No small talk -- big deal?

Welcome back, Elliotte.
This place isn't complete without your contributions.

And, yes, the sarcasm font is off.

 

I'll agree with Mr. Friedman here.

I used to be on a beat with a guy who was chummy with all the coaches, who constantly "bullshitted" with them, etc. Guess what? Coaches have a job to do, and they're not always thrilled when Mr. Chummy drops by to "chat." Another person on the beat was a professional, but never "chummy," and he routinely beat the other guy.

OTOH, being painfully shy is certainly a limitation, and it's something that one must get over.

EDIT: I just re-read Elliotte's post and he said it well here:

Showing you value your sources' time is a sign of professionalism, not a sign of weakness.

 

More important than bullshitting is showing a genuine interest in what a person does by asking thoughtful and intelligent questions.

 

I would imagine it's a helpful skill on any beat, but it's really vital on baseball.

Some of the best I've seen are guys who can strike up a casual conversation in a clubhouse or dugout. If you're doing notes every day, you'll come up with valuable stuff. You'll also get good leads on off-day stories or features.

We spend a lot of time trying to get people to talk, so it's fundamental that the proverbial gift of gab would be a major asset.

Of course, we've all seen guys who overdo it and wind up chasing people away, but the good ones know how to use it to their benefit.

 

I think I said this early in the thread; therefore, I agree.

 

yeah, that's right douchebag, if this person 'can't do it,' s/he will just become an editor and double what you make a year. sounds like a real lose-lose situation to me.

your SE deals with suits, you deal with grown men in sweatsuits. yeeeah, nice evaluation.

 

hey, dickass petty.

unless you failed reading comprehension, i was simply opining on a major difference between copy editors and reporters, not sports eds and reporters. although it is my experience that the vast majority of sports eds never had the writing or reporting chops to excel at that end of the deal. that's not to say that good sports eds don't have important skill sets. of course they do.

but it's also my experience that those who are top-notch writers/reporters prefer to do that rather than to spend their days in offices with the suits. if that offends, so sorry. if you make more money, god bless you. i'm not saying i could do what you do. why does it piss you off if i opine that you possibly couldn't do what i do. or be as successful doing it?

we all make career choices, based upon what we most like and what we're most good at. that's my point. and, by the way, i don't know ANY sports eds who make twice what i do.

 

Do you want a prize?

 

I've been shaking my head through most of this thread. I agree with Elliott, those who say you have to be a schmoozer to succeed in this business are absolutely wrong. Yes, it helps. But no, it's not the only way. As long as you get information, who cares? Some do it thru observation, others do it by asking about a player's dog. There's no right or wrong way.

The most important advice is simple: Be yourself. I can't emphasize this enough: Dont try to become an extrovert and chat people up if it doesnt fit your personality. People can see through something like that and it ususally makes for a lot of painful, awkward conversations. Most important, it's not a good way to earn a person's trust.

I've worked with (and against) people on the beat who call players by their nicknames and give them fist pounds. Is that wrong? No, because it works for them. It doesnt for me, so I stay away from it. ...

Ask good questsions, act interested, even if you're not. But also keep in mind, it's not important that these people like you. They just have to be willing to work with you. There's a big difference. If you're getting beat because a source is lying to you or withholding information, then you need to change something. But if you're feeling bad that other writers are joking around with other reporters, who cares?

 

this is what you said: 'those who can't become editors/desk people. doesn't mean they don't have writing skills, but reporting well takes people skills, too'

i stand behind my response.

 

as do i.

your responses on here are so defensive/angry/mean-spirited that it supports theories that your own people skills are quite lacking. which is fine. most suits are quite lacking in this dept. i'll stand by THAT. 8) 8) 8)

it's one of the most entertaining parts of "tabloid wars." most of the editors -- suits that i know -- just stand there nodding, doing little speaking. cracks me up.