"Television Week" editor Alex Ben Block to write about Free Republic: Want to HELP him do it right?

DOWN AND OUT (AND FREEPED) IN BEVERLY HILLS [LA Chapter FReeps Dan Rather!] ^ | Noovember 13, 2003 | RonDog, and YOU?

[RonDog]

I just got an e-mail from THIS guy:

...from:

www.tvweek.com

Alex is the editor at "Television Week" who interviewed members of the Los Angeles Chapter at our "RatherBIASED" FReep earlier this week - outside the Beverly Hills Hotel.

He wrote to me to confirm the proper spelling of the names of the people in the photograph that he took, so I assume that they will at least be running HIS version of THIS image taken by FReeper daviddennis:

The gang, posing for a reporter
(Click on this picture to see the LARGER version.)

Mr. Block interviewed Cinnamon Girl, Doctor ZIn and yours truly for quite some time, so I would imagine that he will also write extensively about us (and our FReep) in his weekly column for Television Week.

Naturally, we cannot know exactly what he currently has in mind to write about us, but perhaps we can HELP him write the story by showing him what this forum is REALLY all about. :o)

In his e-mail, he did ask for my telephone number, presumably to get further input from me (as leader of that FReep) - prior to publication.

So, let's give him some INPUT!

Please help us tell Television Week editor Alex Ben Block about Free Republic!

I know that he was amazed when I told him that I personally have not watched television for over four years - even though I DO own a television set, and have one in my home.

(Confession to Mr. Block: While it is true that I have not watched television IN MY HOME for over four years, I do occasionally watch OPT (OTHER PEOPLE'S TVs) - when something REALLY important is televised, like a speech from the President, or coverage of a major event like 9/11 - or the California wildfires.)

Now it's YOUR turn:

What does Free Republic mean to YOU?

(In twenty-five words or less. :o)

[RonDog]

I will start...

One important part of being a member of this Free Republic forum is taking our passion to the STREETS!

While "FReeping" public events like the Museum of Television and Radio's recent (boneheaded) award to Dan Rather for his "steadfast commitment to fair and accurate news reporting" is not ALL that we do here, it is one very important function of this forum, IMHO.

Alex Ben Block could learn quite a bit about this aspect of Free Republic by reading THIS wonderful article, written about those MASTERS of FReeping, the DC Chapter:

June 23, 2003
Volume 08, Number 40

Hillary Goes to Wal-Mart
The latest skirmish in the Clinton wars.
by Matt Labash - senior writer at The Weekly Standard.

"...The Wal-Mart parking lot is shaping up to resemble an old-school gang fight. Except instead of knives and chains, the combatants use placards and really weak song parodies.

The Hillaryites' tormentors are the Freepers, a fierce, warlike tribe from the Free Republic organization--a fire-breathing conservative band of Internet brothers who often call each other by their screen names, even in person..."

O.K., now...

What say YOU?

[Zavien Doombringer]

O.K., now... What say YOU?

FreeRepublic is an excellent forum to discuss issues, critique the liberal media and a tool for teaching.

I found FR when I was reading Worldnetdaily.Com, I found that Joseph Farah is a conservative, but there was a change in the format when he allowed wackos to write columns. I haven't been back there since finding FreeRepublic.com. I have all I need here. Entertainment,News, Sports, religion and sometimes comics.

Thank you FR!

Now, I must go fight the Trolls that lurk! On to Valhalla!

[RonDog]

See also from Cinnamon Girl's "after action" thread:

DOWN AND OUT (AND FREEPED) IN BEVERLY HILLS
[LA Chapter FReeps Dan Rather!]
Cinnamon Girl
Posted on 11/10/2003 8:26 PM PST by Cinnamon Girl

What have you got when a bunch of right wing extremists are standing on a corner in North Beverly Hills, in front of the Beverly Hills Hotel, wearing crazy costumes and holding signs while a nearly endless stream of RICH, OLD, WHITE GUYS IN SUV's and luxury sedans pull up the driveway? Why it must be a GOP FUNDRAISER, RIGHT?!?!!?? After all, if it was a gathering of progressive, environmentally concerned, liberal people of conscience celebrating the achievements of DAN RATHER, they'd all be driving hybrid vehicles or riding their ten speed bikes up the driveway, RIGHT?

Welcome to the land of celebrity activists, and DNC activists-- otherwise known as journalists. Tonight was the big night for Dan Rather, who is being honored for his "steadfast commitment to fair and accurate news reporting" by the Museum of Television and Radio. How apropos that Dan's big night is taking place on SUNSET BOULEVARD.

Freepers RonDog, DoughtyOne, diotima, DavidDennis, absalom1, DoctorZin and Outraged were there with some fabulous signs: "CBiaS", "Losing Share? Try the Truth," and RonDog was dressed as Sadam being pitched "softballs." I was dressed as Blind Justice holding a scale with one side reading "left" and the other reading "far left." Hopefully, DavidDennis will be putting up the pictures soon, and he also took video.

We were standing right at the foot of the driveway, on the intersection of Beverly, Crescent and Sunset so we got a lot of traffic, and the attendees not only drove by us, but sometimes the cars on the driveway got backed up and they were forced to be at a standstill next to our signs. One lady started waving her hand at us as if to say, "oh stop it, just go away."

-- snip --

To: Cinnamon Girl; Bob J; diotima; daviddennis; DoctorZIn; absalom01; Outraged; DoughtyOne

Here is the HONOR ROLL for tonight's FReep:

RonDog
Bob J
diotima
daviddennis
Doctor ZIn
Cinnamon Girl (and her young daughter)
absalom01
Outraged
DoughtyOne

34 posted on 11/10/2003 10:15 PM PST by RonDog

-- snip --

From LEFT: RonDog as Saddam, with "cartoon hand" and "softball"
Bob J with one of abner's signs, and a floodlight for illuminating a similar sign across the driveway
Cinnamon Girl's "RATHER Blind Justice: Left and Far Left" scales

-- snip --

To: RatherBiased.com

I was trying to say that one of the reasons that our FReep did not get much media exposure is that the actual event itself (the awards dinner for Dan Rather and the producers from "Friends") ALSO got very little media coverage.

For some reason.

But, I will keep looking. :o)

Ding, ding, ding!

Seek, and ye shall find...

It's not much, but this is a START:

Here is a short EXCERPT from www.msnbc.com:

Rather, ‘Friends’ team saluted

Tribute part of the Museum of Television and Radio fundraiser

By Cynthia Littleton
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11 — The tributes flowed freely Monday night as the Museum of Television & Radio saluted a contemporary icon of broadcast journalism and three of the most successful sitcom writer-producers in recent memory during the organization’s annual fund-raising gala.

CBS’ DAN RATHER and the "Friends" creative brain trust of Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane were feted during the ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel, hosted by NBC’s Jay Leno, for their contributions to the medium.

 Like a good news reporter, CBS’ Rather kept his acceptance remarks short, sweet and to the point. The anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News" thanked the crowd for implicitly recognizing "the importance of a free and independent American press" in honoring his work during the past five decades at CBS.
       Even as a handful of protesters gathered outside the hotel with placards accusing Rather of betraying a liberal bias in his work, the veteran newsman told the audience inside that his guiding philosophy in his work had always been "to be accurate and to be fair — as much as humanly possible — and when there’s heat, face the furnace and take it."

126 posted on 11/11/2003 10:39 PM PST by RonDog

CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread

[RonDog]

Mr. Block interviewed Cinnamon Girl, Doctor ZIn and yours truly for quite some time, so I would imagine that he will also write extensively about us (and our FReep) in his weekly column for Television Week.

Naturally, we cannot know exactly what he currently has in mind to write about us, but perhaps we can HELP him write the story by showing him what this forum is REALLY all about. :o)

In his e-mail, he did ask for my telephone number, presumably to get further input from me (as leader of that FReep) - prior to publication.

So, let's give him some INPUT!

Please help us tell Television Week editor Alex Ben Block about Free Republic!

PING!!!

[Miss Marple]

One of the most important aspects Free Republic offers is a way to track news stories from all over the world, check against other sources for accuracy, and often connect the dots between cause and effect that the major media seems to miss.

I also appreciate the live threads, where comments are posted while participants watch a news event. (There is a huge one going on right now on the Senate debate.)

And last, I have made some good friends on this forum.

Free Republic is the best thing on the internet.

[fight_truth_decay]

Block needs only to take the time to read articles and especially commentary by Freepers to understand on FR there is more then meets the eye then just a pretty body of well appointed ....nouns, pronouns, verbs and great set of adjectives to create a picture.

I am surprised Block is not more aware of FR. I read about the issues at hand here mostly for the intelligent added commentary from Freepers who contribute from all over the country. Freepers provide the real story behind the 'pretty body' of prose submitted for our pleasure by the news writers who 'get paid' good money to do so. Here many of 'us pay' to tell the whole story through good old fashioned town hall debate.

There are personalities that admit to reading FR. We know Rush does, Howie Carr, etc.

FR is the "google" to many of the news/tv/radio media for much of their in depth research.

[buffyt]

YEEE HAWWW thanks for the heads up, Ron!

[buffyt]

RonDog, Outraged, BobJ, three of my favorite California Freepers!

[RonDog]

FreeRepublic is an excellent forum to discuss issues, critique the liberal media and a tool for teaching.

EXCELLENT, Zavien Doombringer!

That is EXACTLY the kind of thing that I was looking for!

This could be a LONG thread!

Note to Alex Ben Block:

Please check back here OFTEN, and hit refresh.

"Discussion threads" have a way of GROWING LONGER over time. :o)

What say the REST of you?

[RonDog]

I am surprised Block is not more aware of FR. I read about the issues at hand here mostly for the intelligent added commentary from Freepers who contribute from all over the country. Freepers provide the real story behind the 'pretty body' of prose submitted for our pleasure by the news writers who 'get paid' good money to do so. Here many of 'us pay' to tell the whole story through good old fashioned town hall debate.

There are personalities that admit to reading FR. We know Rush does, Howie Carr, etc.

Not sure how much Alex knows about FR, hence THIS THREAD.

Perhaps we have made a new FRiend. :o)

See also from Cinnamon Girl's thread:

To: Cinnamon Girl

It was fun, we got interviewed by some guy from "Television Week" (?), and we saw Jay Leno on his motorcycle speed past the cars in the hotel driveway. Check in!

I hope they have a photo of you guys. Television Week had two pics of members of the Code Pink coven (one on the front page) when they were toting signs slamming Fox News and Clear Channel at the National Association of Broadcasters conference. It also features right-bashing Washed-up Post TV columnist Tom Shales, who distinguished himself (NOT!) by becoming a sounding board for people who don't like Bernard Goldberg.

94 posted on 11/11/2003 12:12 PM PST by L.N. Smithee (Just because I don't think like you doesn't mean I don't think for myself)

[Valin]

the veteran newsman told the audience inside that his guiding philosophy in his work had always been "to be accurate and to be fair — as much as humanly possible

Excuse me for just a moment, I have something to attend to.

(Muffle) gag, barf, retch, bang head against wall, aaaggggghhhhhh!!!

Well I'm back, Could you please repost this is a different format? I have just installed a new non-sense filter and I'm having a little trouble reading this. thank you.

[RonDog]

I also appreciate the live threads, where comments are posted while participants watch a news event.
(There is a huge one going on right now on the Senate debate.)

Thank you, Miss M!

That was PERFECT!
Although I'm not sure that Alex is ready to tackle one of Howlin's REALLY LONG "live" threads yet. :o)

See also:

LIVE THREAD: SENATE FILIBUSTER!! Call Capitol Swtchbrd 1-800-648-3516 to Protest Dem Obstructionism
			Posted by Howlin On 11/12/2003 2:45 PM PST with 3,173 comments - Yikes! www.freerepublic.com | November 12, 2003

[RonDog]

the veteran newsman told the audience inside that his guiding philosophy in his work had always been "to be accurate and to be fair — as much as humanly possible - PMSNBC article

Excuse me for just a moment, I have something to attend to.

(Muffle) gag, barf, retch, bang head against wall, aaaggggghhhhhh!!!

Well I'm back, Could you please repost this is a different format? I have just installed a new non-sense filter and I'm having a little trouble reading this. thank you. - Valin

LOL!

You missed the QUALIFIER:

"as much as humanly possible..."

Dan doesn't HAVE to be "fair and accurate" - since he's an ALIEN!

See also:

To: RonDog; All

Way to go LA FReepers!

106 posted on 11/11/2003 5:28 PM PST by SerpentDove (www.neatophotos.com)

[MeekOneGOP]

Hey, RonDog ! Thanks for the heads up.

I took your pic and tried to shed some light on it.

Hope ya don't mind ! ...

[RonDog]

RonDog, Outraged, BobJ, three of my favorite California Freepers!

Thanks!

See also, from a previous FReep:

FReeper Outraged as Superman
("The S is for [CA's almost governor Bill] SIMON!")
(Click on the picture for a LARGER image.)

[SerpentDove]

:-)

[The UnVeiled Lady]

besides getting the news closest to the source, usually unfiltered, FR gives conservatives the way to show up together and try to turn the country back to more civilized society by fighting the leftist with their own methods. Signs and bodies. No violence.

[MeekOneGOP]

Feel free to put in your 2 cents here ...

"Television Week" editor Alex Ben Block
to write about Free Republic:
Want to HELP him do it right?

Now it's YOUR turn:

What does Free Republic mean to YOU?

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[Valin]

What does Freerepublic mean to me?

A couple of things
1 I like to tell people that we are the homepage for the VRWC.

2 It is (in my not so humble opinion) the best place on the web to find out who, what, where, when. On any given day there are literally 1,000s of people from across the globe posting what's going on, on any thing to do with politics, culture, history, religion. And commenting on it.

3 As a tagline I saw a while ago said "Freerepublic, where debate is a contact sport". This has hepled me hone my skills in debating people I meet. Make a stupid statement around here and you WILL get taken to the woodshed in no time at all. After 5+ years here I now have no problem confronting some one (in the real world) who says something dumb, beating them like a drum.

4 I've gotten to know(after a fashion) some really fine sharp people, and along the way learned a thing or two(THE HORROR THE HORROR)

5 And in spite of the fact that I also met some folks(and GOD bless em) that live in a world where the sky may not be blue and there may be more than one moon, it's been a really positive experience.


YEAH us!! BOO them!

[Valin]

You missed the QUALIFIER:
"as much as humanly possible..."

NO I didn't! See, you're assuming he's human.
And you know what happens when you assume.