By Dennis Balthaser
www.truthseekeratroswell.com5-28-11
Over the years that I've been doing research, I have never been timid about sharing my frustration about many in the media that are responsible for reporting on the subject. Local and national TV newscasters are some of the worst, hardly ever able to factually report an event, without adding some sarcastic footnote to the end of their report, which in my opinion diminishes the content they are reporting on. Many times at conferences, when photos or film are included with an article, they don't show the serious researchers, but rather someone dressed in an outlandish costume.
TV documentaries on the subject of UFOs, which I have had a fair amount of time participating in, usually involve show hosts or interviewers, which have very little knowledge of the subject. After filming, some editor or producer back in Los Angeles or New York, will put his or her own take on the material presented. Of all the documentaries I've been involved with over the years I could count the respectable ones on one hand. Two of the least credible that I wrote editorials on include the Peter Jennings ABC Special in 2005:
Comments by Dennis Balthaser on the ABC Special "UFOs: Seeing is Believing", hosted by Peter Jennings
Biased Documentaries by the Media
On the positive side, radio interviews (usually done by telephone), are fun to do and very little, if any editing is done since most are live interviews. Call-in shows are also good as a way of sharing information with a listener, or even having a lively discussion on the subject being discussed. In some cases the radio show hosts have actually done their homework prior to the show airing, making for a better discussion between the host and the guest.
UFO magazine has treated me fairly for several years, posting my editorials as I have written them, while the MUFON Journal has reworded, omitted, or added information to my editorials without notifying me; on the few occasions they have included them in their Journal.
Unlike what most people think, researchers are normally not reimbursed for their knowledge or time when doing interviews. More importantly after an interview is completed, the researcher has no in-put to what the final product will be, consequently I have begun turning down some interviews that I'd rather not be involved in. I've also begun turning down speaking engagements that consists of clairvoyants, card readers and psychics, intermixed with serious UFO researchers.
I recently did a lecture in Alamogordo, New Mexico for the First National Bank "Lunch and Learn monthly series", and unknowing to me at the time of my presentation, a reporter from The Alamogordo Daily News was present. She wrote an article for the paper, which was an extremely accurate account of what I discussed. I found this to be quite refreshing compared to some other experiences I've had with the media as mentioned above. With the reporters permission I am including her article below.
