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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

    Did you take a picture?

    Why the heck not?
     
  2. spikechiquet

    spikechiquet Well-Known Member

    Just remember me in your Poster of the Year voting. :)
     
  3. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    Because he already said that they were told the wrong day of the event, and ended up missing it thanks to the woman assuming that he would just magically know that they had changed the event date instead of actually giving him a call.
     
  4. BillyT

    BillyT Active Member

    I am sorry, I meant that I would have said that to the caller.
     
  5. Spartan Squad

    Spartan Squad Well-Known Member

    Local media whore claimed they took one. I think from now on, we're going to be "busy" and she'll have to take her own for us. Then again, the ad department has some free time ... for some money of course.
     
  6. Rhody31

    Rhody31 Well-Known Member

    That reminds me of a conversation I had with a parent who called irate because we didn't run a photo of Local High's game again Private School rival. We had a file photo from a previous game. She said it was confusing and asked why I didn't run one from the most recent game. I told it was because we didn't have a photographer (that reporter didn't shoot) available. She said 'how and I supposed to know its from an old game.' I told her it says file photo in the caption, plus the opponent in the pic was clearly wearing colors that werent Private School rival. She said it was confusing and I should have run a pic from the game.
    I said 'Maam, I would have loved to, but pictures from that game don't actually exist.'
     
  7. Mark2010

    Mark2010 Active Member

    Yeah, when I was MUCH younger I thought about doing that on the desk one night, Had five stories for the front and none of them had art. So I figured I could get a file photo of Joe Athlete solo and run it with the game story. Learned that was a big no-no for the very reason your caller mentioned.

    Moral of the story: If you can't shoot live art, don't run anything at all.
     
  8. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    The first paper I worked at, we'd shoot any check photos. The second paper would only do it if the donation was something like $1,000 or more. The others only accepted photos sent in.
     
  9. spikechiquet

    spikechiquet Well-Known Member

    Yup, only submitted photos is the policy I think is what is needed.

    Agreed. Unless it's a feature on a player...using action art from a different game that written is sort of a no-no, despite using "file photo" as a tag or writing in the cutline that it's a different game.
    Although...I wish I could break my own rule when it comes to track or cross country! LOL
     
  10. Gator

    Gator Well-Known Member

    Caller: "Do you have any idea how dirty the men's bathroom at the IHOP is? I was a very good and very frequent customer. I'd go there for breakfast, and sometimes lunch. I have no idea how dirty the women's bathroom is, but the male bathroom is just downright filthy. What are you going to do about it?"

    And the battle rages on ...
     
  11. BDC99

    BDC99 Well-Known Member

    Yep. Sometimes you get really stuck, but it is definitely confusing to the reader, no matter how you try to make it clear. Can't say I've never done it, but only in the most desperate times.
     
  12. Gator

    Gator Well-Known Member

    I've done it a few times, but I'll explain in the caption: "Johnny Johnson, shown hitting a jumper last Thursday against Podunk High, sank the game-winning shot on Tuesday against Tech."
     
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