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http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/picture/2013/jun/03/sport-picture-of-the-da...
Golly. Is this is a new high-water mark for press idiocy in covering climbing?!
I very much doubt it, actually, but still amusing, given that the route is AFAIK a popular bolt-protected 7c.
jcm
Golly. Is this is a new high-water mark for press idiocy in covering climbing?!
I very much doubt it, actually, but still amusing, given that the route is AFAIK a popular bolt-protected 7c.
jcm
In reply to johncoxmysteriously:
At least they didn't start banging on about 'those foolhardy risk-takers idiots' etc etc as per the Daily Mail
At least they didn't start banging on about 'those foolhardy risk-takers idiots' etc etc as per the Daily Mail
In reply to johncoxmysteriously:
Its a (seemigly welcome) opportunity for all you ocd/anal/purist/spitty/wasnt like that in my day/kids huh/cliquey/I know lots you know nowt head shakers to get yourselves all up in arms and mortified.
Its the post on your link from a daveweston that provides perfect commentary.
Its a (seemigly welcome) opportunity for all you ocd/anal/purist/spitty/wasnt like that in my day/kids huh/cliquey/I know lots you know nowt head shakers to get yourselves all up in arms and mortified.
Its the post on your link from a daveweston that provides perfect commentary.
In reply to Pinged:
You are daveweston and I claim my £5.
Actually, the commentary has been slightly deludicrised since I posted it. It used to refer to the 'treacherous' route.
jcm
You are daveweston and I claim my £5.
Actually, the commentary has been slightly deludicrised since I posted it. It used to refer to the 'treacherous' route.
jcm
In reply to johncoxmysteriously:
The headline has been changed from "hardest" to "most dazzling" which just makes it a non-story with a relatively undramatic photo, rather than "idiocy"
The headline has been changed from "hardest" to "most dazzling" which just makes it a non-story with a relatively undramatic photo, rather than "idiocy"
In reply to idiotproof (Buxton MC):
Oh get real, it's a fantastic shot of one of the more interesting rock features in Europe.
Also they've now changed the caption in response to feedback. Also, I confess, every time the mainstream press uses the word 'Spiderman' in association with rock-climbing, a little part of me dies inside...
> Its not even that good a photo...
Oh get real, it's a fantastic shot of one of the more interesting rock features in Europe.
Also they've now changed the caption in response to feedback. Also, I confess, every time the mainstream press uses the word 'Spiderman' in association with rock-climbing, a little part of me dies inside...
In reply to johncoxmysteriously:
Haha Nope...sorry, I am not Daveweston.
However...I am Brian...and so is my wife
Haha Nope...sorry, I am not Daveweston.
However...I am Brian...and so is my wife
In reply to Alun:
every time the mainstream press uses the word 'Spiderman' in association with rock-climbing, a little part of me dies inside...
My Grandfather used to be known as Spiderman. Not because he was a good climber, but he needed help getting out of the bath.
every time the mainstream press uses the word 'Spiderman' in association with rock-climbing, a little part of me dies inside...
My Grandfather used to be known as Spiderman. Not because he was a good climber, but he needed help getting out of the bath.
In reply to MJ:
<snigger>
> (In reply to Alun)
>
> every time the mainstream press uses the word 'Spiderman' in association with rock-climbing, a little part of me dies inside...
>
> My Grandfather used to be known as Spiderman. Not because he was a good climber, but he needed help getting out of the bath.
>
> every time the mainstream press uses the word 'Spiderman' in association with rock-climbing, a little part of me dies inside...
>
> My Grandfather used to be known as Spiderman. Not because he was a good climber, but he needed help getting out of the bath.
<snigger>
In reply to the thread:
For all the whinging, it's a good photo that will hopefully have earnt Dan Arkle (of this parish I believe) a few bob.
What're we complaining about?
For all the whinging, it's a good photo that will hopefully have earnt Dan Arkle (of this parish I believe) a few bob.
What're we complaining about?
In reply to galpinos: Where's my share of the cash?
In reply to Alun:
What about when I use it? I think when I came to see you in Barcelona (that time when Ryanair impounded the Marmite) I told my parents I was going to see a Welsh Spiderman in Spain :-P
> I confess, every time the mainstream press uses the word 'Spiderman' in association with rock-climbing, a little part of me dies inside...
What about when I use it? I think when I came to see you in Barcelona (that time when Ryanair impounded the Marmite) I told my parents I was going to see a Welsh Spiderman in Spain :-P
In reply to ally smith:
http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/1647833/guard...
> (In reply to galpinos) Where's my share of the cash?
Don't hold your breath! Notoriously stingy to freelancers, the Guardian cut the rates they pay photogs a few years ago. Scroll down the link for a rough idea?http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/1647833/guard...
In reply to Blizzard:
Read the whole thread. The text around the picture has been changed since the OP.
Read the whole thread. The text around the picture has been changed since the OP.
In reply to Blue Straggler:
I still havent forgiven Ryanair!
> I think when I came to see you in Barcelona (that time when Ryanair impounded the Marmite)
I still havent forgiven Ryanair!
In reply to ally smith:
You're the hero, the star of the show! What more payment do you need than basking in the glory of stardom?
You're the hero, the star of the show! What more payment do you need than basking in the glory of stardom?
In reply to johncoxmysteriously:
"before swinging through the air on their safety rope"
and i thought it was just called "a rope". I'll have to change how i refer to it from now on.
"before swinging through the air on their safety rope"
and i thought it was just called "a rope". I'll have to change how i refer to it from now on.
In reply to Morgan Woods: Loads more pictures on the Mail website http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2335109/He-makes-look-easy-Rock-har...
How do these things work? Does a photo agency get to suggest an interesting photo or photo set a day or something? Like a wire service sending out news stories? Because suddenly you see the same photos in lots of different publications. Great for the photographer!
How do these things work? Does a photo agency get to suggest an interesting photo or photo set a day or something? Like a wire service sending out news stories? Because suddenly you see the same photos in lots of different publications. Great for the photographer!
In reply to Morgan Woods:
We even have the national press getting in touch with us now to try and track down Ally Smith!
To paraphrase John Lennon, "hardest route in the world?! El Delfin isn't even the hardest route on the pillar of rock featured in the photograph!"
Alan
We even have the national press getting in touch with us now to try and track down Ally Smith!
To paraphrase John Lennon, "hardest route in the world?! El Delfin isn't even the hardest route on the pillar of rock featured in the photograph!"
Alan
In reply to Alan James - Rockfax:
My PR agent can be contacted here
http://www.douggoodmantravelpr.com/
And i'm only half joking...
My PR agent can be contacted here
http://www.douggoodmantravelpr.com/
And i'm only half joking...
In reply to ally smith:
The comments on the Mail thread are hilarious!
The comments on the Mail thread are hilarious!
> Get a real job - boring people. Mountaineering does NOT get you on the employment ladder!! - Hendonman , London, United Kingdom
In reply to ally smith:
Care to elaborate on how this got to the Daily mail?
It's a bit late for 1st April
Care to elaborate on how this got to the Daily mail?
It's a bit late for 1st April
In reply to Paul Phillips - UKC and UKH:
Not my doing; i'm guessing an agency is pushing some of Dan Arkle's photos into the national press?
Not my doing; i'm guessing an agency is pushing some of Dan Arkle's photos into the national press?
In reply to Alan James - Rockfax:
A quick search for ally smith climber would have led them to Ally's blog
http://allysmithblog.blogspot.co.uk/
A quick search for ally smith climber would have led them to Ally's blog
http://allysmithblog.blogspot.co.uk/
In reply to TobyA: Almost regretting having installed Kitten Block now...
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/kitten-block/dicomhebenajaeajoaeh...
No more Daily Mail: only tea and kittens for me!
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/kitten-block/dicomhebenajaeajoaeh...
No more Daily Mail: only tea and kittens for me!
In reply to Steve Crowe: Yes, but this is the national press we're talking about.
In reply to johncoxmysteriously: I read in the Metro this morning that it defeats 99 out of 100 climbers.
Hi All, the system works something like this...
I was approached by Caters, a press agency last year and have ran a few photo based stories with them. They provide news content and photos to all the major newspapers, which is released to all of them at the same time.
I answer all their questions to try and help them produce clear and accurate captions that a non-climber could understand. This press release then gets rewritten by journalists at any of the papers which take up the story.
As it can be rewritten twice, errors can creep in, although I'm not sure at which point it changes from this (from my email to them)
"The route is graded 7c+, meaning around only 1 percent of climbers could manage it. However, the grading system goes up to a dizzying 9b+"
to
"Rock hard climber conquers one of world's most treacherous peaks in just seven hours"
I'll try and make sure I see the press release before it goes out next time.
Don't forget that most of what you'll read in the papers about any subject will have gone through the same filter!
I was approached by Caters, a press agency last year and have ran a few photo based stories with them. They provide news content and photos to all the major newspapers, which is released to all of them at the same time.
I answer all their questions to try and help them produce clear and accurate captions that a non-climber could understand. This press release then gets rewritten by journalists at any of the papers which take up the story.
As it can be rewritten twice, errors can creep in, although I'm not sure at which point it changes from this (from my email to them)
"The route is graded 7c+, meaning around only 1 percent of climbers could manage it. However, the grading system goes up to a dizzying 9b+"
to
"Rock hard climber conquers one of world's most treacherous peaks in just seven hours"
I'll try and make sure I see the press release before it goes out next time.
Don't forget that most of what you'll read in the papers about any subject will have gone through the same filter!
Presumably Ally, you also supplied the quotes that go with the MailOnline piece since they actually make sense and seem to be at complete odds with the rest of the baloney in the article.
If that is the case, did you really use the word 'scale' ? That is such a non-climbers word!
Alan
In reply to Alan James - Rockfax:
It's pretty much obligatory for press purposes. If you aren't going mention 'hanging by fingertips' then the words 'scale' and 'sheer' must be included.
> If that is the case, did you really use the word 'scale' ? That is such a non-climbers word!
It's pretty much obligatory for press purposes. If you aren't going mention 'hanging by fingertips' then the words 'scale' and 'sheer' must be included.
In reply to Dan Arkle:
Mm, it's fairly common for someone entirely different to bolt the headline on later.
We cancelled a race in Jan because of the snow. We were still able to give some decent amounts to charity from donated entry fees. So a few of us decided to drop the cheques off by running between the two hospices. Front page of local paper with massive picture from last year's race...
'Runners forced to pull out of Helsby Half Marathon get chance to run in special race'
Mm, it's fairly common for someone entirely different to bolt the headline on later.
We cancelled a race in Jan because of the snow. We were still able to give some decent amounts to charity from donated entry fees. So a few of us decided to drop the cheques off by running between the two hospices. Front page of local paper with massive picture from last year's race...
'Runners forced to pull out of Helsby Half Marathon get chance to run in special race'
In reply to Dave Garnett:
And 'treacherous'
... and on that topic, I notice that Ally has changed his user name this morning in an attempt to hide from the paparazzi
Alan
> It's pretty much obligatory for press purposes. If you aren't going mention 'hanging by fingertips' then the words 'scale' and 'sheer' must be included.
And 'treacherous'
... and on that topic, I notice that Ally has changed his user name this morning in an attempt to hide from the paparazzi
Alan
In reply to C Chestwig; Treacherous climber:
You expect to be paid?
You ought to have to pay for the people who have to rescue you. SELFISH IDIOT.
Sorry, about that, don't know what came over me. I must remember not to read the comments....
> (In reply to galpinos) Where's my share of the cash?
You expect to be paid?
You ought to have to pay for the people who have to rescue you. SELFISH IDIOT.
Sorry, about that, don't know what came over me. I must remember not to read the comments....
In reply to Alan James - Rockfax:
Hide from the paparazzi? No.
Take the pi$$ out of the article? Yes.
> ... and on that topic, I notice that Ally has changed his user name this morning in an attempt to hide from the paparazzi
Hide from the paparazzi? No.
Take the pi$$ out of the article? Yes.
In reply to johncoxmysteriously: radio times article isn't much better! Stumbled across it this morning! http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-06-04/brit-successfully-climbs-the-peri...
In reply to Ian Bentley: I like it - 'Now Smith has his eyes on an even more challenging climb, the Kilnsey crag in the Yorkshire Dales'.
In reply to Ian Bentley:
"is only completed by one per cent of climbers" implies that 1% of all climbers have completed it,
"only finished by one in every 99 climbers." implies that 99% of people that attempt it fail, both of which are different to the actual message,
"The route is graded 7c+, meaning around only 1 percent of climbers could manage it."
It's scary how the media just mangles stuff and you only notice when it is something that you know about.
"is only completed by one per cent of climbers" implies that 1% of all climbers have completed it,
"only finished by one in every 99 climbers." implies that 99% of people that attempt it fail, both of which are different to the actual message,
"The route is graded 7c+, meaning around only 1 percent of climbers could manage it."
It's scary how the media just mangles stuff and you only notice when it is something that you know about.
In reply to Angrypenguin:
Alternatively, it's a really good example of how statistics can get manipulated by the media, and a useful reminder not to believe all we read
> It's scary how the media just mangles stuff and you only notice when it is something that you know about.
Alternatively, it's a really good example of how statistics can get manipulated by the media, and a useful reminder not to believe all we read
In reply to Chris the Tall:
Here you go; my take on the media shenanigans:
http://allysmithblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/el-delfin-one-of-hardest-routes...
Here you go; my take on the media shenanigans:
http://allysmithblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/el-delfin-one-of-hardest-routes...
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