Almost Famous
I had an interview with a reporter from the Associated Press this evening. He’s the AP’s National Internet Reporter, and he’s writing an article about weblogs in relation to the events of September 11. And he wanted to interview me, of all people! This afternoon he sent me an e-mail, and this evening he called me up and we had a nice phone interview. I’m incredibly flattered that he contacted me. And I think I gave him some choice quotes. I’d never been interviewed for a news story before, and I did my best to speak in complete, well-thought-out sentences. For the most part I think I succeeded.
And of course the thought crossed my mind that a mention of my site in an Associated Press article would be amazing publicity for this site.
Unfortunately, there’s a catch. If I give him permission to quote me in the article, he has to use my full name. I asked if he could just mention my first name and the URL, but he can’t — AP policy is that you must use full names of anyone you quote. And that means that my full name would be appearing alongside my URL in the Iowa Daily Grasshopper or the South Dakota Picayune-Ostrich or whatever.
My parents don’t know I have this site (at least, I don’t think they do). My employers don’t know I have this site. There are several people I’ve dated who don’t know I have this site. I’m not really sure I want to deal with the chance that some friend of my parents could call my folks up and inform them that their son has this online journal at Tinmanic.com, and that my parents (or my parents’ friends or random other people who know me) could then type in the URL and wind up reading about Internet sex. Nor do I want my employers reading about my work habits.
At first I told the reporter he could quote me. But at the end of the interview I asked him how much time I have to change my mind, and he said he’ll probably be writing the article in a couple of days.
Unfortunately, I think I’m going to have to call him back and rescind my permission to quote me.
Sigh… it would have been such great publicity for my site. Damn.
I should have given him a fake name. But, um, I’m a lawyer, and that probably wouldn’t have been kosher.
Anyway, I did send him over to East/West, because I think Choire’d be a great person for the guy to talk to, seeing as how he managed to lasso a whole shitload of links and photos and whatnot in relation to the events.
So much for my fifteen minutes of fame and glory.
What do you all think? Should I let him quote me or not?
Take a chance.
It’s probably worth it.
.rob
You know what a good expression is? “Let the chips fall where they may.” This isn’t apt to be a big deal — your parents sound like really cool people to me, your bosses are unlikely to give a damn, and your past and future dates could stand to be clued in. You haven’t written anything to really offend anyone who you seemed interested in building your life around, after all.
If you must have a degree of privacy, go by a variation of your name — introduce or remove a consonant, or use “Jeffrey” instead of “Jeff”. I’m sure you could wheedle that much out of the AP guy.
This is too cool an opportunity to pass up because of cold feet.
Have him quote you as Geoff. ;)
I’m just thinkin’ it’s unlikely that the AP article will be so widely picked up that your parents and/or employers are likely to see it. (Of course, there’s always the fact that someone’s future google search will track it down, but that danger is always present, isn’t it?)
As someone who’s sent nude photos of themselves all over the world, done porn and pretty much put myself up on a billboard in Times Square, let me tell you, it won’t mean much either way. Your parents will most likely not get wind of it. Your job could care less. Believe me, you’ll gain a lot more than you lose. You’re an excellent individual and it shows through in your writing. You’ll win in the end. DO IT!
Geeze – congratulations! That is too kewl!!!! You know I love the way you write – it’s great that it would get some recognition.
I’m right there with you, however, I’d be wavering myself. Here’s a thought…. maybe tell your folks before the fact that you have the site but that it is a diary and not meant for their eyes? If they get wind of it from others, they can in all honesty say, “Yeah, he told us about it but we realized it was not acutally written for us to read….” It’s a thought. I suspect your folks might actually respect your privacy but still be pleased that you cared enought that you wanted them not to be caught by surprise. But, being parents, they might get a thrill knowing their little boy’s writing is getting some recognition! Or am I simply living in a fantasy land?
It’s a thought…is the old adage about honesty being the best policy still true?
Good luck with this, Jeff…it’s a hard choice but it still is a wonderful reflection on your writing, no matter what you decide.
Cheers,
Brendan
I taught my mom how to use goodgle to look up family and friends long before I ever considered that I would have my site, so I have also considered your position. While not open, I don’t hide it either. Whatever happens, happens. You have been very honest and creative and upfront, but you have not been insulting or self damaging in your journal. I think that if people found it, they would enjoy getting to know the real you. Go for it – it may open up doors that you never dreamed of.
Well, what did you decide?