Last year I wrote a newspaper story with another reporter about a marine who sat in his driveway with an AR15 (civilian version of M16 I think, don't have story in front of me) and refused to go to basic training at Camp Pendleton. He didn't want to go to Iraq. This was big national news. Maybe some of you heard about it. SWAT teams from three counties came to help in this standoff. It ended with no deaths or injuries.
We wrote this really good story together, we had a double byline (meaning we did about the same amount of work), and we submitted it for statewide contests.
We got first place in the spot news category for the whole state. This is a big deal. We bat against some of the big metro papers for this award.
Today I find out at a meeting with all of the other reporters that they are going to the awards ceremony with just the other reporter, not me. I said "Why am I not going? That story was a double byline with Reporter A."
Short answer is, it must've been an oversight. I probably won't be getting an award with my name on it because of an oversight. I won't get to go to a swanky dinner with big journalists around the state because of an oversight. I am not even sure I can put this story in my awards pile because there is no paperwork to confirm that I won an award with it, just Reporter A.
Because of an oversight.
...
CAN YOU PEOPLE NOT ******* READ??? MY NAME IS ON IT!
How in the hell can a committee of JOURNALISTS miss my name in big, black, bold letters at the top of the freaking story???
Now I am hoping against my better judgment that this will all be fixed and I will get to go Friday to accept our award. I am not holding my breath.
And what does Reporter A have to say about this? Is he gonna stand up for you?
Talk it over with him, and show up at the awards dinner anyways, can't they bring guests? Have him bring you up on stage to accept the award with him, what can they do, ask the award winner to leave? you can be his "Date".
Speaking purely cold-logic, they probably decided that it was better to push the other guy as the talking head they want representing them at an awards ceremony. I doubt it was anything other than a calculated decision, not an 'oversight' or a case of your co-workers being morons.
Speaking purely cold-logic, they probably decided that it was better to push the other guy as the talking head they want representing them at an awards ceremony. I doubt it was anything other than a calculated decision, not an 'oversight' or a case of your co-workers being morons.
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity. - Hanlon's Razor
...which is why I made sure to preface the entire thing with the first bit about doing what was logical for the newspaper and not being about malice or stupidity.
I don't know for sure but I think this was a screwup by my editor. Basically when we submit our stories for awards, she asks us to submit individually. Editors usually don't pick submissions for us. So if Reporter A picked it, then probably it was put under her name.
Even still, the people who give out the award should've noticed it. But maybe they thought I didn't work there anymore or something? I have no idea.
"Reporter A" doesn't know. Today was a vacation day for her. You can bet I will tell her when she returns.
I've been to awards ceremonies like this before, it's not like you say anything. You just go up there and get your award and sit back down. Talking head doesn't play into it at all. That would not be a reason for them to single her out instead of giving us both credit.
Well it sounds like it was possibly an honest mistake due to communication errors. Theres NO possible way they could get you to the dinner and say "Sorry we made a mistake, Reporter A and Kinare are the winners"?
Well it sounds like it was possibly an honest mistake due to communication errors. Theres NO possible way they could get you to the dinner and say "Sorry we made a mistake, Reporter A and Kinare are the winners"?
I'll find out today probably. Either that or my editor is going to drag ass because I am leaving in a few months for Seattle. I knew it was a mistake to tell her. ****** A.
I'll find out today probably. Either that or my editor is going to drag ass because I am leaving in a few months for Seattle. I knew it was a mistake to tell her. ****** A.
Well it sounds like it was possibly an honest mistake due to communication errors.
Having worked in both journalism and general communication fields, it is my experience that those who communicate for a living are generally the worst at it.
Having worked in both journalism and general communication fields, it is my experience that those who communicate for a living are generally the worst at it.
Im sorry, I just dont get what it is youre trying to tell me....
I'll find out today probably. Either that or my editor is going to drag ass because I am leaving in a few months for Seattle. I knew it was a mistake to tell her. ****** A.
Looks like I am going to the awards tonight, but I don't know if my name will be on the award until after it's announced and we retrieve it on stage. If they don't announce my name too, I'm going up there and we're going to point out it was a double byline.
Turned out really well actually Apparently I get a bit ahead of myself and freak out when I have major changes in my life (we're moving to Seattle soon and I have no job. It's more than a lil stressful). I feel like kind of an ass now really.
The next day, we had an awards ceremony for a different contest, one where I knew I had 2 stories in the running, but they don't tell us places beforehand.
I got first in the state for best agricultural story and third place for best spot news (different story than the first night). Thanks for asking.
