Horse and Hound Write Ups

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abbie94

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Hey, I dont know if i have the right place but i was told to write on here. Its just a quick message to say that im Disappointed with the recent write ups in horse and hound on myself and others, they dont put everything in and often have the wrong information. They approached my mum and I and did a 2 page interview with us but never put it in, They then failed to mention me winning the 1.35m GP in the main ring at hickstead, they also failed to mention me winning the Accumulator at New Forest or coming 6th in the International trial. They have now mentioned me winning the 6 bar at pembroke and put a picture in but failed to spell my name correctly, that doesnt bother me as much as it always happens but they said the last fence in the last round stood at 1.65m when it stood around 1.85m .... I dont mind the odd mistake but this is a series of things and with out being rude or stuck up im 16 years old, for my age im doing well and i have sponsors that want to see me in horse and hound wearing their stuff or whats the point in sponsoring me. I really dont mean to be rude, I just think they aren't doing their job correctly and it isn't really fair...
 
Sorry for your disappointment and your sponsors, but any journalists I have come across wouldn't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Sadly, articles in magazines and newspapers seem to be factually incorrect if it's ever about something you know about.

Only speaking from my own experience.

Anyway, cheer up Abbie, sounds like you're doing just fine :)
 
HollyB66 said:
Sorry for your disappointment and your sponsors, but any journalists I have come across wouldn't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Sadly, articles in magazines and newspapers seem to be factually incorrect if it's ever about something you know about.

Only speaking from my own experience.

Anyway, cheer up Abbie, sounds like you're doing just fine :)
Click to expand...

We're not all like that!
 
Hi Abbie, despite what Holly might think, journalists are human beings too, not automatons :) and I shall stop crying into my tissue :p and give you some pointers :p

You do need to contact the editorial department directly with your complaint or nothing will happen!

Next time you are chatting to a journalist, point out the things that you would really like to be highlighted or think are your best achievements.

Ask if they want to double-check anything and if you think they haven't understood you, make sure they have.

Sometimes, a really good hack will ask you to write stuff down, especially your name (even Ann can be spelled Anne, or An, or whatever, and Smith can be Smythe or Smyth, we should never assume) and the names and heights involved in your competition.

Also bear in mind that mags and papers do not have limitless amounts of space (especially when an advert drops in on a page at the last minute :p) and subeditors can come in and cut stuff without checking, that is not the reporter's fault.
This is why you should always suggest 'if stuff has to be cut out, can you make sure it is X and not Y'.

Just because they did an interview does not mean it will appear immediately, some publications store up interviews and features for months.

Like I say, ring and check, or nothing will improve.

Good luck and well done on all your achievements.
 
I sometimes wonder if Journos are watching the same sports as I am - HH were responsible for devistating one of my best friends the other week - her horse went badly (and i mean badly - his career is over and its touch and go if he will even be right enough to be able to retire) wrong two strides before a fence at a big XC competition - the HH write up said he fell in the water jump - 10 fences further on that where he pulled up on 3 legs !!!! Not only that, but the write up implied it was down to bad riding that htey had this fall, and theres no way it was the case.

if they are going to make comments about combinations that fail to complete for whatever reason, they really should check their stories before they go to print - it just made a terrible situation even worse.

(other than that, a lot of journos are fab !!!)
 
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