Media Mania

Article across breast reads: "Brothel bust could lead to Sex Scandal" Was the designer intentional? hee hee hee

November 6, 2010

On the phone, a frantic voice: "where is the girl's head, we want her head! Why did you cut it off!" After a minute, I gathered I was talking to the ad manager of the Kuwait Times Newspaper who I had corresponded with regarding their sponsorship of our upcoming Fashion Show for Trash to Treasure.

It all started when the welfare manager at the Philippine Embassy ask me if I would be willing to talk to a reporter who had taken interest in the program I do with their ladies. She was eager for this Filipino reporter to do this very positive story about what their citizens are doing (they have had some unflattering press recently.) After I agreed, it became apparent the timing was perfect as we would need some PR for our charity fashion show and Kuwait Times "bit" when we offered to make a newspaper dress to be modeled in the show in exchange for their support & free advertising. So, in addition to the story which he already wanted to do, we would get ad space and coverage of the fashion show which is next week.

Ben came to our home & spent over an hour with me to get an understanding of the program Trash to Treasure. He did not ask me any questions that made me worry about how I would respond. Nothing about why we are in Kuwait, my motives for serving this way, I felt very "safe." He followed up with a photo shoot at the embassy which I was shocked they allowed and embraced. He talked to my "girls" and was a delightful person with real interest in the story. Ben even agreed to connect me with the ad man who would see that info on the fashion show got in the paper.

A couple of days later I sent the "ad man" a very carefully worded blurb about the show that would benefit "needy women in Kuwait" and gave the email of the modeling agency who is putting on the show, for more information & ticket sales. I had just received the finished "Kuwait Times Dress" and wanted to give him a preview so he would know they were being represented at the show. For my hasty photo, I asked Emily to slip on the paper dress just after she'd come home from school and her hair & face were not "picture ready." Even though I knew this was not for publication, I cropped her head in the picture I sent the ad man.

When I got the frantic phone call, I was in the city with Emily but assured him I would take a photo he could publish if my "model" agreed: she did. It was 3 hours later before we got home, got her make-up & hair done & finally took a picture she was willing to see in the paper. We emailed it off and waited for the paper the next day.

Right at the top of the page 4x6 inches at least, there it was! Headless Emily! I guess it had to go to print before we could get him the replacement. If THAT was not enough, he added that the dresses are being made by "runaway housemaids" and for more information please call Cheryl Spessert at 9944 1743...my personal mobile!!! I'm screwed!

I called Michelle, the gal doing the fashion show: she nearly hit the floor. Her partner/sponsor in the country is a Kuwaiti who she feared would not take well to the wording of the article. Two days later when the axe had not dropped, we thought we may be out of the woods. I sent ad man an email and requested my phone number be dropped from future publications.

By mid week I was absorbed in a social responsibility fair at American University where very interested students and faculty purchased $775.00 worth of rugs & jewelry! They also invited me to speak at the lunch hour "diwanya" where ideas are exchanged & questions asked. I was interrupted by a phone call from a friend who watches out for my "back side" and felt I should invite/advise the American Ambassador of the fashion show. Perhaps she would be upset that she was not informed? I had not imagined that she would would care or notice. Yes, I would give her an invitation...her secretary was checking her schedule.

On Friday I got up and went to the website, anxious to see how the story had been told. To my surprise, I had been quoted as saying things I'd never uttered! The gist was there: we want to create something sustainable rather than just handing out donations, we want to give the women a skill so they may be able to generate income back home and stay with their families rather than have to choose between raising their children or providing for their education...somehow that translated into "we're not just giving them fish but we are providing nets." I guess it works! Fortunately, nothing was grossly misrepresented and he told the story fairly. I knew there was "artistic license" but I just never knew you could insert anything you wanted to say into the speaker's mouth in order to aide the flow of the story.

It was not until last night when I was looking at the two page spread that I saw the red block I had first assumed was part of an advertisement...it was NOT. It was My name AND PHONE NUMBER in large letters there for the world to see...and call:) So much for maintaining a low profile here!