Jay, who has lived in the Waukesha area for nearly 20 years, is an active volunteer who serves on numerous local boards and committees. He’s married to Colleen with three kids having gone through the Waukesha schools. He is the VP of a local distribution company and currently serves on several area Boards.
When we next pick-up a Waukesha Journal/Sentinel, will we stop and reflect on what it took to get that paper in our hands (or on the screens of our monitors)?
Tonight I visited the JS Waukesha office and was immediately struck by the task in front their staff - It's Election Night! All the background has been written; two storylines woven (for either outcome) where elections and referendums are contested; and nothing more to be done prior to results except eat screamingly good pizzas provided by their very generous boss.
Work backwards with me - home delivery of the Journal/Sentinel Tuesday morning around 5:00am. Papers sorted and picked up by delivery people - about 3:00am. Papers loaded on trucks @ 2:00. Papers printed and bundled between 11:30 - 1:45am. Editors review stories and play Solomon to the reporters hard work while layout people determine story locations and spacing:10:30-11:30. Attention-grabbing headlines are created - 10:15pm.
WAIT! This timeline means Amy, Scott, Lisa, Dave, Darryl, and the balance of the Waukesha Bureau have...about 1 hour to write and re-write their stories! Election results don't start trickling-in until after 9:00. These intrepid warriors are miracle-workers! Deadline is too nice a descriptor for the pressure they have been submitted to in their Herculean task. They must write accurately, interestingly, thought-provokingly (?) where warranted, and scribe with full-knowledge that their editor might lean over their shoulder and state "Cut it by a third and we need it (revised) in 10 minutes!"
Readers - That's pressure! And that is just one of many differences between amateur writers, critics and bloggers (myself included), and the true professionals! Assuredly, theirs is a craft where criticism comes quick and compliments are heard rarely. Drop them a complimentary email for one of their well-written stories some day just to let them know you appreciate their work. Let them know what's "good" instead of what's "wrong" with their writing. Advise them on factual errors in polite, conversational tones instead of challenging their schooling, lineage, gender, political leanings and so forth. Remember - Reporters are human (often unlike their editors), and we are darn fortunate to have a pretty decent group right here on Dolphin Drive in Waukesha. My personal experience is "They try to get it right every time".
Pizza, bad coffee, another glass of lousy tasting Waukesha water, excruciating deadlines, write and re-write... All of that and you still get your name in print!
You know what they say? ..."Mommas, don't let your babies grow up to be writers..."
