Page 9 - 201210 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - October 2012

Searching For The Truth Searching for the Truth (Always Telling the Truth Means Never Having to Remember Anything) Demands on UFO Researchers by the Media and Groups By Dennis Balthaser I have in previous editorials vented about my feelings toward the media and how they report events related to the subject of UFO’s, and in particular their expectations from researchers. I’ve discussed these issues with other researchers I have worked with over the years, and we all seem to be of the same opinion. I don’t expect this editorial will cause any changes in the media’s method of operation, but for those reading this that believe we researchers make a lot of money for doing conferences and radio and TV interviews, I’ll present some examples of that false belief. Perhaps due to the economy or the was also involved in that show and we both interviews. information available via the Internet, many informed National Geographic about our A typical one hour TV documentary is groups, (several MUFON chapters included that displeasure with the results. actually only about 40-45-minutes in length. I’ve dealt with recently), are anxious to ask Recently I was busy working around the The remaining time is commercials and that researchers to speak to their group, but when it house one morning, when I received a call from income is going somewhere, obviously not to comes time to discuss an honorarium or travel a radio producer with a German radio station the researcher being interviewed. and lodging expenses for the researcher, the that was in Roswell, wondering if I could do a On the conference and seminar discussion becomes stalemated and the 10 or 15-minute interview with their show host organizers, it’s a shame that many good serious researcher is not invited since they are not that morning. That threw up the first red flag for researchers are not invited because the group willing, or don’t have the finances to pay for the me. I was expected to drop everything I was can’t pay minimal expenses to bring in the speakers expenses. I am appreciative to those doing and share my 25 years of research about speakers. If I book a lecture and come close to groups that I have lectured to about my research an event that happened 65 years ago in a 10- breaking even on the expenses, I’m pleased, as that were willing to pay my expenses to get minute interview. I told her I was busy at the I feel I have been able to share some research there. In those cases covering my expenses was time but could arrange to meet her after lunch with them that perhaps they haven’t heard my only motive, as I’ve never done this research about 1. She said, “that wasn’t good, could I do before. for profit, continuing to believe that sharing the it later, so we agreed that I would meet her at 2.” Several of you reading this are probably research is important, and it should be After lunch I cleaned up, and waited for thinking I shouldn’t do it if I’m unhappy about compensated at least for the many years it has her to call. She didn’t call until an hour and 45 the way we researchers are treated, and yes, TV, taken to obtain the information. minutes after our agreed time, and told me, “She radio and conferences are exposure for our Basically what it comes down to is the was not going to be able to interview me as they information, but it doesn’t pay for supplies, fact that the media, and many groups want the were going back to Santa Fe that afternoon.” I travel, and many other expenses we have had in information that we researchers have obtained informed her that this was the very reason I was doing the research for many years. Being a UFO over the past 20 to 30 years at our own expense disgusted with the media. We researchers are researcher is not a profession that will make you and time, for free. I know of very few other expected to drop whatever we’re doing for their rich, and many may think because you are on organizations that expect their speakers to share benefit, so they can interview us about one of TV, do lectures or sell books you make a lot of their information for free as we UFO the most important events in history and do it in money---you don’t. Therefore it is essential to researchers have had to do for years. 10 or 15 minutes according to their schedule, understand that many of us do this research out The TV documentaries you see on TV with no reimbursement for the wasted time I of a devotion to obtaining the truth, and are about UFO’s are on the air for two reasons; had. Even though I didn’t personally meet this willing to share it with many media outlets. (ratings and profits), and many times they interviewer, I would wager that she had no Those outlets need to understand what was distort the information we shared during the knowledge of the Roswell incident, and as with involved by that researcher they’re interviewing filming with a crew that knows nothing about many others that want to do interviews and to obtain the knowledge he or she has been the subject. So we’re at the mercy of some know nothing about the subject, it probably sharing for years, that make the media’s editor back in New York or Los Angeles. would not have been a good interview. programs interesting. (Researchers do not have the opportunity to It becomes extremely frustrating when Will anything change in the future to review what will be aired prior to it being these type things happen time and time again. I fairly recognize what these researchers have broadcast.) I have never received any would like to see other researchers take a stand accomplished over the years? Probably not, but compensation for the hours of filming I did with about what has transpired far too long, when it I felt a need to share a few of my experiences any film crews that I’ve been involved with. comes to asking for our years of hard work for with you, that others have also experienced. It’s Brad Meltzer’s “Decoded” series on the History free, and entirely for their benefit. disappointing at times, and extremely channel was an exception, i.e. the information I Live radio is fun, and can be done with frustrating, but searching for the truth is too shared with the crew was depicted as I an hour or two interview by telephone or Skype important to ignore. Hopefully in the future presented it in the final product, and the crew connections. There are no editors to distort what researchers will be given the recognition they so had done their homework before the interview you’re sharing with the host and his, (or her) badly deserve. with me. A National Geographic Network show audience, and is usually done in the comfort of several years ago was the opposite, when they your own home, requiring no additional filmed me for 6 hours, using my vehicle to get expense for the researcher other than a little of Dennis G. Balthaser around, and the show aired as a total distortion his time. Those radio hosts that have done their Website: www.truthseekeratroswell.com of the information I shared. Stanton Friedman homework on the subject are always the best Email: truthseeker@dfn.com