Newsroom Ode #2: Reporter on deadline
By Don Nelson of the Methow Valley News
—–
REPORTER
“We need a story,” the editor says,
As if “we” included me
As a decision-maker
In any meaningful way.
“Make it a news feature,” the editor says,
As if that meant anything.
Editors don’t know, either.
They just like to say it
Because it makes them sound
Authoritative and knowledgeable,
But of course they’re not.
“By 5 o’clock,” the editor says,
With 10 sources, nut graph, back story,
Context, narrative structure, graphics and maybe
A FOIA request.
“Keep it to 500 words,” the editor says.
Because we are short on space,
Not to mention imagination or creativity
Or just plain common sense.
At 5:20 p.m.
The story returns
From the editor’s desk
Bloodied and mangled,
Eviscerated and mutilated,
Like road kill whose species
Can’t be identified from the remains.
Dumped back on my desk
With no direction,
No explanation,
No observation,
No suggestion
Of how to revive the carcass,
As if I could invoke
Some shamanic chant
To restore its life.
At 5:40 p.m.
The story goes back to the editor
With minor changes.
The editor doesn’t care
Having done the editing thing
And moved on.
Tomorrow, the editor says,
I will be covering
New tiger cubs at the zoo
Unless there is a plane crash
Or a mass shooting.
If I let the tiger cubs bite me
Maybe I can just go home.
—–
Don Nelson
Don Nelson has been editor and publisher and reporter and photographer and delivery boy and coffee maker and dishwasher and post hole digger (not really, just threw that one in to see if you are paying attention) and all-around whatever-needs-doing guy since the Fourth of July, 2011, his personal Independence Day (just ask the IRS). Don has worked a lot of places but likes this place and this job the best. He does, however, drive an 8-year-old “rig,” lives in a cabin way outside of town and is learning to love “Methow Time.” Just writing this made him 15 minutes late for something or other.
—–
First posted by NiemanStoryboard.org
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