Just been approached by a journo

[markm]

A freelance journalist has just asked me if he can interview me for a piece,
sounds like its to punt round local papers, any advice?
i have already given him a copy of the ecig s save lives flier aand said I will 
only agree if he does some proper research himself.

[DiscoDes]

Ask to see a copy of the article before it's published?

[markm]

He did say I could even come up with my own list of questions, so
He's either going to just make it all up himself, or he is genuinely
Going to represent what I have to say.
I'm tempted to just supply questions, like how come the MHRA think
They are ok for 1.3million, and doubling every twelve months, users
But come 2016 they will suddenly become so dangerous they will all
Be banned?
And more along those lines........

[GunJack]

rather than come across as being confrontational, how about going along the lines of more and more up-to-date studies showing how little harm e-cigs do? and how not all e-cigs look like, wel, cigs? These are probably two of the most misunderstood issues in the whole debate, so maybe it's time for some education ?

[markm]

Good point, the whole issue can be a confusing mess from the outside,
Probably best to stick to the fundamentals.

[rich64]

Maybe try to get him to put a (more information can be got via AAEC community forum link) at the bottom of the article ?

[Fallen Angel]

I would also draw his attention to the video lecture by Dr L Dawkins that gibla53 posted as there is some very useful information contained within that a non-informed person may or may not know about and may give the journo some useful background info, as well as the article that jeffc posted from the CASSA.

[padiho]

Aug 13, 2013 13:54:42 GMT GunJack said:

rather than come across as being confrontational, how about going along the lines of more and more up-to-date studies showing how little harm e-cigs do? and how not all e-cigs look like, wel, cigs? These are probably two of the most misunderstood issues in the whole debate, so maybe it's time for some education ?

Totally agree. Time to educate people

[dnglos]

Aug 13, 2013 17:03:59 GMT padiho said:

Aug 13, 2013 13:54:42 GMT GunJack said:

rather than come across as being confrontational, how about going along the lines of more and more up-to-date studies showing how little harm e-cigs do? and how not all e-cigs look like, wel, cigs? These are probably two of the most misunderstood issues in the whole debate, so maybe it's time for some education ?

Totally agree. Time to educate people

Agreed. Keep calm and try not to rant

We really need to be making people aware that e-cigs save lives. You could maybe quote eminent medical experts who support e-cigs. Here's an excerpt from a BBC report:

"Nicotine itself is not a particularly hazardous drug," says Professor John Britton, who leads the tobacco advisory group for the Royal College of Physicians.

"It's something on a par with the effects you get from caffeine.

"If all the smokers in Britain stopped smoking cigarettes and started smoking e-cigarettes we would save 5 million deaths in people who are alive today. It's a massive potential public health prize."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21406540
Video : UK health expert supports e-cigs

[markm]

Well he turned up - a few days earlier than agreed,
so caught me on the hop a little - still I think it worked out, as he was
pro vaping, although neither a user nor smoker himself. Yes I know there
are a couple of inaccurate things said by both the interviewer and the passing actress,
but nothing I consider too major.
He is a local reporter so is going to try and get the Essex Chronicle interested
and because he has worked locally for donkeys years he also knows the local MP
who he is going to try and get to drop by the market at some point.
Anyway this is what he did so far:

[gibla53]

Excellent watch , really informative the journo. asked some pertinent questions that were answered clearly and well . Much kudos

[poochops]

Well done Mark, I think you came across extremely well. OK he didn't ask too many searching questions, but then too many journalists have already approached the subject with a predetermined opinion so it was good that you were given the opportunity to explain the equipment and the liquid in such a way as to not have to defend it, just show it for what it is.

[markm]

I made it a proviso that he do some proper research himself and pointed him to the
Ecig s save lives site, he was true to his word and did the reading. He even knew about
The smoke without fire stuff. We agreed it was best to try and keep it light and upbeat.
He has a local lawyer lined up, another vaper, who he met whilst court reporting.
I think he's going to progress the story as its piqued his interest.

[rich64]

Well done mark .

Very credible interview and i hope it gets show around...alot !!

[Deleted]

Nice one Mark .. the only one thing that pisses me off about the whole thing is people calling juice .. "oil"

Other than that ... a really fantastic piece