Fox News Los Angeles recently did a story on ESOAL. It was originally slated to run in tandem with the Southern California ATF, but that event was cancelled.
The producers interviewed me as well as two other recovering alumni for the piece. I had hoped it would cover the Honor Academy in general, but they instead chose to focus on ESOAL. Perhaps because that is what they have footage of? I imagine its difficult to show footage of constant confrontations, sleep deprivation, guilt trips, etc…
Overall, its not my favorite media piece on Teen Mania but anything that helps expose people to the other side of the story is a good thing in my opinion.
My kudos and thanks to the very brave participants who also gave interviews for this story. If you would like to contribute to future stories, please email me at recoveringalumni at recoveringalumni dot blog.
Teen Mania: Endurance Bootcamp Or Religious Cult?: MyFoxLA.com (2021 Update: The article has disappeared but can be found on the Wayback Machine. Sadly the video is gone forever it seems.)
10 comments:
Ericsays:March 5, 2012 7:53 AMReply
Also worth noting is Cindy’s comment on the article (at least she now admits she’s employed by TM!). After complaining at length that Fox did not include any footage from PEARL– because apparently the new name makes the event so different that any mention of what TM did in the past should be censored — she concludes:
“But to say interns are doing this ‘in the name of Jesus’ is a gross exaggeration and, again, extremely misleading.”
So, parents, is this where you want to send your kids to learn about Jesus? An organization that admits themselves that any inference of a connection between what they do and the name of Jesus “is a gross exaggeration and… extremely misleading”? I couldn’t have put it better myself!
As howcultswork.com has said, “Legitimate groups have nothing to fear from their members reading critical information about them.” But Teen Mania does.
Wanderersays:March 5, 2012 8:11 AMReply
I’m deeply disappointed there was no talk of taking a mulligan….come on, TM, that was my favorite responsibility-avoidance line….
Recovering Alumnisays:March 5, 2012 10:22 AMReply
Eric, I hadn’t seen that….LMFAO
Shannon-Ashleysays:March 5, 2012 1:47 PMReply
yeah, as someone who didn’t participate in esoal, I wish someone would cover more aspects of the internship. Gauntlet was terrible and horrifying in its own right! The lessons are atrocious. The other retreats are creepy as well. I want there to be coverage of more than esoal…. But agree that it’s still good people are talking about this.
Doug Duncansays:March 5, 2012 3:58 PMReply
I think ESOAL works as kind of a metaphor for the whole experience. By necessity, TV has to boil things down–and they need the video. As RA rightly points out, “…its difficult to show footage of constant confrontations, sleep deprivation, guilt trips, etc…”
The complete story will not be told unless someone decides to write a book.
Esthersays:March 5, 2012 5:23 PMReply
Shannon, I agree. I really wish they could get their hands on some footage of the Unreached People Group Retreats from my year, and maybe the Roads.
catsavedsays:March 5, 2012 7:12 PMReply
The southern CA ATF was cancelled?? Why?
Anonymoussays:March 6, 2012 11:52 AMReply
ATF has never done well in the socal market, but rarely have events been cancelled. could have been they were in contract negotiations and it fell through.
Anonymoussays:March 6, 2012 8:32 PMReply
Not really sure who told you it was cancelled. According to their website, the San Diego and the Sacramento events are still going to happen. SoCal (San Diego) Isn’t scheduled until the 23/24th of March.
Perhaps your journalists missed that?
Recovering Alumnisays:March 6, 2012 8:44 PMReply
Actually, anonymous – you are incorrect. There was an event scheduled for late Feb. that is no longer on the ATF calendar. I’m not 100% sure but I believe it was just south of Los Angeles…