The "pre-Olympic" stories about Utah are starting to appear in newspapers and magazines all around the world.
And the articles are saying positive things about us!
There have been thousands of Utah articles and television and radio news reports about the Salt Lake Olympics.
But the state has been holding it's breath about what the outside media is saying-- or will say-- when reporters come here.
Keith McCord found the headlines are good.
Right on the front of USA TODAY Friday-- a large photo of Temple Square.
And a long article about things to do and see in Utah. And the story is positive!
The report in USA TODAY gives the reader a good overview of Salt Lake.
It specifically mentions the interesting mixture of old and new architecture of the downtown skyline, and the well-manicured lawns and beautiful older homes of the Avenues.
But this is just one of many stories.
Take a look at the articles that the staff of the Utah Travel Council has collected so far.
Magazines from all over the world, in Japanese, French, Italian.
Tracie Cayford/Utah Travel Council: "THE HEADLINES ARE GREAT. THE JOURNALISTS FROM EUROPE SEEM TO BE VERY INTRIGUED WITH OUR LANDSCAPE AND OUR WESTERN MYSTIQUE."
For several years now, writers and reporters have travelled to Utah to do stories about the state, and about the Olympic preparations; and during the past year, the stream of reporters has been constant.
The Travel Council has made sure the reporters see all the sites!
Tracie Cayford: "BUT WE'VE STEPPED UP OUR EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY THE PAST YEAR, TO GET MORE INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC MEDIA TO COME IN AND DISPELL THE MYTH THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE ABOUT OUR STATE."
And, it's working so far! The tone of the articles-- regardless of the language they're written in-- has been mostly positive!
Diane Binger/Convention & Visitors Bureau: "AND ONE OF THE THINGS IN TODAY'S ARTICLE THAT WAS SO PLEASING TO READ WAS THAT, THEY'RE SAYING-- SALT LAKE SEVEN MONTHS PRIOR TO THE GAMES-- IS READY TO WELCOME VISITORS."
And the old saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words" is certainly holding true here. The magazines are taking advantage of the incredible scenery that Utah offers.
Yes, the writers have mentioned the Olympic scandal; and yes, they write about our liquor laws. But, for the most part, the slant has been fair.
But then there's the story about the reporter from Spain, who had toured the national parks, and Temple Square and all the Olympic Venues.
Tracie Cayford: "AND THEN HE FINALLY CONFIDED TO US THAT HE WAS REALLY HERE TO DO HIS POLYGAMY STORY, AND THAT HIS EDITOR FROM SPAIN WOULDN'T LET HIM BACK INTO THE COUNTRY UNTIL HE HAD HIS POLYGAMY ARTICLE!"
All these articles are basically free advertising for the state.
The folks at the Travel Council and the Visitors Bureau say if they had to pay for ads like this, it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars!
