On Job Titles
I have been in the newspaper business now for exactly 37 days (it doesn't seem that long). I remain (by a matter of minutes), low man on the newsroom totem pole. Sort of. A packet was delivered to the paper from the Michigan DNR (Dept. of Natural Resources), addressed to the "Outdoors Editor." There was no doubt this was for me, and that brought up a scary realization. I can claim to be the outdoors editor. Flabbergasted, I said, "I'm only 23! It's not like I'm some journalistic Mozart or something. I shouldn't be trusted to be editor of anything!" However, I am, and it's both enjoyable and humbling. I have a lot more responsibility than the average reporter just a month on the job, but I don't often feel much like
Things are getting very busy at work. My two 20 Under 20 section pieces are going in wildly divergent paths again. I have the Escanaba student piece basically done (I could call one more teacher for a quote or two, but as it is, we're running 18 inches) and it's good. The kid I talked to does all sorts of interesting things (apprentice high school sports referee, four-year football manager, drama) and the story took almost no effort to do well. After three interviews, I've got enough material to write something on the Gladstone student, but there's simply no hook to the story at all. Right now, my lead is that he's going to U of M next fall and he's never been down there before. Quotes: nondescript, Background info: non-notable, Other sources: "He's a very bright kid." Basically, he's your classic math/science overachiever. I'm not saying this is bad, because it isn't. I hate to be so critical because the guy is very excited about the story and even called me Mr. Veale on the phone. I just can't find a hook. I go back tomorrow to take pictures (the camera wasn't set right and I got nothing last time) and maybe ask just a handful of follow-up questions. The problem I'm running into is temporal. I have to go to GHS a second time tomorrow night to cover Gladstone/Marquette volleyball. My hours are tight and I'm dealing with coverages tomorrow and Friday, plus a preview story on the Great Northern Conference wrestling meet, plus putting together the outdoors page tomorrow, wrapping up and writing this story, plus putting out sports pages both days. By my estimation, I have from 9:30-1, not counting an hour lunch break, to go out to Gladstone, take care of this, come back, place the outdoors page, and get as much writing done as possible. The 20 Under 20 stories are due Friday, when I will probably be leaving either just before or after lunch so I can spend 5 1/2 hours putting out the paper on Friday night. Like I said, busy times.
Just a few quick notes from the world of sports:
1. R.I.P. Modified Stableford Scoring System. The PGA announced they're killing the International, the only tournament on tour with a scoring system that assigned points for birdies and under-par scores and deducted them for bogeys, for lack of sponsorship.
2. Wings won 4-2 tonight against the Coyotes at home, cutting Nashville's lead to one point. After 55 games, Detroit is 35-14-6, has won five in a row and last lost at home on December 12 (Ottawa). Not too damned bad for a team everyone thought was on the decline at the beginning of the season.
3. CMU kept it respectable in the JAR tonight, going down 78-71. Can't say I was surprised. However, it does figure on the one night CMU shoots 59 percent, they play the best team in the league on the road. Shockingly, the women's team also beat the Zips (at home).
4. CMU football announced their recruiting class today. Of course, it's probably scuttled by the Brian Kelly debacle, but here are the highlights:
Josh Allison, DE, Lake Orion, set state record with 26 sacks as a junior
Brandon Friske, WR, Columbiaville, Three-time Class B All-State
Jake Olson, OL, Hartford, Wis., same hometown as backup QB Brian Brunner, oh and he's 6'8", 240.
Chris Starkey, DeWitt, J.J. Watt, Pewaukee, Wis., Rocky Weaver, Battle Creek, three all-state tight ends, proving the Brian Kelly era is officially dead and gone. Watt was actually all state as both a tight end and DE.
Things are getting very busy at work. My two 20 Under 20 section pieces are going in wildly divergent paths again. I have the Escanaba student piece basically done (I could call one more teacher for a quote or two, but as it is, we're running 18 inches) and it's good. The kid I talked to does all sorts of interesting things (apprentice high school sports referee, four-year football manager, drama) and the story took almost no effort to do well. After three interviews, I've got enough material to write something on the Gladstone student, but there's simply no hook to the story at all. Right now, my lead is that he's going to U of M next fall and he's never been down there before. Quotes: nondescript, Background info: non-notable, Other sources: "He's a very bright kid." Basically, he's your classic math/science overachiever. I'm not saying this is bad, because it isn't. I hate to be so critical because the guy is very excited about the story and even called me Mr. Veale on the phone. I just can't find a hook. I go back tomorrow to take pictures (the camera wasn't set right and I got nothing last time) and maybe ask just a handful of follow-up questions. The problem I'm running into is temporal. I have to go to GHS a second time tomorrow night to cover Gladstone/Marquette volleyball. My hours are tight and I'm dealing with coverages tomorrow and Friday, plus a preview story on the Great Northern Conference wrestling meet, plus putting together the outdoors page tomorrow, wrapping up and writing this story, plus putting out sports pages both days. By my estimation, I have from 9:30-1, not counting an hour lunch break, to go out to Gladstone, take care of this, come back, place the outdoors page, and get as much writing done as possible. The 20 Under 20 stories are due Friday, when I will probably be leaving either just before or after lunch so I can spend 5 1/2 hours putting out the paper on Friday night. Like I said, busy times.
Just a few quick notes from the world of sports:
1. R.I.P. Modified Stableford Scoring System. The PGA announced they're killing the International, the only tournament on tour with a scoring system that assigned points for birdies and under-par scores and deducted them for bogeys, for lack of sponsorship.
2. Wings won 4-2 tonight against the Coyotes at home, cutting Nashville's lead to one point. After 55 games, Detroit is 35-14-6, has won five in a row and last lost at home on December 12 (Ottawa). Not too damned bad for a team everyone thought was on the decline at the beginning of the season.
3. CMU kept it respectable in the JAR tonight, going down 78-71. Can't say I was surprised. However, it does figure on the one night CMU shoots 59 percent, they play the best team in the league on the road. Shockingly, the women's team also beat the Zips (at home).
4. CMU football announced their recruiting class today. Of course, it's probably scuttled by the Brian Kelly debacle, but here are the highlights:
Josh Allison, DE, Lake Orion, set state record with 26 sacks as a junior
Brandon Friske, WR, Columbiaville, Three-time Class B All-State
Jake Olson, OL, Hartford, Wis., same hometown as backup QB Brian Brunner, oh and he's 6'8", 240.
Chris Starkey, DeWitt, J.J. Watt, Pewaukee, Wis., Rocky Weaver, Battle Creek, three all-state tight ends, proving the Brian Kelly era is officially dead and gone. Watt was actually all state as both a tight end and DE.