From sj-approval Wed Jul 5 14:18:19 1995 Return-Path: Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA29131; Wed, 5 Jul 1995 09:35:20 -0400 Received: from handscol.demon.co.uk by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA27629; Wed, 5 Jul 1995 09:33:23 -0400 Date: Wed, 05 Jul 1995 14:18:19 GMT From: Morris@handscol.demon.co.uk (Morris Price) Message-Id: <4067@handscol.demon.co.uk> To: sj@world.std.com Subject: Helping Wannabees X-Mailer: PCElm 1.10 Lines: 27 Sender: sj-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: sj Hope I'm not hogging this list - but term ends on Friday July 7. The late Nicholas Tomalin of the Sunday Times said any journalist needed the following attributes: a modicum of talent a plausible manner rat-like cunning. Note - only a modicum of talent; you don't hv to be Nobel Prize standard. Plausible manner - once you can fake sincerity, you hv it made ;] When interviewing the local Nazi group chairman, resist the temptation to punch him; roll yr eyes sympathetically when he bangs on about "coloureds" moving into the neighbourhood. If interviewing a Communist, indicate yr own leftward leanings. Interviewing a priest - work it out for yrself; just don't claim more than a passing acquaintance with church or s/he'll smell a rat. You get the idea. Rat-like cunning: does *not* mean crapping all over some professional journalist (they hv l-o-n-g memories and may become the next editor you apply to for a job). It means using every (cleanish) trick in the book. You meet a pro journalist - take her/his name and contact details; a week or so later call 'em, remind 'em who you are, offer your services, ask for work - menial, boring, repetitive work they cld well do for themselves but learn to trust you to carry out will build you a useful reputation. -- Morris Price replies to: morris@handscol.demon.co.uk Views expressed etc; Intellectual property rights blah; copyright (yawn)...