Up till now I've kept out of this conversation, because as an ageing Morrisman I'm part of the problem - and I have no instant solution for it. However, posters so far seem to be missing an important point, so here goes.   

Trying to improve the image of Morris dancing in the mass media is probably a waste of effort. This is because the fundamental values of Morris (and of most other "folk" activities) are incompatible with the values of the media.

The media is primarily concerned with selling us things – whether goods, services or ideas. It tries to bully us into acquiring new things before the old ones wear out, by declaring that whatever we've already got has just become unfashionable.    People who refuse to renounce the unfashionable are mercilessly mocked – for the high priests of commerce, any form of traditionalism is heresy.

Most folk arts (Morris included) stay under the journalistic radar most of the time - and a good thing too. Skilful media management can occasionally give a traditional activity a sexy image for a short time. But beware - whatever (and whoever) the media builds up today, it starts knocking down tomorrow.   Keeping a low profile and relying on word-of-mouth publicity to attract recruits is a safer strategy for long term survival.

Wassail!