Writing columns isn't easy. I've done it on occasion, and I find it even more difficult than putting together a feature story in which I am heavily invested.
My column-writing experience came in college, when I pounded out two to three a week. All but two I consider completely forgettable or completely embarrassing. The other two were both humor columns. One, which ran in our Halloween edition, focused on the ghostly legends that made the rounds around our campus. The second was about growing up Baptist. As far as topics go, well, the Halloween column was at least about our campus. The other was soley about me. In college, I cut kids some slack.
I don't do the same when it comes to professional newspapers.
It's common to find plentiful columns in newspapers. Everyone in the newsroom seems to fancy himself a columnist. I all but quit reading columns years ago, though, when I got tired of reading about a certain columnist's husband. And another's quirky neighbor. And yet another's ongoing argument regarding wallpaper. I have two dogs. I love them. I love them to the point where I sometimes sleep at the foot of the bed because they've made themselves comfortable on my pillow. But I'd never write a column about them.
I don't care anyone else's cat, neighbor, husband or wallpaper. So I don't expect anyone else to care that my dogs are the cutest and smartest in all the land. If you neighbor is so quirky and funny, buy a copy of FinalDrafter and write up a sitcom pilot about him. Toss in a goofy husband who can't choose wallpaper and the family cat and voila -- instant telvision gold.
When it comes to newspaper columns, I'd prefer to read about something in my city. A zoning dispute, maybe, or some dumb thing a council member said. Something that actually has an effect on me. Your wallpaper isn't going to hang in my house so why should I care about it?
An occasional column about your home life is fine; it's OK to mix them up, especially if you happen to be a really good column writer. But please, please leave out all information regarding your own personal hygiene.
But like I said, columns aren't easy. And though they are considered a cushy job, that shouldn't mean you can drop any pretense of journalism and churn out what are basically well-written (hopefully) blogs.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
News dispute
For a time, I had what I considered a very good editor. This was back in Texas, after the first editor I worked for was given the boot. (It was about time, too.)
The paper I worked at was at its best under this new editor and one of the things stressed to us was to get ahead of the curve. He didn't want us to merely follow news. He wanted us to let people know what was happening so they could actively particpate in meetings and events or make an informed decision.
I miss that.
I recently had a dispute with Verizon, which is beginning to offer its fiber optic service here. To make a long story short, my problem was that although new customers are given a 30-day window in which to cancel a two-year contract for Fios, the company reps (we spoke to four) never tell you that it's impossible to return to old service levels because they are yanking out those old wires. So it's Fios Internet or nothing.
I thought this would make a good news story. Obviously, Verizon isn't going to tell anyone up front. A google search revealed a handful of articles about the exact same issue in other parts of the country where Verizon had installed this same service.
I've heard nothing from the H-T, which doesn't surprise me as they don't really bother covering North Port. It's why I don't bother to take their newspaper. The Sun isn't going to do a story either. They turned my e-mail over to their consumer columnist. He explained to me that he couldn't do a column either because it only affects certain parts of North Port right now.
True, but this is where my old editor would pipe up and say, "Yes, but they'll be expanding. It will be affecting more and more people." Even if the story didn't go immediately, I know I would have looked into it. I'm sure the Sun felt it was just poor old me in a conflict with Verizon. I still want to know what the point of this 30-day grace period is. And I'd like to know why, after asking three Verizon reps whether I could return to my old levels of service I was repeatedly told yes when that wasn't the case. This is the crux of the story to me. Not my personal dispute.
But newspapers like the Sun have more important things to write about. Like no less than four separate Easter Egg hunt stories.
The paper I worked at was at its best under this new editor and one of the things stressed to us was to get ahead of the curve. He didn't want us to merely follow news. He wanted us to let people know what was happening so they could actively particpate in meetings and events or make an informed decision.
I miss that.
I recently had a dispute with Verizon, which is beginning to offer its fiber optic service here. To make a long story short, my problem was that although new customers are given a 30-day window in which to cancel a two-year contract for Fios, the company reps (we spoke to four) never tell you that it's impossible to return to old service levels because they are yanking out those old wires. So it's Fios Internet or nothing.
I thought this would make a good news story. Obviously, Verizon isn't going to tell anyone up front. A google search revealed a handful of articles about the exact same issue in other parts of the country where Verizon had installed this same service.
I've heard nothing from the H-T, which doesn't surprise me as they don't really bother covering North Port. It's why I don't bother to take their newspaper. The Sun isn't going to do a story either. They turned my e-mail over to their consumer columnist. He explained to me that he couldn't do a column either because it only affects certain parts of North Port right now.
True, but this is where my old editor would pipe up and say, "Yes, but they'll be expanding. It will be affecting more and more people." Even if the story didn't go immediately, I know I would have looked into it. I'm sure the Sun felt it was just poor old me in a conflict with Verizon. I still want to know what the point of this 30-day grace period is. And I'd like to know why, after asking three Verizon reps whether I could return to my old levels of service I was repeatedly told yes when that wasn't the case. This is the crux of the story to me. Not my personal dispute.
But newspapers like the Sun have more important things to write about. Like no less than four separate Easter Egg hunt stories.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Lost in a bunch of trees
Today, I was browsing the Internet and came across an argument about who vs. that. Basically, the rule I was taught was to use who when referring to a person. Use that or what when talking about anything else. Of course, I was also taught to never end a sentence with a preposition and a host of other rules, including using more than instead of over.
This got me to thinking about saying "Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees." It certainly fits many editors. I myself have been guilty of this.
Let's go back to the forest. It's a maze of inaccuracy and libel, misspelled names, one-sourced stories and so much jargon, the story couldn't possibly make sense to the average reader. Math doesn't add up. Some reporters editorialize at length. And, of course, some reporters plain can't write worth a damn.
My argument has always been that going through a story and changing over to more than, cutting all uses of the word currently, changing ten to 10 and marking all those widows and orphans isn't doing a damn bit of good if the main subject name is misspelled. Or if half the story is missing. Or if a large portion of the story makes zero sense.
Before we get into who vs. that and whether the word is, is overused, can we please make sure reporters know that they should make sure names are spelled correctly? Could they actually use the phone book and call up some people for quotes? Could they figure out what the hell they're writing about instead of just printing council agendas verbatim?
In other words, worry about getting the reporting right. Then worry about who vs. that. After you've scrutinized the forest, go back and check out the trees.
This got me to thinking about saying "Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees." It certainly fits many editors. I myself have been guilty of this.
Let's go back to the forest. It's a maze of inaccuracy and libel, misspelled names, one-sourced stories and so much jargon, the story couldn't possibly make sense to the average reader. Math doesn't add up. Some reporters editorialize at length. And, of course, some reporters plain can't write worth a damn.
My argument has always been that going through a story and changing over to more than, cutting all uses of the word currently, changing ten to 10 and marking all those widows and orphans isn't doing a damn bit of good if the main subject name is misspelled. Or if half the story is missing. Or if a large portion of the story makes zero sense.
Before we get into who vs. that and whether the word is, is overused, can we please make sure reporters know that they should make sure names are spelled correctly? Could they actually use the phone book and call up some people for quotes? Could they figure out what the hell they're writing about instead of just printing council agendas verbatim?
In other words, worry about getting the reporting right. Then worry about who vs. that. After you've scrutinized the forest, go back and check out the trees.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Press releases aren't news
Here's the deal with press releases. Reporters and editors are inundated with the things. My habit with them is to skim through them. If they have a local angle at all, I read it more closely. If it doesn't, I toss it. If it's something I can use, I treat it as a story tip. I then make calls, do interviews, perform research, etc.
I never, EVER simply stick my name at the top of it and turn it in. I've never lightly rewritten one and named it a staff report. The Texas newspaper I worked at for several years had a policy that you made a phone call regarding any press release you used as a news tip. You had to verify it.
However, at the faux paper I worked at in Florida, press releases were run verbatim in the paper with the release's writer given a byline. I squawked and complained about this to no avail. No one there really gave a damn whether they were putting out a good product as long as they got a paycheck and the publisher believed himself important.
It was an absolutely disgusting place. I'm still sad that I even worked there. I'm even sadder I was there as long as I was. Saddest of all, people are paying to read that crap.
I never, EVER simply stick my name at the top of it and turn it in. I've never lightly rewritten one and named it a staff report. The Texas newspaper I worked at for several years had a policy that you made a phone call regarding any press release you used as a news tip. You had to verify it.
However, at the faux paper I worked at in Florida, press releases were run verbatim in the paper with the release's writer given a byline. I squawked and complained about this to no avail. No one there really gave a damn whether they were putting out a good product as long as they got a paycheck and the publisher believed himself important.
It was an absolutely disgusting place. I'm still sad that I even worked there. I'm even sadder I was there as long as I was. Saddest of all, people are paying to read that crap.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Mid-level muckety-mucks
Since the beginning of my career, I've made it a point to avoid top managers and editors as much as possible. While some of them are sharp, most of them are company men (or women) and would have no problem hanging a peon reporter or copy editor out to dry to cover their own butt. But the worst I've encountered so far have been mid-level managers, especially when they are intent are someday being top level at The Company.
This story from Angry Journalist #2266 sums it up nicely.
So I write a school board story for my state capital newspaper and file it. The next day, I come in to work and the phone rings almost before I sit down. It is the school board president, upset about the story. I don’t know what she’s talking about, but open the paper and say, OMG. Whoever edited the story had changed the lede paragraph and it was wrong as wrong can be. And the headline, based on the lede, was just as incorrect.
I apologize to her and promise that a correction will run the next day. I go looking for the city editor, who asks me to send him a copy of my original story and a correction. It starts out, “Because of an editing error…” The next day I come in and see the correction. “Because of an editing error” has been removed, so it looks like I was the one at fault.
It turns out the assistant city editor who edited the mistake into my lede and gotten hold of the correction and edited that, too. By this time, I’m being portrayed as an idiot on the comments section of the newspaper website and the superintendent of the district has called me to voice her anger. The ACE confesses to me that he changed my lede and then edited the correction to “make it read better,” insisting it was not to make himself look better. I tell him this has had a devastating effect on my reputation and could hurt my ability to cover the school district going forward (people on the website forum were asking for the reporter who previously covered the district to be brought back).
I ask for a re-correction that explains that the error was caused by an editor and was in no way the reporter’s fault. He refuses, saying “readers don’t care” who was responsible for the error. The correction he edited gave them all the facts they needed. He says the assistant managing editor for news backs him up. So I’m hung out dry, left looking like an idiot so an editor can be protected. Fuck that.
This story from Angry Journalist #2266 sums it up nicely.
So I write a school board story for my state capital newspaper and file it. The next day, I come in to work and the phone rings almost before I sit down. It is the school board president, upset about the story. I don’t know what she’s talking about, but open the paper and say, OMG. Whoever edited the story had changed the lede paragraph and it was wrong as wrong can be. And the headline, based on the lede, was just as incorrect.
I apologize to her and promise that a correction will run the next day. I go looking for the city editor, who asks me to send him a copy of my original story and a correction. It starts out, “Because of an editing error…” The next day I come in and see the correction. “Because of an editing error” has been removed, so it looks like I was the one at fault.
It turns out the assistant city editor who edited the mistake into my lede and gotten hold of the correction and edited that, too. By this time, I’m being portrayed as an idiot on the comments section of the newspaper website and the superintendent of the district has called me to voice her anger. The ACE confesses to me that he changed my lede and then edited the correction to “make it read better,” insisting it was not to make himself look better. I tell him this has had a devastating effect on my reputation and could hurt my ability to cover the school district going forward (people on the website forum were asking for the reporter who previously covered the district to be brought back).
I ask for a re-correction that explains that the error was caused by an editor and was in no way the reporter’s fault. He refuses, saying “readers don’t care” who was responsible for the error. The correction he edited gave them all the facts they needed. He says the assistant managing editor for news backs him up. So I’m hung out dry, left looking like an idiot so an editor can be protected. Fuck that.
Sometimes, the job is cool
Today McP covered a charity event in Naples attended by Jim Courier, my favorite tennis player of all time. Ah, memories of my 90s crush.
Anyway, McP's task was to interview Courier. Although vague rumors had filtered down previously that Courier wasn't always nice to reporters, Mc returned home to report that
Courier is more than just a pretty face -- he's polite, well-humored and a good interview. And pretty nice, putting up with McP's request to say Hi to me on tape.
Needless to say, once I got over my excitement at hearing Jim Courier say my name, I set about preserving the tape for all eternity.
Woo hoo. That is all.
Anyway, McP's task was to interview Courier. Although vague rumors had filtered down previously that Courier wasn't always nice to reporters, Mc returned home to report that
Courier is more than just a pretty face -- he's polite, well-humored and a good interview. And pretty nice, putting up with McP's request to say Hi to me on tape.
Needless to say, once I got over my excitement at hearing Jim Courier say my name, I set about preserving the tape for all eternity.
Woo hoo. That is all.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Copy editors
A short blog about the most unappreciated, yet most important, desk in the newsroom. I'm not talking about page designers, though at some papers, copy deskers read copy and lay out pages. I'm referring to actual copy editors. I started out as one, which probably explains why I'm more inclined than most reporters to acknowledge that these guys are more important than writers.
Anybody who can save your ass as well as the paper's on a daily basis deserves respect.
The last place I worked, the fauxpaper, didn't have any. So stories got a read by a city editor and a proofreader (people who came in off the street with no paper experience and were untrained) and maybe a second editor if there was time or it was considered a big enough story and then that was it. The design desk wasn't encourage to edit or make changes.
It shows in each section of the fauxpaper. It's also a big reason it's a fauxpaper and will never be anything else.
Cheers.
Anybody who can save your ass as well as the paper's on a daily basis deserves respect.
The last place I worked, the fauxpaper, didn't have any. So stories got a read by a city editor and a proofreader (people who came in off the street with no paper experience and were untrained) and maybe a second editor if there was time or it was considered a big enough story and then that was it. The design desk wasn't encourage to edit or make changes.
It shows in each section of the fauxpaper. It's also a big reason it's a fauxpaper and will never be anything else.
Cheers.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Non-competes
McP has added another paper for which to freelance. At this place, he had to agree to not freelance for its nearest competitor. I've heard many an argument from people here in Florida about non-compete agreements, and I still believe them to be bullshit in all forms.
First of all, the one I had to sign forbade me from working for another paper two hours north of me stretching to two hours south. Nothing within commuting distance. Only one of the four papers this covered are even a competitor. Effectively, signing the stupid thing killed any chance of working in the business for at least a year after I left unless I packed up and moved quite a distance. (I was told by an editor during the interview process that they didn't enforce very strictly; it was mainly to make sure no one moved here, worked for them for two months, then split to work for a bigger paper.) Obviously, once you're hired at the fauxpaper and realize what a crap pile it is, the first thought is to get the hell out. Bosses there were at least smart enough to realize that. Now if they could only figure out what a real newspaper is.
As far as freelance non-competes, that only hurts the newspapers and makes it nearly impossible to make a living freelancing here. Mc has two papers, a magazine and a website as fairly steady work and he can't pay the bills. So why does it hurt papers? Because it means there are fewer professional freelancers around, so papers get stuck using a lot of non-professionals if they want local people.
Personally, I think top execs are the only people any kind of non-compete should apply to. I also found out another area paper also has one which prohibits employees from leaving to work at the two nearest metro dailies. No one in their right mind should agree to that.
First of all, the one I had to sign forbade me from working for another paper two hours north of me stretching to two hours south. Nothing within commuting distance. Only one of the four papers this covered are even a competitor. Effectively, signing the stupid thing killed any chance of working in the business for at least a year after I left unless I packed up and moved quite a distance. (I was told by an editor during the interview process that they didn't enforce very strictly; it was mainly to make sure no one moved here, worked for them for two months, then split to work for a bigger paper.) Obviously, once you're hired at the fauxpaper and realize what a crap pile it is, the first thought is to get the hell out. Bosses there were at least smart enough to realize that. Now if they could only figure out what a real newspaper is.
As far as freelance non-competes, that only hurts the newspapers and makes it nearly impossible to make a living freelancing here. Mc has two papers, a magazine and a website as fairly steady work and he can't pay the bills. So why does it hurt papers? Because it means there are fewer professional freelancers around, so papers get stuck using a lot of non-professionals if they want local people.
Personally, I think top execs are the only people any kind of non-compete should apply to. I also found out another area paper also has one which prohibits employees from leaving to work at the two nearest metro dailies. No one in their right mind should agree to that.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Reading and libraries
While I was lolling about on New Year's Day, reading, I started to wonder how many books I read each year. I decided to keep a list and see. So far, I have 19 books on the list. I'm halfway through No. 20. I didn't realize I was going through them so fast, but that explains why I have a hard time finding new books at our local library.
Our library is in a gorgeous building. It's close to my house. But it's collection of fiction is relatively tiny, especially compared to Denton's three libraries, two of which have larger collections than North Port's library. My other complain about our libary is its limited hours. It's not open at all on Sunday and is only open late twice during the week.
Everywhere I've been, library funding has been one of the first things county commissions like cut. I can't figure out why. Commissioners have always said they have to cut things that aren't necessities. I've never quite gotten an answer as to why reading isn't considering a necessity. But that's just me.
Our library is in a gorgeous building. It's close to my house. But it's collection of fiction is relatively tiny, especially compared to Denton's three libraries, two of which have larger collections than North Port's library. My other complain about our libary is its limited hours. It's not open at all on Sunday and is only open late twice during the week.
Everywhere I've been, library funding has been one of the first things county commissions like cut. I can't figure out why. Commissioners have always said they have to cut things that aren't necessities. I've never quite gotten an answer as to why reading isn't considering a necessity. But that's just me.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
No paper to read
Yesterday was rainy. Before I came to Florida, those were the types of days where I could grab a newspaper and peruse it at my leisure while listening to the sound of rain. I didn't have a paper to read yesterday, though, unless I fired up the computer.
I have basically two newspaper options here: The Sarasota Herald-Tribune, which is a pretty good paper. The writing is OK, the editing (I'm guessing) is solid and I think the design is some of the best I've seen in a while. The only problem is the HT's coverage is North Port is bare bones minimum so I haven't bothered to get a subscription.
The only other option is the Sun. I didn't want to read it when I worked there because large parts of the writing were so horrendous. I'm surely not going to pay to read it. Names were misspelled often and facts were totally wrong not to mention bad writing and virtually no editing. No thanks.
I have basically two newspaper options here: The Sarasota Herald-Tribune, which is a pretty good paper. The writing is OK, the editing (I'm guessing) is solid and I think the design is some of the best I've seen in a while. The only problem is the HT's coverage is North Port is bare bones minimum so I haven't bothered to get a subscription.
The only other option is the Sun. I didn't want to read it when I worked there because large parts of the writing were so horrendous. I'm surely not going to pay to read it. Names were misspelled often and facts were totally wrong not to mention bad writing and virtually no editing. No thanks.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
A minor rant and a Web site full of them
I have a new favorite Web site. http://www.angryjournalist.com/
Read long enough and the funny disappears. It'll just make you sad.
I did find this, Post #1539: I'm angry it's taking so damn long to get a job outside the industry.
I'm having the same experience. Seriously, all throughout college and my first news job, I kept hearing how easy it would be to transition into PR, advertising or marketing. As long as you can write well, you'll be able to find a good job, I was told. Over and over. That hasn't been the case. I was surprised at first, but with the economy going down the crapper combined with the fact that I'm currently living in a wasteland, I know I shouldn't be. I know I'll have to drive 45 minutes for a decent job and that's OK.
Then there's this: Angry Journalist #1516: We are going through the second round of buyouts, and people are coming out the front office in tears. I am in such dispair over the state of our industry, I could spit.
Me, too. And that's why I'm trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. I'm not going to rely on an incredibly shrinking business for work. One of my main objectives is learning everything I can about the Web. The last place I was unfortunate enough to work was a technological void so I'm catching up first with what I knew before I set foot in that place.
Finally, there's this:
Angry Journalist #1513:
I continually debate whether I have the best job in the world or the worst.I work for a small, independent magazine publisher. The publisher also acts as editor-in-chief, although he knows nothing about journalism.My job associate editor is not defined, and when I take initiative on projects, the publisher always shuts them down.I have no responsibilities. I basically surf the internet all day. I get paid.But I am not challenged in any way. I am not appreciated. I fear my skills are erroding.
I didn't post this, but I could have. It pretty much sums up my last job experience.
Read long enough and the funny disappears. It'll just make you sad.
I did find this, Post #1539: I'm angry it's taking so damn long to get a job outside the industry.
I'm having the same experience. Seriously, all throughout college and my first news job, I kept hearing how easy it would be to transition into PR, advertising or marketing. As long as you can write well, you'll be able to find a good job, I was told. Over and over. That hasn't been the case. I was surprised at first, but with the economy going down the crapper combined with the fact that I'm currently living in a wasteland, I know I shouldn't be. I know I'll have to drive 45 minutes for a decent job and that's OK.
Then there's this: Angry Journalist #1516: We are going through the second round of buyouts, and people are coming out the front office in tears. I am in such dispair over the state of our industry, I could spit.
Me, too. And that's why I'm trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. I'm not going to rely on an incredibly shrinking business for work. One of my main objectives is learning everything I can about the Web. The last place I was unfortunate enough to work was a technological void so I'm catching up first with what I knew before I set foot in that place.
Finally, there's this:
Angry Journalist #1513:
I continually debate whether I have the best job in the world or the worst.I work for a small, independent magazine publisher. The publisher also acts as editor-in-chief, although he knows nothing about journalism.My job associate editor is not defined, and when I take initiative on projects, the publisher always shuts them down.I have no responsibilities. I basically surf the internet all day. I get paid.But I am not challenged in any way. I am not appreciated. I fear my skills are erroding.
I didn't post this, but I could have. It pretty much sums up my last job experience.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The first one
Dear Sweet Jesus, I have my own blog. I'm not sure if that makes me up-to-date and cool or one sheep blindly following all the rest, but since I no longer have access to newspaper and ink this will have to do.
I've been out of the newspaper business for nine months. It's still an odd feeling. I decided to become a journalist while still in high school and never pictured myself doing anything else. I'm still not 100 percent sure what I want to do now. I have a feeling that uncertainty shows when I'm talking to potential employers. I'm working part time now at a small public relations firm in Cape Coral. I was expecting to hate it, but I find myself liking it half the time and thinking it's OK the other half. I'm figuring it out. My boss is a former journalist (from the broadcast side of things) so we occasionally trade newsroom stories.
I've been out of the newspaper business for nine months. It's still an odd feeling. I decided to become a journalist while still in high school and never pictured myself doing anything else. I'm still not 100 percent sure what I want to do now. I have a feeling that uncertainty shows when I'm talking to potential employers. I'm working part time now at a small public relations firm in Cape Coral. I was expecting to hate it, but I find myself liking it half the time and thinking it's OK the other half. I'm figuring it out. My boss is a former journalist (from the broadcast side of things) so we occasionally trade newsroom stories.
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