This Month:
“For about $75 you can buy a Global positioning system…or you can get a life.”
Those words uttered by news anchor Frank Turner on WXYZ-TV last month in Detroit, created uproar among geocaching enthusiasts around the world. His thoughtless statement followed an excellent segment about geocaching reported by Glenn Zimmerman.
Turner, an Emmy winning reporter, is touted by his employers as one who “understands the delicate nature of television news.” So was it the ventriloquist, or the simple mind of the anchor that produced that sophomoric thought?
It does not matter that hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls directed to Mr. Turner and the ABC affiliate will not produce an apology, public or private. That’s the way it is with large, public corporations.
More importantly, the Michigan geocaching organization (MiGO) that cooperated with WXYZ-TV in reporting the story has spun a positive twist into the fiasco.Was the inappropriate comment from Turner an insult to geocachers? Yes. The non-profit organization is selling shirts that say: “Get a Life; Go Geocaching.”
There are dozens of testimonials around the globe depicting geocaching as a way to get a life. Some have used the hobby to help overcome medical problems or to provide encouragement and direction in personal issues. Many will claim geocaching has helped them bond with peers, friends and family and discover new, interesting places.
Was the inappropriate comment from Turner an insult to geocachers? Yes.
Will the story affect the public perception of geocaching? Yes. The story was well crafted and most viewers will remember with fascination the reporter and the geocacher tromping through a beautiful snow laden forest to find treasure.
Geocaching is here to stay, and becoming more popular every day. The media will continue to feed on this unusual pastime and most journalists will present it in a favorable light.
As for Mr. Turner, we can only recommend, “If the shirt fits, wear it.”