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Mark Whicker, what were you thinking?

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Inky_Wretch, Sep 9, 2009.

Page 12 of 42
  1. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    But here's the thing - that is part of the copy desk's job, to be the gate-keepers. To flag questionable copy. They are the goalies to use a bad sports cliche. The last line of defense. Very bad that it was written. Just as bad that it wasn't stopped at the gate.
    Neither side did its job. The blame IS equal.
    I'm outraged at both parties if I'm SE.
     
    Moderator1, Sep 10, 2009
    #133
  2. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    And here is another point. At many shops, there IS ALWAYS a news type that reads the copy. News guys like talking about sports and sports guys like talking about news. Anyway, SOMEONE on news side should have said "WTF?"
     
    Drip, Sep 10, 2009
    #134
  3. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    The gate was left open. Like I said earlier the last line of defense folded like tissue paper. Maybe they were late for a Labor Day barbecue or something.
     
    Drip, Sep 10, 2009
    #135
  4. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    To my most recent point: Anybody with long memories and Virginia ties remember the Lynchburg incident from years back?

    They had a reporter who wasn't very popular. They had shirttails on their stories.
    For laughs, someone typed over the usual shirttail that "(reporter) lost a testicle in a knife fight in (local gay bar)."

    Har har. Really fucking funny.

    It gets IN the paper. Reporter, as he should, goes apeshit. Paper runs A1 explanation/apology.
    Copy editor, desk chief AND production manager (I think) get canned. Not just the guy who wrote it, everyone who was responsible for it getting into the paper.

    Another lesson: Do not type ANYTHING on a work computer that you wouldn't want to see in print. Don't type in a joke because you know someone will see it and pull it out of there. Just don't do it.

    And if you are copy editor, err on the side of caution. FLAG IT.
     
    Moderator1, Sep 10, 2009
    #136
  5. chilidog75

    chilidog75 Member

    Fair enough. Didn't seem like that in your first post, that's why I commented. But yeah, someone on the copy desk seriously fucked up. That can't be argued. Well, we assume that anyway.
    For all we know, the sports editor WAS called about the column. And it ran anyway. I hope not. God, I hope not. But I guess that could be the case.
     
    chilidog75, Sep 10, 2009
    #137
  6. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    If that IS the case, then maybe a head ought to roll.

    Hey, I was a reporter AND a copy editor during my checkered past. So I all full of the "it's a team thing" cliches (among other things).
     
    Moderator1, Sep 10, 2009
    #138
  7. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    Moddy, got one to top that. In Jersey almost a decade ago, guy is taking dictation of a wrestling match. Joking tells the other reporter on the end the kid was sucking cock or something to that effect. Anyway, the guy taking the dictation writes that in the copy. It shows up in the paper and lawsuits begin flinging. The guy taking the dictation was a pretty good guy and not a rookie.
    LET'S BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!!!
     
    Drip, Sep 10, 2009
    #139
  8. cranberry

    cranberry Well-Known Member

    Anyone remember the Linda Ellerbee story?
     
    cranberry, Sep 10, 2009
    #140
  9. hacksaw2828

    hacksaw2828 Member

    I'm sorry but how damn dumb does a person have to be to keep something like that in a word document while taking dictation. Whether it's a joke or they just overlooked it because they weren't paying enough attention to what the guy was saying on the phone line, a person should just stop immediately what they are typing and close out the document with no save button applied and start over. I mean doing something like that is similar to cleaning a pistol while it's loaded and pointed at you. Just plain stupid. Right on, Moddy.
     
    hacksaw2828, Sep 10, 2009
    #141
  10. Mizzougrad96

    Mizzougrad96 Active Member

    True, but not every SE is as cool as I presume you were. I worked for two sports editors who you did not call at home on their day off unless the world was ending. If another manager wasn't there, there was no way he was getting called.
     
    Mizzougrad96, Sep 10, 2009
    #142
  11. Moderator1

    Moderator1 Moderator Staff Member

    Well, you want that policy, fine. But you take your damn chances.

    My crew had about 1,000 numbers for me: included were wife's cell, wife's dad, wife's work (where the HELL is your husband?), wife's boyfriend, my favorite bar, my masseuse, you name it.
    An SE who is unreachable to his staff is asking for trouble.

    I trusted my desk chiefs to make most of the calls but let them know: ANY questions, find me.
     
    Moderator1, Sep 10, 2009
    #143
  12. Drip

    Drip Active Member

    Been there Mizzou. But the person in charge, should've caught this. It's like driving and running a red light. You just don't do it.
     
    Drip, Sep 10, 2009
    #144
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