Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
1973
Citation
Published in Proceedings of Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop, December 10, 11, and 12, 1973, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. Edited by F. Robert Henderson.
Abstract
Media use should not be a half way activity done after everything else on your mind is taken care of. The key word is commitment--if you are not ready to give proper preparation which includes understand what each (newspaper, radio, TV, etc.) does best, then don't do anything. There is at least a certain minimum quality standard that must be met--anything less and media exposure can hurt you and your program rather than help you. Seek help. Then select the media to fit your time, money and inclination. Example: Even if you don't buy time--television properly done may cost much more in props, time and travel than any of the others.
Many of the visual materials presented have a large price tag--especially motion pictures and video cassettes. Motion pictures in production of materials; and cassettes in equipment investment.
I urge consideration of cooperative production on those topics that have general agreement on content and universal need. A content compromise, as long as one has some input, is reasonable when one considers costs such as $15,000 - $40,000 for 30-minute film production versus $100 - $150 for a print of that production. Details of local programs can then be provided with inexpensive handouts, slide sets, etc.