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APK Mentioned in Canadian Press

Saturday, 19 November 2005

American parkour get's its third media spot, this one by Canwest "journalist" Charles "the butcher" Mandel.

Before you think we're going off the deep end here, take a minute to check out the article for yourself.

Fortunately, I've done interviews enough times to know (or at least be able to guess?) how badly my words will be twisted. therefore I know to avoid all the "trigger" questions, "What's the highest thing you ever jumped off" for example, and "Is it very dangerous" and "People have been killed doing this, right?".

I think Charles was throughly unimpressed with some of my answers, for example when he aksed me the "Hardest thing I've done in Parkour" I told him "Trying to get people to emphasize the safety aspect" ... no quote for that one. Now, while I feel I came out relatively unscathed, it's very clear that Charles misunderstood some of our Candian friends wo contributed, most glaringly the 54 meter (110 foot) vault into water. he also unfortuantely didn't seem to do any fact checking, or continuity for that matter. He calls Parkour freerunning several times, and seems to get things a bit mixed up. History? Not a chance. Facts? Who needs em? As long as it goes to print, it MUST be true. Blech.

There's a great discussion for this article going on in the great white north at the PKTO.ca forums.

Users' Comments

Display 9 of 9 comments

1. 11-19-2005 11:18

Ugh...I'll take your word for it, because the link is broken. It's a shame that the media wishes to highlight the danger aspect, but that's what sells papers. The fact of the matter is, they will find somebody to talk to for their article, so it's best if it's somebody who will do all they can to get the right message across. Even then, they can twist your words to say whatever they want, so it's always a gamble.

gearsighted

2. 11-19-2005 15:06

Wasnt around for this one. Ah well. Like I said, it got put out in the prairies.. where there isnt anything people could really do anyways! (Well I guess fastest way over cows might be parkour) .. So Im not too utterly worried... But still. *sigh*...

Cant win em all right. But I wish I was around in the 3 hour timespan this guy had to come up with the idea, 'research', find people and quote.

Parkourdan

3. 11-19-2005 18:57

I LOVE that response for the "hardest thing in parkour" question. Brilliant.

gameyy

4. 11-19-2005 22:20

I have done a few interviews with those kind of people. You have to say things over and over and try to get to know them and spend some time with them first. It really does help because I guess seem to have more trust in your thoughts and for some reason pay more attention. The last interview I did with a few others seemed to go well, the reporter really seemed to understand everything very thuroughly and it should turn out for the best this time.
Quote

"Hardest thing I've done in Parkour" I told him "Trying to get people to emphasize the safety aspect"

Thats something you should try not to do, think like they are not they way you should, just awnser there question literally. If you want a good article lead up to that statement and tell them what they really want to hear thus leading to a better article with them at better understanding in what we here do.

Flippusmn

5. 11-20-2005 04:29

Quote

If you want a good article lead up to that statement and tell them what they really want to hear thus leading to a better article with them at better understanding in what we here do

You can't be serious??!!!! "Just tell them what they want to hear if you want a good article"???!!! "That way they have a better understanding"??

No WAY!!!

Tell them what they NEED to hear, tell them the truth, a GOOD article tells the truth about what Parkour is, not some sensationalist crap about the highest thing you ever jumped off!!! (which you can see in this very article they will double, then triple).

I'm sorry, but you're out of your mind and I HOPE you don't talk to the media, for all of our sakes.

admin

6. 11-20-2005 05:10

I have to agree, you can't tell them what they want, you have to tell it like it is. If you have a good understanding of the true nature of Parkour, then the only way it can go wrong is if THEY choose to compromise their own integrity for the sake of shock value. In that case, there is nothing else you can do, but trying to make a reporter feel good about themselves to get a good story is just silly...

gearsighted

7. 11-20-2005 14:36

Quote

Tell them what they NEED to hear, tell them the truth, a GOOD article tells the truth about what Parkour

Thats what a good reporter like this one would want to know. Unless your M2, Skip, or a few others who I don't feel like mentioning you wouldn't really know how a good reporter reacts and feels. They are not in your face and would want to know how you really feal, and if you do not tell the truth you have no right to be in the media because bad conseption leads to trouble.
Quote

not some sensationalist crap about the highest thing you ever jumped off!!!

Actually I have only been asked that once, and the reason for that is because they don't have articles on parkour about that, they do the articles on the pholosiphy and about it in the area and mainly how it has progressed, not how cool it is. If you noticed they ask you what it's about and why you do it, almost first thing. Arts And Living or Premare!

BTW, when you don't tell them what they want they usually make things seem more interesting than what they are and thats what leads them to exageration or over thought. And FYI all the articles and media events that has been done by me have turned out to be very good, they also brought a load of new people intrested in Parkour with a good understanding of the pholosiphy and not a bad impression on what it is.

Flippusmn

8. 11-20-2005 17:24

So...you actually agree with everything M2 said? You could have just said "I agree"

gearsighted

9. 11-20-2005 18:20

for the most part, you can just see that there are little differences. One where I said you kind of have to agree with the reporter, which leads on but ok sure. :roll

Flippusmn

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