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Media Guide for Pagans

Quill's Input

A Note from Quill: As a journalist myself, I wish it was unnecessary to have to prepare (and warn) Pagans about interaction with the media. Unfortunately, however - as Frater S.P.R.V. has reminded me - modern journalistic efforts lean more toward the sensational than the factual. So, here are a few tips for Pagans who find it necessary to interact with the print, radio and visual media.

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1. When approaching the media - with announcements about events/meetings, or press releases about activities - it does not hurt to call the newspaper or television station switchboard and ask for the name of the person most likely to use the information. What is sent to this person should always be clear, concise, and provide accurate contact information for individuals using legal names (not magickal names). Mail, fax or e-mail the information, and follow up with a phone call no less than three days later to ensure receipt.

While being "pushy" with the media is a major "no no", there is nothing wrong with being certain information has been received by the proper parties. The media cannot be forced to pursue the information, but if they ignore information they are known to have received, there may be room later to inquire regarding the reason for the omission on their part.

2. When approached by the media - especially around Samhain/Halloween - do not hesitate to ask what the focus of the article or video segment will cover, before agreeing to participate.

When a journalist receives an assignment, the editor usually has a certain "slant" or "angle" they want covered, especially around Samhain. If the story is going to be about the legitimate practices of Pagans for that holiday, all for the better. If it is going to be about dispelling the "myths", it may be wise to be careful. A journalist who is covering a story on Paganism, yet who knows nothing about Paganism, may manage to - albeit inadvertently - twist someone's words and make what is light very dark, and so forth. Do not hesitate to ask the journalist to submit a list of their questions before hand, and offer to write out your answers, so there can be no misunderstandings. In actuality, quite a few print journalists do interviews via e-mail these days, to be certain of exact quotes. (Said quotes can, however, still be taken out of context.)

3. Offer to provide the journalist with background material on your group/tradition before the interview.

By encouraging the journalist to do a little research before the interview, perhaps it will come across that this is a serious matter, and not to be taken lightly by the media. The journalist may simply file the information provided, but by offering, it gives the group/individual recourse if gross inaccuracies appear in the report/story that will require a retraction or correction.

4. Do not let the interviewer intimidate you.

Nine times out of ten, the journalist doing an interview has no personal interest in the matter being discussed. He or she may act like they do, to encourage trust with the person being interviewed. But, for the most part, they are just earning their paycheck. Take a moment or two to "intuit" the attitude of the journalist, to better get a sense of what he or she is after. It is very important for you to control where the interview goes, not to let the journalist control it. If things the interviewer says or does makes you uncomfortable, do not hesitate to end the interview and contact the journalist's editor. At all times, journalists are supposed to behave in a professional and "detached" manner. If it seems the journalist is biased against the group/individual, do not move forward with the interview.

5. Doing an interview is a prime chance to dispel misconceptions about Paganism and Pagans in general. If you don't feel comfortable using your legal name, better not to do the interview at all.

In a lot of ways, those who ask that their last names not be used, or use a "magickal" name in an interview, come off looking like they have something to hide. This can do more harm than good for the Pagan cause.

6. Be comfortable with any questions asked before replying.

If you are uncertain about how a question is phrased, or if it seems to have a "double meaning", do not hesitate to ask for a clarification. Better to be sure, than have your words misinterpreted.

7. While journalists are usually prohibited from allowing those they interview to read or preview a story before it is printed/aired, be certain he or she knows you can be contacted at any time to clarify anything prior to the story's release. And, if the printed/aired story is inaccurate or reflects wrongly on a group/individual, do not hesitate to contact the journalist's editor to strongly, yet respectfully, request a correction.

8. When dealing with journalists, it must be assumed that they know little about Paganism and, therefore, cannot sufficiently distinguish between those traditions, genuine Satanism, and the pseudo- Satanic activities of those who play at calling up the darker forces through animal sacrifice, drinking blood, ritual abuse or other abhorrent practices. Since the media, unfortunately, tends to base its reports on the need for viewer ratings and, therefore, sensationalism, providing a basic education to the journalists in the regard will give Pagans recourse, should inaccurate information be included in the journalist’s final product.

• Paganism
  Can be clearly explained as a grouping of traditions, primarily nature based and polytheistic, but ultimately promoting positive action involving self-responsibility and ethical behavior.
• Satanism
  As defined by the Church of Satan founded by Anton LaVey in 1966, and reformed into the Temple of Set by Michael Aquino in the 1970s - is primarily concerned with fulfillment of the personal desires and goals of the individual, per the Satanic Bible and other pertinent documents. While mostly “inwardly” focused, true members of these organizations hold that breaking the civil laws in any form is not allowed, with responsibility for one’s actions and subsequent results as vital.
• Pseudo-Satanic activities
  All too often, groups of teenagers or some adults will gather and enact self-composed rites which have little basis in history or fact, which involve mutilation of animals, abuse of other human beings, or other irresponsible behavior, while seeking the beneficence of “Satan”. Such practices are not associated with established and recognized Pagan traditions, or the Church of Satan or Temple of Set. They are the misguided attempts by the practitioners to gain personal power, with no regard for the effects of their activities, and an unwillingness to take responsibility for their actions. In some cases, the participants may have psychological problems, as well.

These distinctions make it clear that journalists should specifically differentiate of which group they are writing, and not freely intermingle the three, because such inaccuracies are detrimental to all. Journalists who may request interviews can - and should - be screened by those to be interviewed, to determine the level of knowledge and, seeing any lack, should make this information readily available, to prevent any confusion on the part of the journalist.

Frater S.P.R.V.'s Input

A Note from Frater S.P.R.V: Sometimes the best offense is an open, honest and spiritually revealing defense. The following questions, divided up under the subheadings of “The Modern Religious Mindset” and “Sensationalism”, are an amalgam of the most common queries I’ve faced in terms of media and cowan (non-Pagan) curiosity and inquiry. In no way should this list be considered all-inclusive nor do all the religious elements apply to all traditions (for instance, the nature-related questions may not be central to some Pagan Reconstructionist religions, etc.). But I have found that at least a cursory review provides an excellent means of preparation for the media interview or interfaith discussion process.

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A) The Modern Religious Mindset:

• What’s the difference between Paganism and Wicca (or Asatru, or Druidry, etc.)? Don’t all Pagans believe the same way?
• What do you base your beliefs upon (for instance, Christians base their beliefs on the Bible, Muslims on the Quran, etc.)? Christianity (and other religions) have an historical and archaeological basis - does Paganism? What is your system of hierarchy? Who has authority?
• What happens after you die? What is your concept of the afterlife?
• It sounds like Paganism is a license to do whatever you please. What about right and wrong - what are your moral and ethical beliefs?
• Aren't you actually worshiping nature via a self-created belief system? What is your relation to nature? How does your religion - since you don’t try to convert people - evolve and grow?
• What about prayer and submission to the Will of God? (and remember the implied questions here: How do you talk to you Gods? How do your Gods speak to you? What is the nature of your relationship with your Gods? Aren't they all-powerful while you are merely mortal and weak-natured?) If you have a great number of Gods to choose from, how do you choose which are best for you?
• What are your rituals like? What are your reasons for doing them?
• What is magick? How does it work? (This question tends to open up a whole different line of thought, but should be prepared for nonetheless. See also the last question below.)

B) Sensationalism:

• Don’t you sacrifice animals? Isn’t blood necessary for your rituals? (And be careful here - valid religions such as Vodoun and Santeria do utilize such elements in their practices. It’s fine to say that your religion prohibits such things, but don’t make it sound like any religion that may include them is therefore unsound.)
• Don’t you have to sell your soul to Satan to be a Witch? Since you wear a pentagram, isn’t that who you worship?
• Don’t you, by definition, oppose Christianity?
• “Pagan”, “Witch”, “Heathen”, etc. are negatively loaded words. Why do you choose to use them?
• You mean you don’t use magick spells to turn your enemies into toads?

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