Publicity I don’t need
Was interviewed by a reporter from one of the Chinese dailies on “dyslexia”. She wrote up an article about “dyslexia” that published on 16 June, in the Malacca section of the Newspaper. From our conversations, I knew she didn’t know much about “dyslexia”. Though I expected her to research before she write the article, I provided her all the information that I have, either from the Internet or books. Despite the 30 pages of information I gave her, her misconception of “dyslexia” showed and scattered throughout the write-up, it is so annoying!
The thing I dislike the most is: she put words in the quote, as though I said them. The most embarrassing part was: she asked me what was my qualifications (she had my business card, she could have just take a glance). I told her I have a Bachelor degree in Maths and Physics, a masters degree in Mathematical Physics. Since we were talking about educational issue, I told her that I was once enrolled in a doctorate program which I did some educational research but I didn’t complete the doctorate program, and am currently doing a diploma in Montessori Education. She wrote that I have a PhD in Child Development, casted me as a liar to people who know me. Pengsan
It seems to me it didn’t matter what you said in an interview, this reporter came with a set mind and wrote what she thought I said. She didn’t tape record our conversation and took down minimal notes. Which reminded me of what my youngest brother experienced many years ago, he was the top scorer in his school, and the newspaper “interviewed” him and published that he wanted to do medicine or pharmacy after 6th form, and my brother was “When did they interview me?” Terror? The reporter could even wrote up a story without interviewing the person involved.
It’s pain in the butts, but gotta learn the lesson! Which reminds me, have the journalist send you the write up before they publish it! Actually, I would just volunteer to write the article if I knew she is so unprofessional. :-)
How come journalist these days so unprofessional. I guess you must be really fuming now, as I read your post I also feel that she has done injustice to you. What’s your next action? You plan to call up the daily and complain about that??
I am not angry, surprisingly. :-)
I was thinking maybe I should ask her to show me the article before it’s published, but I procrastinated and she so fast, interviewed on Thur, published on Sat liao. Actually, I gave her a few contacts that she could interview i.e. a friend who has a dyslexic son, another friend who is training to be an educational theraphist, but she didn’t call them at all. Don’t know how this Chinese newspaper works, she must be under very tight schedule to churn out an article. There is very little I can do if that’s their mode of operadi.
complain to the newspaper
Wuching: I don’t dare to, Melaka is a small town, may bump into each other everywhere, afraid may make an enemy, old media is still very powerful!
i had the same experience too 15 yrs ago. i submitted an essay on christmas and they persuaded me to be interviewed. The essay I wrote was about how touched i felt celebrating christmas with some orphans. And that STAPID journalist wrote that I always visit the orphanage to spend time there with the kids. Aiyo…so embarassing. I only went there once and not many times. So I got teased by friends because they know that I only went there once when we organized a christmas party for the orphans.
Some journalist are lidat that is why on and off you can see them kena sue by rich people.
p/s: Received the seed liao. Thanks!