[Diplomat]

Yes, every community has these activists. And yes, we should expand our base of sources. A lot of these activists are self-proclaimed experts on everything when they have very little real-world experience other than protesting everything that comes along.

[Another side]

As part of the citizenry (as opposed to part of TV news))my view is we don't have enough of them. Sometimes they're the only ones asking questions, and some of them do far better research than the reporter sent to the meeting.

I've ran in to some real pains through the years, though I don't recall any who sucked on crack pipes or went to prison. Most of them were middle-aged to elderly who liked to stir up the nest over tax issues, property rights, and open government.

From a TV standpoint, my approach was always talk with them when you could ... you just don't report everything they say, everytime they say it. But they're a necessary evil ... and the elected hate to see them walk in and sit down.

[ August 08, 2007, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: Another side ]

[Oh Snap]

I've been in cities with these types of people. For the most part, they're really beneficial to the community. But often, I felt they made our staffs a bit lazy. If there was a crime, tragedy or scandal, we -- and all the other stations -- would go to the same people over and over again. And often take what they said as fact. It made me uncomfortable and I always questioned what they were getting out of it.

Seems like everyone does this, though. If there's a race issue or a war issue, etc., we see the same people over and over on the networks. How many subjects have Al Sharpton or Cindy Sheehan been interviewed about? It's too easy.

[Zero]

Oh yes, I've seen many, many community activists. They are mayors, council members, county commissioners who promote one-sided fluffy feel good stories and obscure the facts about all else. And they are advertisers who want only good stories about downtown or the crime rates so that customers will think all is fine and dandy.

And I've seen community activist general managers who have their news directors fall in line and get with the program so the community stories are told this cheery way.

These "community activists" far outnumber any little political group with personal political causes.

[Diplomat]

At one place I worked, our management hired someone whose "hobby" was activism. She immediately tried to promote her causes among staff and became extremely hateful when we declined. She was finally dismissed. It's a shame because she was very capable but the activism and causes overtook her real life.

[TVMattNYC]

MY community is stuck with this guy named Al Sharpton.

[Pro]

I daresay a large percentage of African Americans in that community listen and respect Sharpton. Even if you don't.

[Diplomat]

Originally posted by Pro:
I daresay a large percentage of African Americans in that community listen and respect Sharpton. Even if you don't.I doubt the Korean-American community respects him, either. He encouraged rioting that resulted in a shopkeeper's death.

[TVMattNYC]

Originally posted by Pro:
I daresay a large percentage of African Americans in that community listen and respect Sharpton. Even if you don't."African-Americans" ... or blacks?

There's a difference.

[LittleBabyPuppy]

We have one of those kinds of people. When we want to do a story about the food kitchen, low and behold, check out who's there to get a meal. Not to mention this individual is on the "committee" for every city event. The weird thing is (s)he does interviews, but the sound usually sucks.

This person even bakes cakes for people at the station. (s)he gets mad when we don't cover certain things, but I think (s)he also means well.

[adam & doctor drew]

if you say you're a community activist, you are one.

[Pro]

Originally posted by TVMattNYC:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Pro:
I daresay a large percentage of African Americans in that community listen and respect Sharpton. Even if you don't."African-Americans" ... or blacks?

There's a difference.</font>[/QUOTE]Whatever.

Sharpton has a large following, or at least he has a large audience...even if you (or I) are not among them.

Is it them you are dispariging or him?

[ August 13, 2007, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: Pro ]

[Diplomat]

I'd love to hear what the Korean-American community thinks of Sharpton. The man for whose death he is at least partly responsible will not, of course, be able to express his opinion.

[Bureau Chief]

We got one of those guys...or did anyway. Until he was arrested and plead no contest to stealing a ton of money from the community groups he was "helping". He then went on the lamb, claiming the he was working undercover for the government, then claimed he would turn himself in to clear his name etc etc....and is now serving 12 years. Just another loser stealing from his brothers. It was kinda funny while all this was coming down. He would call the station from the various places he was hiding out in and give interviews, or at least attempt to get the media on his side...in the end, the media hung him out to dry along with all his dirty laundry.

[WalMartNation]

Originally posted by portinfru:
How many of your cities have someone who doesn't really have a job other than to consider him/herself a "community activist"? If so, does this describe that person fairly well?

Any others encounter the same type of folks? Funny stories?When I worked in Govt TV as an employee of my local county, I'd see people like this all the time.
One in particular would show up every Tues. at the County Council meeting for the open public comment period of 3 minutes. Meetings were also televised live and replayed 65 times a week to fill our programming blocks.
Some of the stuff he'd gripe about had nothing to do with the county, but a suburban city nearby (whom he SHOULD have been complaining to instead of the County)
Some questions he'd ask during public comment were good, questions I'd ask myself if I were up there.... but sometimes the guy was just there to be there and "involved". There is a certain council member he calls out alot... I heard this council member in the hallway after a meeting complaining to some citizens about the guy saying that "shows up here for his 'free time'". Free time being in reference to politicians and their equal time on air they're supposed to get I guess. Spoken like a scummy politician, the council member is a weasel anyway.
this "concerned citizen" has been at other city meetings that I've been to, but doesn't speak during public comment because it's not televised. In the elevator one day I asked him where he worked just out of curiosity since he dresses nice, lives in a nice part of town, and never spends his days anywhere but at political meetings... he said; "well, I don't work for the county, that's for damned sure!"

I just laughed at him and it made him more mad. Oh well, he's helping to make the world a better place, I guess :rolleyes:

[Diplomat]

I guess it makes those people feel better if they think they're doing something "in the public interest" or whatever.