How Do You Get on the Discovery Channel?

Anonym1ty asks: "My group of Amateur Radio Operators is planning a DX-Pedition in 2005 to an Island in Alaska. We are planning on operating a station for a few days to become the rare ham radio contact from the island. We already have sponsors, but we want to showcase this event and Ham Radio in some way to the public and were hoping to find some way to get PBS, The Discovery Channel or some other network to tag along with us and showcase what Amateur Radio is. In researching how to contact these I find a sea of red tape. The Discovery Channel Networks only take suggestions from scientists or production crews. PBS seems interested but the few stations I have actually received a response from seem to just mention how they have no budget. How do I find a production company and convince them this would be a good idea? It is important to note that we Ham Radio operators cannot make any money on this and any pecuniary gain would go to the production company."

Maybe try NPR too?

[_aa_]

National Public Radio [npr.org]is not a visual medium, but neither is HAM Radio. This sounds like the kind of report that might be of interest to Talk of the Nation's Science Friday [sciencefriday.com]. Email show suggestions to scifri[AT]sciencefriday.com [mailto].

You can make money on this

[orthogonal]

It is important to note that we Ham Radio operators cannot make any money on this and any pecuniary gain would go to the production company.

Sure you can, see Sec. 97.113 (5)(c)

A control operator may accept compensation as an incident of a teaching position during periods of time when an amateur station is used

by that teacher as a part of classroom instruction at an educational
institution.

Just make it a long-distance learning "teachable moment".

put together a good crew

[cybercyph]

Heres a thought. I'm a film student, and, as such, I know plenty of other talented, reliable guys and gals with a love for film and documentary. Many of us have our own equipment. All of us our broke.

Heres what i suggest: get some funding together. Get enough to pay airfare and lodging, and pizza for a crew of two. Post an ad on craigslist.org in the Los Angeles area, seeking an editor, sound guy, and DV cinematographer.

How long will you be up there? i imagine a fairly interesting 60-90 minute documentary could be shot in a week, and edited in a couple months. Bring the sound-guy and cinematographer (with their own equipment) along (make sure you ask to see a reel, and at the very least interview the kids over the phone. make sure you like their personalities, as well their work.

Enter the final product in some film festivals (credit yourself as Producer and Director). with any luck, you'll get some screening, and perhaps a straight to dvd deal or some theatrical release.

if you're interested and want to discuss this further, i'd be happy to give you some ideas over email:
[e-mail]

Start at the Ground and Move Up

[MikeDawg]

Before you start trying to get attention from the Discovery channel, why don't you talk to local news stations? Local TV stations in general are pretty good about touching on the subject if nothing else, and will get the message of what you are doing out into the public -- all of this a good thing, considering you'll probably find more hams to participate in this activity.

My suggestions:

• Come up with an amateur press release and mail it to several media outlets
• Contact a local newstations and local newspapers
• Mail your press releases, and related local media coverage (attention that you got from the mailings and talks to radio, TV, and newspapers) to larger outlets, up to and including Reuters, AP, Discovery Channel, PBS, etc.

Just my suggestion -- Start Small, and Build.