If you have been following our blog, the you already have read about the shawno wisconsins swingers group “Share your secrets club” and how they have been protested and now investigated by a news station in wisconsin. If you haven’t, then let me recap:

The secrets swingers club was protested by a group because of the nature of their parties. For whatever reason, it was determined to be news worthy even though party goers had not broken and local or state laws. From what I have learned, there have been citations for serving alcohol at the parties, as well as after hours infractions. Take into account these are minor violations.

Just when you thought this would be a small blurb in the news, here comes a news crew, doing an undercover investigation into a what they called a religous cult, maybe not in those terms but in reporting the story, they referred to the people as followers. It wasn’t until they learned that a hotel owned by the supposed group leader was being rented out by secrets swingers club that they again decided to bring the club into the lime light.

The group organized a party, made the arrangements to take over the hotel, made it very clear on their website that it was a private party. The owners of the club required registration, the hotel posted a “Private Party” sign outside the premises and covered all the windows with curtains. The door was monitored by organizers and it appeared that all bases had been covered

The local news station then decides to take a hidden camera into the party, and began asking questions, posing themselves as new lifestylers. It is unclear how or why they were let in the door without verification of their registration. However, after a period of time, they were asked if they had registered and then asked to leave the party when organizers found they were not.

Having given alot of thought to the original story, and possible angels of the story. I found myself a bit offended by the lack of judgement on behalf of the news station. It was one thing to crash and film the party, it was another to include it in their report even after they found out that the swingers club had no ties to the religous cult they were investigating. (Other then renting the motel). You maybe asking yourself “what’s the big deal?”. Well, let me explain. Had this been a public party, had it been open to all without invitation or registration, had the group been linked to their investigation, then I wouldn’t be writing today.

What did they accomplish? Well, they filmed people who may be professionals in the community, they may have taken away social status from adults who only wanted to enjoy the lifestyle privately and among those with like minds. What about the family aspect? I am in no way saying we should be embarrassed by our lifestyle choice, but, we should be able to do it privately and only let those know whom we wish to know about it. In my minds eye, this was reckless journalism for the sake of making a story interesting. I guess sex does sell, but at what cost?

One of our employees decided to write the reporter and ask a few questions. He was then referred to the station manager. He has not yet decided to respond. I will post the letter to the manager here and if they decide to reply, we will post the answers to any of our questions. In the meantime, we want to hear from you! The letter is as follows

Dear Friend,

I recently contacted the reporter doing the story about the investigation into a religous cult in shawno. I have reviewed the footage and story via your website. I asked a few questions of the reporter and was referred to you and the website for answers. I would like to be able to post the questions and any answers you may have to our blog.

First let me say I am not a member of neither group. My interest soley is on the aspect you brought into the story in part three of the story, that is, the swingers party. Also, I have no legal degree, I am only seeking answers to my questions.

After viewing parts 1 and 2 of the mentioned story, I didn’t see anything linking the gentlemen to the shawno based swingers group other then the motel, which I am sure is used by various groups.

1) What were you hoping to find when you sent your reporter into party?

2) You entered a private party, uninvited, unregistered (admittedly) with a video camera. Do you feel you violated anyones civil rights?

3) Did you get the authorization from those attending the party to show them on camera before airing the story?

4) Did you know that cameras are not allowed into parties, unless expressly consented?

5) Isn’t it illegal to photograph or video tape someone without their consent when the act takes place within the confines of a private premise? (sign outside said “private party” windows were covered.)

6) Do you now feel that there is no connection to the swingers group and religous group that you initially investigated?

7) Do you believe that your story in a way cast negative attention to a lifestyle that is about personal freedom and choice by blanketing it with the original story?

9) Did you do any prior research to the lifestyle and how people interact and determine if it was relevant to the original investigation?

As I said, I have no affiliation with either group, the issue I have is that when you air a story, using terms such as followers, in a story about swingers, you are lumping a tremendous amount of people into something they have nothing to do with. From my point of view it was reckless and in bad judgement to possibly damage peoples careers or social standing by including something in your story that had nothing to do with the original story. What I mean by this is, people in the lifestyle don’t go around and tell everyone they know, they are in it.

Had you found something going on at the party that would have indicated wrong doings, I would understand. But you didn’t. You found a group of consenting adults enjoying themselves. It should have never been included in the story as you had no justification for doing so. I look forward to any answers you may have and I appreciate you taking the time to read this. I wish you the best of luck with your journalism but I hope in the future you avoid turning innocent adults into victims in the name of making a story interesting.

Technorati Tags: swingers clubs, news, invesitagion, party, adults, sex