Thread: Caution: "Opportunity" from Fox

Just got a call, " We'd like to feature you on our segment, blah blah, exercise, belly dance, blah blah". Then "Oh btw, there's a $1,500 fee to be featured in this segment" Um, no thanks. I don't want to pay to be on the news for 3 minutes. Especially after the questionable coverage Fox gave to Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition.

So...don't waste your phone minutes. But, it is an interesting way to try to sell ad space as a "feature". Ironically, the caller pitched this segment to me as a "reality type show" with a host that goes around and ...interviews businesses that have paid to be interviewed. *facepalm*

Let me just say, as a former account executive, that this doesn't surprise me one iota. The media industry is hurting due to decreased ad revenue. Therefore, AE's must resort to more "innovative" ways of escaping the weekly rounds of layoffs and bringing home their meager commissions .w.:..c::

And it goes without saying. "Fox News" and "opportunity" should not be used in the same sentence, unless you're talking about an "opportunity" to humiliate yourself at your own out of pocket cost ..l;,

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Let me just say, as a former account executive, that this doesn't surprise me one iota. The media industry is hurting due to decreased ad revenue. Therefore, AE's must resort to more "innovative" ways of escaping the weekly rounds of layoffs and bringing home their meager commissions .w.:..c::

And it goes without saying. "Fox News" and "opportunity" should not be used in the same sentence, unless you're talking about an "opportunity" to humiliate yourself at your own out of pocket cost ..l;,

Yeah, I hear you! But please note, I said Fox/"Opportunity" not opportunity ..g.:

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

Yeah, I hear you! But please note, I said Fox/"Opportunity" not opportunity ..g.:

Yes, exactly. But I bet the AE who pitched this to you probably wasn't doing air-quotes! I'm sure he was being sooper seereous ..g.:..l;,

I heard about stuff like this. NPR (Marketplace?) did an expose on it. I wish I could remember more about the story, because then I could post a link. I think it involved 60 minutes. I can't remember.

Gah.

There's a lot of similar stuff in the architecture field with "awards."

Pay no fee to submit, but pay a $5000 "publication fee" if you're selected. And of course, EVERYONE is selected.

fox didn't do too bad with the promotions of BDSS that are on youtube..... of course they didn't say much and that's probably why......

Originally Posted by raqFariha

fox didn't do too bad with the promotions of BDSS that are on youtube..... of course they didn't say much and that's probably why......

Do you mean this?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g75PZr5XUxQ"]YouTube- Bellydance Superstars on Fox 5 DC 11/23/2004[/ame]

Originally Posted by da Sage

Do you mean this?

YouTube- Bellydance Superstars on Fox 5 DC 11/23/2004

"What Riverdance did for Irish dancing?" Where have I heard that analogy before? ..g.: Sounds like they had some control over what was presented...fortunately.

Originally Posted by da Sage

Do you mean this?

YouTube- Bellydance Superstars on Fox 5 DC 11/23/2004

That's a local news channel. TOTALLY different from the Fox Cable Network.

wow, I was only quoted $600 for the chance to be in the 'ask the expert' section of the paper... Sadly, this is not a new scheme- and it actually works for certain types of businesses. Mostly chiropractors, sports medicine & independent business assistants/coaches are who I see filling those slots

We recently had friends & students hold up signs on the side of the road for a fundraiser dance event, & the local (edit- station name deleted) advertising rep came up to us, letting us know if we ever want "real" exposure, to give him a call. Same guy we regularly send our PSAs too & NEVER hear back from. I think back to our packed workshop & laugh- effective advertising is different for every business, & yes, I've learned that certain opportunities don't benefit us in this community.

Originally Posted by Lara L

We recently had friends & students hold up signs on the side of the road for a fundraiser dance event, & the local NBC affiliate advertising rep came up to us, letting us know if we ever want "real" exposure, to give him a call. Same guy we regularly send our PSAs too & NEVER hear back from. I think back to our packed workshop & laugh- effective advertising is different for every business, & yes, I've learned that certain opportunities don't benefit us in this community.

Silly AE. If we wanted media coverage, we'd send a press release for whatever big event, festival or other newsworthy cause we wanted to promote. Did you tell him you could die from too much "exposure?" ..l;,

In regards to PSA's and community events, usually there's a specific person at the station who handles that sort of thing. Account exec's only deal with selling ad space and taking care of their accounts. Next time, you might want to call the station and ask the receptionist to hook you up with the appropriate person

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

That's a local news channel. TOTALLY different from the Fox Cable Network.

i thought it might be.... thanks for confirming.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Silly AE. If we wanted media coverage, we'd send a press release for whatever big event, festival or other newsworthy cause we wanted to promote. Did you tell him you could die from too much "exposure?" ..l;,

In regards to PSA's and community events, usually there's a specific person at the station who handles that sort of thing. Account exec's only deal with selling ad space and taking care of their accounts. Next time, you might want to call the station and ask the receptionist to hook you up with the appropriate person

oh, it's a small town & this is the PSA guy too- it's just that particular station's policy to not run PSAs for groups that spend ANY advertising dollars anywhere else- if the owner (not the AE/PSA guy) finds out you could afford even a $100 newspaper ad but decided not to spend $500-$800 on a commercial on his station, they won't run the PSA either. Thank you for having *so* much interest in supporting the arts! ,r:;

Although many are out there trying to blur the line, legitimate news organizations have a church/state approach to news and advertising. If the news source is legitimate, there is no money exchanging hands, either direction.

Originally Posted by CFerhat

Although many are out there trying to blur the line, legitimate news organizations have a church/state approach to news and advertising. If the news source is legitimate, there is no money exchanging hands, either direction.

there was a fairly big to-do a couple years ago about shrinking budgets & the reliance of news media on corporate produced news filler- it happens more than you'd think, even at reputable sources- I do not have the energy to dig out the articles & radio clips about it- There are disclosure laws, but I've heard some pretty creative ways of giving disclosure! Even in cases like I mentioned about the 'ask the experts' section- it's good information that get's out there, and does have public benefit in getting that info out, but yes, the 'expert' is paying to have their name attached to that information. I can't remember the innocuous little disclaimer they have on that page- I only noticed it was there after the paper contacted me about said opportunity & I looked for it. I really appreciate our local news sources for what they do, but, as with anything, I take it all with a grain of salt & a bucket of skepticism.