L.A. Times Doing A Story About the Oven
-
Hey y'all, John Harvey intercepted an email in the inbox for info@bikeoven.com from an L.A. Times reporter doing a story on the Bike Oven.
She interviewed me over the phone today to find out the details about the origins of the Oven, and who we serve today. She said she's going to come by the shop on Tuesday evening or Wednesday evening. No need to do anything special, but I thought everyone should get a heads up.
She has two story hooks I think she's working on (not sure which one she'll go with) Her is what I think (maybe) she is working on in terms of the arc of the story she's writing:
(1) The Bike Oven is a bit different from the Bike Kitchen and BikeRoWave, because most of our clientele are working class, poor, etc. whereas those other places tend to focus on white, liberal, college educated bicycle people who ride by choice not because they have to.
(2) The Bike Oven exists, gas prices have driven people to places like the Bike Oven, there are other places like the Bike Oven, for example the BikeRoWave and the Bicycle Kitchen.
I have a feeling she'd like to do (1), but I don't know if that is necessarily true of us (or the other bike collectives in L.A.). Anyway, we'll all be famous, famous! -
That's really kool. A greater public awareness only helps us. I think we should emphasize to her that we all, the Bike Kitchen/BikroWave/Oven serve cyclist throughout the greater Los Angeles area. That we all are community based & volunteer run. We should talk about mutual respect & support that we give each other. Things like the kiddie bike give-away, LACBC River Ride support, CICLES pasadena urban cycling event etc. The differences are reflections of our neighborhoods and not class based distinctions. We are not better or kooler than one or the other. We all are striving for better conditions for all cyclist. After all, we have our share of white college kids too.... we have a greater variation of color, age etc. because it reflects our hood and membership. And make sure she talks about how our base is supported by donations from friends and strangers alike. We should avoid any sense of competition with the Kitchen/Wave. After all, they're really kool too....
-
I completely agree with Steve:
Bike Oven, Bicycle Kitchen, and Bikerowave ALL do good things to advance and assist the cycling community. Frankly, in my usual subtle way, I would want to sqaush the idea (#1) notion. Think about it - if anyone actually believed it, why would we want to be publicly involved in a story that builds the Oven up by putting the other places down - inplying they are somehow 'white country clubs'. I certainly don't want any part of it. Especially after all the things the Kitchen has done for us and still does. We certainly would not want any article widely distributed as in the Times to even remotely suggest such. We certainly could expect a 'cold shoulder' from the Kitchen and Bikerowave the next time we needed some help......
Does anyone actually think the story line #1 is true? If so, we need some discussions in private. Other than being busier and more organized than us, a better selection (and more) parts, having a policy against un-supervised kids. I certainly don't see the Kitchen client base being any different from ours, having been a client at the Kitchen ( and still do on occasions) long before we moved to Figueroa.
I haven't been to Bikerowave, but suffice to say Santa Monica itself is quite different from Highland Park/ Glassell Park.
I say NO story if it even remotely implies the Oven is doing something better at the expense of the other places. We don't need that kind of publicity. -
I was a little disappointed with the reporter's line of questioning, but reporters are constantly in attack mode and looking for a story hook, so I figured if I gave her some interesting quotes about the Bike Oven she'd ignore her story idea. I'm in agreement with Steve and J. Harv about how we really should NOT engage in a news article that will make us seem like we're "better" for helping our neighborhood (which is maybe browner and poorer) versus the other bike collectives that help their respective neighborhoods. Still, I gave the reporter the benefit of the doubt. She's looking for something catchy and easy to report on - and "This group helps po' messicans" is an easy story hook.
She called me last night to say that a car crash in Fresno sent her up there to report on the issue, and that she might come by after her office job on Wednesday or Thursday. Who knows?
Freakin' reporters.
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!