After Trashing The First Amendment For Over A Decade, SnF Sets A New Low In Un-American Nonsense

Aero-News Analysis/Opinion by Jim Campbell, ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief

For those of you who thought we were uncharacteristically quiet, this time of year, about all matters Lakeland and Sun 'n Fun, I need to tell you that we tried to keep it that way. Really. We're as sick of them and the mess that they've created as anyone could possibly be.

The doddering, faltering, Fly-In that has alienated so much of the industry simply wasn't worth the electrons we used to devote to the matter until a recent new low was set, even by SnF standards, as an SnF staffer told us that they would be determining who and what qualified as media for the upcoming Lakeland event, held on publicly supported property on a Federally Funded Airport.

Oh... really?

Amidst a number of rumors about problems over media credentialling in advance of this year's SnF, we decided to make a call to see if the bizarre ban they placed on us (after they objected to a number of critical but true stories) was still in effect, even after SnF gave former SnF Boss/Bad Boy John Burton, his walking papers. ANN spoke (after failing to get five previous calls returned) to their new media spokesperson Sandy Bridges... who was so new to the job that she didn't know who we were or the history of bad blood created by SnF's attempt to squelch our free-speech and other American protections guaranteed under the US Constitution. Early into the conversation, an impatient Bridges asked who we were, what we did, and the manner of our news operation. We explained that we were the first 24/7 Real-Time aviation and aerospace news service, that we had been this for well over a decade and were syndicated worldwide -- publishing over 160,000 stories, Aero-Cast and Aero-TV programs since going Real-Time in the late 1990s.

"OH... so you're a website and a podcast, huh?" she asked.

"Not exactly... we're a lot more than that." I replied.

And then it got weird.

Bridges explained that she/Sun 'n Fun were denying a umber of websites/podcasts (she seemed to link those properties together for some reason) that accepted advertising and explained that many, if not most, would not be given media credentials for the event. Asked why, Bridges replied that, "websites/podcasts that take advertising... well, they come here just to make money off of us."

"That money should be ours, it's our Fly-In," she added.

I explained that virtually every journalistic organization in existence required a funding mechanism of some kind and that advertising/sponsorship was the predominant method to allow such operations to hire staff, pay expenses, and conduct operations without going broke. Bridges wanted to hear nothing more... and then somehow the call was terminated (i.e., not by us).

So... there you have it... once again, its all about the money and this time, its more than just about those media outlets that have been critical (and mind you, we're not the only ones to have trouble with Sun 'n Fun over such BS), but now its about all those that SnF sees as making money that should rightfully be their own.

We could not make this stuff if we tried... our imaginations are simply not that wild.

ANN E-I-C Note: So much for the good of the community... so much for the good of the industry... no, its all about getting their pieces of silver. And that's part of the point that has been made as Sun 'n Fun continues to alienate a number of the vendors, sponsors and visitors that tell ANN, by the hundreds, even thousands (over the years) that this egocentric event is not worth the time and trouble.

And, yes, we quite agree.

As usual... until Sun 'n Fun understands and works in concert with the US Constitution and recognizes a Free Press's right to report on the event without censorship or other restriction, we won't be there. And frankly, we think you shouldn't be there either. With all the blood, sweat and tears that other events with committed ethical staffs put into helping this industry stay live, its high time that tactics and attitudes like these were repudiated and boycotted. Over the last few months, we've been watching the tide turn at an ever-increasing rate as vendors and attendees decried the rudeness, lack of value/attractions, and arrogance they experienced in Lakeland. Stick a fork in it... it's a matter of time, but we fear that this event is done... and they did it to themselves.

FMI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution