InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "This is WHO I AM."

Betty Braithwaite (betterb) wrote,
@ 2008-03-21 19:51:00

I hate slow news weeks, and so do our readers. What with all that political intrigue and violence that's been happening lately, seems almost like the eye of a hurricane. Everyone around the office is just waiting for it to pass over. Merlin, most interesting thing this week was a story about a woman and her kneazle rescue.

Though if my reporter's instincts are right, things are going to go from boring to hot in no time flat soon enough.

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	alice_rey 2008-03-22 05:02 pm UTC (link)
	I must admit I like slow weeks Betty. Slow means no surprises. Though I will admit that I feel like everything is just the calm before the storm. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-22 05:19 pm UTC (link)
	Surprises are what journalism is all about, Alice. Without them we don't have any news at all. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	sagelily 2008-03-22 07:26 pm UTC (link)
	Where the Prophet is concerned, I can imagine that it's a pain waiting on news, but many of the rest of us would rather read mundane stories about Charles Gladway winning the gobstone tournament and Hilda Green growing the larges batch of gillyweed than hearing about more death and destruction. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-22 07:29 pm UTC (link)
	No, you see, people really don't. Paper sales go down. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	sagelily 2008-03-22 07:31 pm UTC (link)
	The only reason why anyone reads the pieces that are horrible is because they want to know if it's going to happen to them or to see if they know anyone who was killed. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-22 07:36 pm UTC (link)
	And they don't read the articles about those other things, those aren't news. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	sagelily 2008-03-22 07:40 pm UTC (link)
	Yes, but given the way things are right now? Someone winning a gobstone tournament is better than someone getting killed. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-22 07:42 pm UTC (link)
	Not from a newspaper's point of view. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	sagelily 2008-03-22 07:45 pm UTC (link)
	Everything isn't always about how many papers you sell. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-22 07:47 pm UTC (link)
	It is when you work for one and you want to stay working for one. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	sagelily 2008-03-22 07:50 pm UTC (link)
	I doubt the Prophet would suffer that much loss. It's been around longer than any of us have and is the primary source of news. They likely have more revenue built up than they know what to do with. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-22 07:52 pm UTC (link)
	And as much as you are going on about flowers and sunshine, which paper is the one you're going to pick up? The one about some woman's cats or the one about a bombing in London that killed three wizards and countless muggles? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	sagelily 2008-03-22 07:55 pm UTC (link)
	The one about some woman's cats. I get plenty of first-hand accounts about three wizards and countless muggles being killed in London. Having to re-read it isn't my cup of tea. Now, if there's a dual story of both in the same paper, I'd pick it up, skip the one about the attack and read about the cats. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-22 07:56 pm UTC (link)
	That's what you say now, but I'd bet money that you're just saying it so that you'll win. So badger off, I've got actual work to do. Maybe you should find some to do. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	siriusly_gryffy 2008-03-23 02:36 am UTC (link)
	I can't believe I'm saying this, but: Violence isn't always the answer. I have to agree though, that its been a slow few weeks, which really isn't comforting. That only means that something horrible is going to happen soon. Just don't botch up whatever it is and tell lies. People don't want your exaggerated muck, they want the facts. Elusiveness gets people no where. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-23 02:40 am UTC (link)
	I always tell the facts, thank you very much. That's why I work for the news. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

siriusly_gryffy
2008-03-23 02:43 am UTC (link)

Oh, please. Exaggerations are any news reporters specialty. You live for the gossip, for the tall tales, because most of the time, they're more gruesome than what actually happened, but your precious Prophet won't always let you print everything that happens, will it? They try to keep things under wraps when they deem it something the public is better off not knowing. That's why I stopped reading the Prophet.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-23 02:46 am UTC (link)
	How many reporters do you actually know, by the way? I can't keep them from printing what they want, but don't you dare accuse my own reporting as being any less than truthful. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	siriusly_gryffy 2008-03-23 02:49 am UTC (link)
	A fair few, and none of us have very pleasant relationships. Its true that I can't boast of knowing you. Though, if you're anything like Rita Skeeter, I think I'm better off. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

betterb
2008-03-23 02:52 am UTC (link)

If it wasn't for the press news wouldn't be known. You rather the entire nation be in the back pocket of whatever the ministry happens to tell it? It's reporters that find the news. And at least Skeeter is putting herself in front of an entire nation with what she digs up, a nation that could drop her like that. What are you doing, trying to make fun of a junior reporter? How daring.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

siriusly_gryffy
2008-03-23 03:29 am UTC (link)

There are plenty of ways of communication. Wireless, floo, patronuses, etc. The nation would have to be in the ministry's back pocket, and I'm not saying that press is bad, I'm saying that it could be a hell of a lot better. Its the people who create the news, its could be them that would spread it, if the reporters would stop butchering it. Skeeter is a piece of work. She is a manipulative, prying, beastly chick with an appreciation for lies. The nation should drop her. I don't believe a word that comes from her quil or her mouth. If you want to try and see how daring I am, I wish you'd come for a visit. I'll show you the fucking truth of things.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-23 03:32 am UTC (link)
	The fact that they run people you don't like isn't my problem. And if you're so sure about your truth, since apparently I'm doing such a horrible job as a reporter, why don't you show me. Put your proof where your mouth is. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

siriusly_gryffy
2008-03-23 03:38 am UTC (link)

No, but the people being misinformed is a problem. I'd love to. However, you're not coming round my place, nor will you ever know my name, Miss. I can't have you splattering my true identity all over the Prophet. Know that my friends will know about our meeting, and if anything should happen to me because of anything you write, my blood will be on your hands, and they will know it. If so much as my picture or my initials ends up in that God forsaken paper, what happens from there is out of my control.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-23 03:44 am UTC (link)
	What you reveal to the press is what you reveal, it is my duty to the people to tell them the truth. That's why there are anonymous sources, to protect the sources. But don't call me a liar when you won't even be forthcoming with the people of this country. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	siriusly_gryffy 2008-03-23 03:50 am UTC (link)
	Oh, I would let you splatter me all around the papers if I thought I wouldn't turn up dead ten minutes after it was released, but I daresay that I would, and that would not fair well for either of us. You would be down a source, and all of my friends would not be happy. I'm not lying, merely looking out for my health. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-23 03:52 am UTC (link)
	You haven't even read anything I've written. I don't want people dead, I just want the truth. So either step up or leave me be so I can do actual work. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	siriusly_gryffy 2008-03-23 03:55 am UTC (link)
	I actually have. You haven't told me where you want to meet, Almighty Reporter. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-23 03:56 am UTC (link)
	You said you wouldn't. The location is where the source would feel most comfortable. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	siriusly_gryffy 2008-03-23 04:04 am UTC (link)
	I didn't say that I haven't or that I wouldn't. Alright then. The Leaky Cauldron: Room 9. When can you be there? I don't trust the bar. Too many people. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-23 04:06 am UTC (link)
	I'm available at noon tomorrow. [Private to Source] Pick a second location and time. Now you won't have to worry about someone seeing this and trying to find out what you're going to tell me. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	siriusly_gryffy 2008-03-23 04:12 am UTC (link)
	Good. We'll meet then. [Private to Betty.] That's precisely what I was going for. Black Cats Crossing in Nunnally Alley sometime tomorrow evening. I'm not busy, so you pick the exact time. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Private to source betterb 2008-03-23 04:13 am UTC (link)
	7. Can you make that? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Private to Betty siriusly_gryffy 2008-03-23 04:16 am UTC (link)
	I don't see any reason why I couldn't at the moment. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	Private to Source betterb 2008-03-23 04:26 am UTC (link)
	Then it's decided. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	otherblackboy 2008-03-23 05:41 pm UTC (link)
	And if they don't, it's the media's job to make sure it happens, right? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	betterb 2008-03-24 04:58 am UTC (link)
	Maybe some people might look at it that way, but I happen to like the truth. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	otherblackboy 2008-03-24 09:48 am UTC (link)
	Truth is subjective. (Reply to this) (Parent)