Witches Haven

Prepare Yourselves.

Get ready, it is that time of year again. The time of year where the press and the media in general roll us out for a look-see, some thinly veiled ridicule and to parade their poor research skills.

For example and ok, granted, we aren't talking the New York Times here; it is a small, very small, Quebec townie type rag but even so, ya know? A little effort isn't necessarily a bad thing.

http://tinyurl.com/3okrqy

This particular article has been circulated through the greater Montreal Pagan community and the response hasn't been particularly favourable. It was ill-conceived by everyone concerned with it.

No discernable research. It came off as a sorry piece of advertising for Tarot readings. Nothing learned except, of course, note the name of the reporter and avoid any future contact.

The article is an example of not-so-good reporting. The woman has kids but her phone number is posted for all to see, as are the ages of the children. Not smart on anyone connected with this article, not the woman, not the reporter and the editor? What the hell was he or she thinking?

Silver Ravenwolf? I won't even touch that one. Married to a warlock? Oh my, my, my. Advertising to the world how much is charged for a reading and on average, how many readings she does in a week. For her sake, I really hope she has been reporting this as income. I'll use my crystal ball for a second and read her future. I see Men in Black, with calculators and income tax forms. I see dollars flying out the window and an awful lot of howling at the moon.

If you have been around for a while, the odds are pretty good that you have been stung by the media. They want you to put on a ritual for them, come up with a love spell or two. Maybe pull a rabbit out of your ass.

They want photos. I've done that and believe me, I regret it. Television interviews, magazine articles and a few newspaper pieces. Some were good and some were very, very bad. I had a reporter promise me that there would be no mention of my children, I still had minor kids at home, at the time. So we're talking quite a few years ago; this case was about 13 years ago. Not only did he mention my minor son, the spin on the article was less than favourable and I was not a happy camper.

However, lesson learned.

If you do feel comfortable being interviewed? Be very, very careful. Do your own research. Take a look at the pieces the reporter has already committed to posterity. Are they well written? How is the grammar? Does the reporter tend toward the sensational? If the latter seems to be the trend; run, don't walk to the nearest exit. It isn't worth the grief later.

The whole point of this page is a precautionary message to everyone and anyone approached by the media. Watch yourselves. It doesn't matter how carefully you express yourself; it doesn't take much of an effort to have your words come back to haunt you.

To all my friends, family and community; a memorable Samhain to you all.

All my best wishes
Dark Lillith