And my inspiration keeps coming this week, courtesy of the VicAd, if you can believe it.
My,my. Remember the good ol' days when reporters would do their OWN work, chase down stories (maybe via a tip or two called into the newsroom) by pounding the pavement and asking hard-hitting questions until they went all the way to the heart of the matter? Well, apparently the new freshman class at the VicAd doesn't. Can't really blame them, the inexperienced, helpless little cub reporters. Decidedly, the editor sets the tone at a newspaper. When an editor (and other higher-ups) inform a new reporter on the job that it acceptable to beg and cajole online (and if that doesn't work, then in the print edition under a misleading title called "Spotlight Blogger") for tips and questions, well, I would suppose the newbie would just think that is the way things are done.
Once again, we have Gabe Semenza begging for the public's help not once, but twice, both online and in the print edition, to help him understand why Victoria County ranks 41st in growth in the state. As far as I can tell, he has had no takers, so he keeps reposting the blog and twice it has shown up in the paper. Can't Cobler and Co. tell this absolutely reeks of desperation? And here we have sweet little naive J.R. Ortega blogging and reposting for about the third time his quest for "health questions" for a new article in Wednesday's VicAd. I suspect that the only thing he knows about the medical field is the health class he took in high school. Not exactly someone I would trust to answer my medical questions. My advice, people: ASK YOUR DOCTOR! And it gets sillier still. Now here is Gabe Semenza asking on behalf of another reporter, Allison Miles (who apparently can't ask for herself), for stories behind people's vanity license plates. Wow. Such hard-hitting journalism there. And last, but certainly not least, we have little Erica Rodriguez trying to drum up business for an article she is working on about what people are thankful for. Um, a hint here, Erica.....I save those personal things for saying grace around the table with my loved ones. NOT GONNA DISPLAY MY LIFE FOR YOU OR ANY OTHER OF YOUR COHORTS. Most of these begging sessions have gone without bites, as far as I can tell. Hmmm.....wonder why? Could it be people are getting tired of the VicAd "journalists" asking you to do their work for them?
And to top it off, today front and center on the website we have a story about a fundraiser for a "trampoliner" who aspires to go to Russia for a championship tournament. There's such a thing? I'm sure this is something one can build a lucrative career from. No? Well, then, what's the point? Sorry, my money goes to WORTHY causes: people and animals who have no voice to speak for themselves; law enforcement funds for families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty; research for medical breakthroughs. You know, little piddly stuff like that. I'm afraid I have nothing left to help send this chick to Russia so she can jump on a trampoline.....
And as Walter Cronkite would say, "That's the way it is."
Touch of Grey will, well, touch upon the rainbow that is life. Good music, good times, and good friends combine to make all the splendid colors. Touch of Grey will celebrate this beautiful rainbow.
8 comments:
You crack me up! You are so right about how the newspaper goes about the business of reporting the NEWS! Tip? Tip? What's a tip?
I always like it when Gabe does the asking on someone's behalf. You know, if you are too timid to stop a person and ask a question, I suspect you might look at another line of work. Micro-managing?
And about Victoria being 41st in growth in the state--he's asking for folks to call in or write in and talk about why they came here, right? Hell, the reporter would never have to leave the newsroom. EVERYONE in there is from somewhere out of Texas, except CJ, so start the story there, you morons!
Yeah, when no one responds, they just slap it up there again, and again, and again...
Now, for that thankful stuff, I'm thankful that I am not on the Victoria Advocate blogs. I'm thankful I can speak my mind on blogspot without a delete button.
Between the chewing gum collection on the high school's tree by the band hall, yet another riveting peek at Aprilllllllll's private life (WAY TMI!!) complete with "LOOK AT PRECIOUS LITTLE ME!!" photos, and continuing "nutrition" articles by the Chupacabra freak with a dubious degree and equally suspect knowledge, this rag is skating on thin ice if their goal is credibility.
Credibility? Not with this bunch of Yankees at the helm....
Not to mention that the kid who will write health stories mentions 'paranormal activity' among his interests. This doesn't bespeak the skeptical mind I want in a reporter on a biological science … or any other topic.
Loon--
I think the median age of the current crop of Advocate reporters is 22 years, 2.5 months. What the hell do they know about anything?
Personally, I think you guys have unrealistic expectations of J. R.--he's not going to work any harder than asking either Phyllis Canion or some doctor the reader's question. He'll do it via email, and then Kenny Schustereit it right into a column.
Good catch, Mr. Loon. I see by his blog that his official title will be "health reporter". Just like Barack Hussein Obama's official title is "President".
Titles come damned cheap these days.
Thought you might like this snagged from Wikipedia: "Ben Goldacre, a UK-based doctor and science journalist, obtained a diploma in nutrition from the American Association of Nutritional Consultants for his dead cat, Henrietta, while investigating allegations about the qualifications claimed by Gillian McKeith.[5]"
NotSecurelyAnchored - indeed I did.
Seems cheapest title of all may be "nutritionist"....
That is a stupid question, Victoria Advocate. They want to know why there's no growth in the crossroads area.
Ask people like Geanie Morrison, DDHerring, WM Paul Tasin, Paul Drake, Don Mader, and Kenneth.
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