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Dear dimwit on the phone

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Starman, Jan 21, 2010.

  1. BillyT

    BillyT Active Member

    dirtybird: I always talk to them both.

    I might not use a quote from the out-of-town quote unless it's good.
     
  2. Bamadog

    Bamadog Well-Known Member

    Nicely played, coach.

    We had a running back at a shop many moons ago who said absolutely nothing. I still chatted with him every day casually at practice, trying to get to know him and establish a rapport. Finally, we started talking about video games and he opened up and had no problem talking about just about anything. The great thing was he was a 1,500-yard rusher and would never talk about himself. Scored a game-winning TD in a playoff game and wouldn't take any credit. Well-played, sir.
     
  3. MightyMouse

    MightyMouse Member

    Agreed. It's always good to talk to as many people as possible -- especially from both sides. That doesn't mean you have to use quotes from everyone you talk to, though.
     
  4. Illino

    Illino Member

    I think this brings a new definition of dimwit: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/betweenthelines/sandusky-city-commission/warning-former-erie-county-auditor-uses-profanity

    Holy smokes!
     
  5. sgreenwell

    sgreenwell Well-Known Member

    Off-topic: You have to imagine The Sandusky Register is probably a bit pissed about all the recent developments at College Park, kind of like the makers of the AIDS diet bar.
     
  6. BillyT

    BillyT Active Member

    No, Mr. Summer Concert promoter, the fact that your weekly community concerts started before Town Next Door's, does *not* mean the photo of your band should run every week instead of theirs.
     
  7. rtse11

    rtse11 Well-Known Member

    Why, what's going on at the University of Maryland?
     
  8. sgreenwell

    sgreenwell Well-Known Member

    Oh, you don't wanna know... (Yikes, what a brain fart on my part though.)
     
  9. dixiehack

    dixiehack Well-Known Member

    Randy Edsall won't let any writers transfer to Zanesville.
     
  10. Bamadog

    Bamadog Well-Known Member

    At my shop, we have our gamers, which are done on the fly on Friday night and clock in about 12-15 inches. 1 or 2 quotes max. Just a lot of play-by-play. Not a lot of room for quotes. When you've got 15-20 minutes max to write (less for me since I'm also putting the paper together sometimes), that's the best you can do.

    But when we do our folo stories for Monday, they tend to be more analytical and have more quotes and thus, more color. I think it's the best approach.

    One thing I've found is the best players to interview on offense are linemen. They're so happy to have anyone recognize what they do so they always talk. They're usually pretty smart (a couple of linemen I've known were valedictorians) and have plenty to say. One of the best stories I ever wrote was about a team's offensive line, which averaged about 290 across and manhandled opponents into submission. The quotes they gave were classic. And four of the families ordered mounted plaques with our story and art on it. Can you say new revenue stream?
     
  11. MightyMouse

    MightyMouse Member

    Been on vacation for the last week, and I had a gem waiting on my voicemail from last Wednesday when I got back, asking me why we didn't list the MLB games being played last Wednesday and Thursday.

    "The schedule in your paper goes from the All-Stars right to Friday. Is that a mistake on your part?"

    Sometimes I'm embarrassed to be a member of the same species as these people.
     
  12. Gator

    Gator Well-Known Member

    You'd better warn him ahead of time that it'll also go from World Series right to spring training.
     
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