French journalist compiling information for feature..

Has anybody else been contacted by a French journalist regarding a story on the bail bond industry for French TV? Apparently this gentleman has contacted a couple folks in Washington State and I'm curious if he has contacted anybody else in any other areas.

Not me...and the French can kiss my A$$ ! After saving thiers T-W-I-C-E last century and thier extremely vocal and physical anti-war demonstrations against us and thier overall general anti-American attitude, I have nothing for them.

_________________
River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601

Josh,
Yes as well as a lady from Singapore on bail enforcement.

Scott

_________________
R.E. "Scott" MacLean III

"Leaders are like Eagles, you never see them in a flock, but one at a time"

Chesapeake Group Investigations, Inc.
Chesapeake Bail Bonds
877-574-0500
301-392-1100 (fax)
301-392-1900 (Office)

Intriguing...Singapore even? There was an interesting article done by the New York Times ( http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/us/29bail.html?ex=1367899200&en=681ffb82e7739bda&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink ) that talked about how bail is illegal in the rest of the world. Maybe other journalists have stumbled on it and are following up on it.

I personally hold no animosity towards any nationality, regardless of their political views or perceived positions in the national arena. The French are people like the rest of us with their own issues and unique culture. We, as Americans, seem to have a difficult time relating to any nation outside our borders. The only way we will eliminate fear and conflict will be to open ourselves to understanding and expose ourselves to diversity. With that, I am pursuing the conversation with this French journalist and will use all the resources and knowledge available to show him the potential benefits of our bail system and provide him with a decent and welcoming face to represent "these crazy Americans".

If the responses that we continually throw out to the international community are nothing more than contempt and superiority, we will always be seen as nothing more than arrogant and ignorant.

We will reap what we sow...

I agree and disagree with the outside contacts, as well as the local ones. I have to wonder why some are being contacted by those from other countries, while at the same time knowing that the same are recognized locally.

_________________
Kathy Blackshear
Blackshear Investigations
Blackshear Bail Bonds
Sales Associate, Prepaid Legal Services, Inc.
Walsenburg, CO

Proud Member of the AB Reject Club

If I understand you correctly Kathy, I think it's because so far the folks that I am aware of being contacted by this particular individual are industry people that have popped up in searches and are somewhat visible. Two of the main people that this journalist has contacted were folks that have been in newspaper and magazine articles recently, so I imagine the journalist has done some google searches and these folks have shown up in his searches. He also states that he was in the immediate area working on a different project a couple months ago and caught wind of the industry and has been interested in looking into it more.

Again, I am certainly cautious, yet optimistic about sharing information with him and others that wish to report on our industry. It is a fine line to walk.

I'll refrain from engaging in a political debate regarding both past and current world affairs. Suffice to say we respectfully disagree on certain issues.

1 clarification I want to make: I never hold myself out to be "superiour" to anyone. Additionally, because countries have been "open to diversity" they are now facing being overtaken by fanatical Muslims...just as Germany, China, Japan, Italy, and a host of other countries have been led by fanatics in the past.

So please, go ahead and be "diverse", and when they are forcing you to accept thier ways or die, call me and I'll show up with my .45....

_________________
River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601

Oh believe me, I've got my fair share of tools to ensure my safety and self-preservation to the best of my abilities.

My point is that we live in a society that is highly fear-based, and this closes us off to opportunities to diversify and expand on the advances we make as a human race. You can be open while maintaining a certain level of security.

I guess that I wasn't clear. I'm just wondering why journalists in countries that do not have commercial bail might be contacting people in the bail enforcement industry here. I can see that maybe they are trying to use examples of our success to perhaps change their system, and if so, that is great. My only concern is that they are doing it for the sensasionalism or to further their own careers at the expense (time, money, etc) of others. I think the Chapman's show is available in other countries, and that they have a following there as they do here. Could it be that these journalists want to show their following the "right" way to do things in hopes of changing their laws, or is it that they are hoping to gain success by following the same type of scripted performance as portended by the clown crew?

Either way, it would seem that the journalists would be more successful in furthering their career or their cause by doing their filming here and showing realistic work, done legally, and also interviewing court, jail, and LE personnel to support their "cause" rather than bringing BEA's to their country where they may face possible charges for doing illegal work.

I don't care what country it is, I am only concerned with the motives and legalities.

_________________
Kathy Blackshear
Blackshear Investigations
Blackshear Bail Bonds
Sales Associate, Prepaid Legal Services, Inc.
Walsenburg, CO

Proud Member of the AB Reject Club

Kathy,
I was interviewed by a British Journalist many years ago...their belief is that we are still the wild, wild, west. I do not know what propagates that belief but the subject came up many times. I have also seen reprints of that exact article, word for word, but with different authors from different countries, so I would deem it plagiarism. I think that sensationalism sells and that people are basically lazy. An assignment editor says go get me a story on xyz...they google search the subject and that is their total research. If I grant an interview, it is basically to refute the image they insist on maintaining, probably for the shock value. Comments reported as being made are often unrecognizable in the finished product or wholly inaccurate.

They believe what they want to believe and just need you to confirm they are correct. When you disparage or dispute their mistaken belief, they have more work to do. Since they shy away from more work, they cut up your interview so as to support their original position.

Other countries look at our industry with some sort of romantic zeal, as they have nothing to compare it to in their frame of experiences and knowledge.

Scott

_________________
R.E. "Scott" MacLean III

"Leaders are like Eagles, you never see them in a flock, but one at a time"

Chesapeake Group Investigations, Inc.
Chesapeake Bail Bonds
877-574-0500
301-392-1100 (fax)
301-392-1900 (Office)