[X] My Assistant

[djellison]

I'd like to see peoples thoughts regarding ESA's website, it's press 'accesability', it's image release protocol etc.

What does ESA do that's good?

What does ESA do that's bad?

What does NASA do that ESA SHOULD do?

What does NASA do that ESA SHOULDNT do?

What benefits might there be etc etc

I'm trying to gauge the 'educated' public opinion on the matter. Please say, if you reply, which country you're from.

Im going to add a poll as well.

Also - please comment on specific features of NASA public relations and press activity that you find superb, and htose that you find terrible.

Doug

[dvandorn]

Let me make a couple of things clear, please.

First, I didn't intend to chase Jon off or anything like that. All I was trying to do was to point up the difference between NASA's outreach and ESA's, which in this case is almost transparently obvious.

Second, I wasn't trying to continue any kind of jihad against ESA. From my perspective, I saw the absolutely fabulous images from MRO, was reminded that ESA had stated they were going to try and capture Phoenix during the high-heating entry phase, and thought to ask if anyone had heard anything about the attempt. But then, in the middle of asking, it occurred to me that if this event goes like most other ESA outreach opportunities, we'll not see anything for many months and if/when we do its importance, primacy, etc., will be overstated. Upon realizing this, I sort of realized that my question was on the order of what we Americans refer to as "urinating in the wind" (well, OK, we use a slightly more vulgar verb). That, from past experience, I already knew the answer -- and that the answer is just not really acceptable.

I don't know about any of you, but I have spent some time trying to help raise teen-aged children. When you set expectations with a child, you're very likely to see delaying tactics and heartfelt arguments that they *mean* to meet those expectations, that they *plan* to meet them, and that the parents should act as if the expectations have been met when they frankly haven't even been worked towards in any significant way.

That's how I feel about ESA PR. It's past time for accepting poor half-efforts and promises, or letting them blind us to the actual behavior patterns that we see on a continuing basis. So, to respond to Jon directly, no -- I don't feel my comments were childish. I feel I am commenting on what comes down to childish behavior on ESA's part.

I watch as many ESA PR events as I can, and I have to tell you, it gets almost sickening to see a group of administrators and politicians standing on a stage and complimenting each other in glowing terms, while almost defiantly refusing to pass along data or images. Perhaps they are correct in their assessment that the ESA taxpayer, to whom they are directly beholden, cares only to hear the self-congratulations and see the backslapping (though I doubt it). But to me, it's almost insulting that ESA feels the backslapping is the most important thing to show the world.

Doug's absolutely right -- it is downright shameful that Rui, in his spare time and with amateur equipment, can engineer a far better outreach program than ESA seems interested in mounting. And as long as ESA's efforts are shameful in their lack of scope and support, I truly feel it's right and proper to continue to call them out on it.

-the other Doug