Getting a Word in Edgewise

Last week I expressed my frustrations about sources that want to rewrite my articles when given an opportunity. Another problem I infrequently encounter as a journalist is the source that takes control of the interview. Again, I think insecurity is a chief factor. Most interviewees are content to let me, as the journalist, ask the questions. They know it’s my job to write the story based on the information I obtain from them. I have a list of questions prepared before each interview to guide me and conversations normally go smoothly. But once in a great while I will come across a source (often a professor or other professional “expert”) that wants to manage the interview. He has an agenda. He has been granting interviews so long he thinks he knows what I will ask so he proceeds to blather. Instead of waiting for the actual query he takes off on a rambling line of rhetoric that isn’t the information I’m seeking. He tosses in clichés every few sentences. I had one of my absolute worst experiences in a phone interview this month. I couldn’t even ask my first question before the fellow began ranting about the subject at hand. He didn’t take a breath for 15 minutes. In cases like this, I know I might as well give up trying to ask a specific question. He won’t respond with what I’m looking for anyway.

Get Me Rewrite!

I write for a couple of publications that require me to obtain approval of content from sources before publication. It’s not exactly why I went to journalism school. But I must admit such a review process does occasionally prevent some embarrassing mistakes from finding their way into print.

The overwhelming number of people I interview are fine with what I write. They may have a suggestion for a tweak or two, but they are appreciative of an opportunity to see the draft before it goes to press. While they may have worded some things differently, they realize this is my area of expertise. Once in a great while, however, along comes a critic who wants to change virtually every sentence — even their verbatim quotes I recorded on tape. They replace my proper grammar with their vernacular. They substitute incorrect usage for the Associated Press style I follow. They remove descriptive writing and insert dull prose. While I suppose a general insecurity or obsession to be in control is behind such behavior, it rarely improves the copy. One source so butchered an article recently that he took out everything remotely interesting and managed to make the article a real snoozer. I apologetically turned it in to the editor, who, unsurprisingly, said it didn’t meet the magazine’s required standards. As we deal with professionals in whatever their line of work — physicians, airline attendants, real estate agents, clergy — let’s allow them a wide berth. Although there are exceptions, give these employees some credit for knowing their business. Dealing with the public sometimes isn’t much fun.

Telling Stories

Occasionally I run into a person who asks if it’s difficult to come up with an idea for a news feature article in a weekly magazine. The answer is, usually not. There is enough going on in the world and in the Assemblies of God that ensure new topics are available to explore or fresh ways to report an already-explored topic.

In the first 11 years of my journalism career, I worked at daily newspapers, where creativity is a necessity. I spent eight of those years as a reporter and news editor of a paper in a city of 10,000 people. I covered murder trials, a manhunt, a child sex-abuse trial, an arson death, fatal car wrecks, the fatal shooting of a mayor during a city council meeting in a nearby city and a prison uprising. Of course, in a small city, those aren’t daily occurrences.

With a couple of others on the small staff I shared the responsibility of finding a local article for the front page every day. City, county and school board meetings and events provided fodder for numerous news articles, but much of the time I had to devise a feature story on my own. Even in a city of 10,000 (and county of 16,000) there are enough interesting folks and circumstances: servers complaining of low tips of local diners; a belly dancer looking for business; the workweek of morticians; the life of circus performers appearing at the local fairgrounds; how easy it is to buy a handgun; the story of local World War II prisoners of war; a local engineer whose hobby is jousting at Renaissance re-enactments.

These days, covering a U.S. denomination of 3 million people, there are many interesting untold stories to uncover. The primary challenge is that there is a two-month delay from the time the story is written until readers see it. Thus, articles really can’t be hard news and instead must examine trends. Lengthy stories I’ve written this year include alcohol abuse and females; the elderly and sex; astrology hazards; emerging adults; child sex abuse; reincarnation; and sports mania. What an interesting world in which we live!

What Else Would I Do?

Recently a spate of people I respect have congratulated me on being a great writer. Being acknowledged for one’s work is always nice, and it doesn’t happen in a lot of professions. But several folks have gushed on and on about what a talent I am, how my articles in the Pentecostal Evangel have been a blessing to them and the denomination.

On the one hand such compliments warm my heart. On the other, is God testing me to see how I react? Am I going to get a bigger head than I already have?

No doubt I believe God has gifted me in the field of journalism. It comes naturally. But I wonder, what else could I do? I don’t have any mechanical talent essential for many jobs. I don’t have great physical stamina required for others.

About all I can do is write. So, I’m hoping the floundering magazine business survives a bit longer. If all goes well I will have another dozen years or so until retirement. Thankfully writing is usually something one doesn’t get too old to handle.