Just a day in the life of...

In just a few hours I will be boarding a flight from Boston back to San Jose, and I couldn’t be more excited. 

Not only do I get to see my whole family, for the first time in a LONG time, but I also will be able to not do ANYTHING for the next 12 days other than relax, eat and drink (yes, that is how I plan on spending my vacation).

It’s also a good time to start reflecting on this cluster-f of a year that 2011 was. But that will most likely be another post. Probably written somewhere between Boston and San Jose, at an altitude of 4,000+ ft. Because that’s just the way I am.

Right now, going to finish up on some work, talk to my boss, eat some left overs and try not to go on vacation mode before 2pm. 

Let’s see how long that lasts.

Most reporters aren’t out to get you. 

But because there are always a few who try to get you to say something you’ll later regret, this lesson will help you survive your interactions with three of the most dangerous types of reporters. 

1. The Quiet Type 
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who just keeps looking at you when you’ve finished talking? If you’re like most people, you feel awkward and quickly start talking again to fill the uncomfortable silence. Reporters bank on that awkward dynamic and know you’ll say the most damaging things after you’ve finished your “official” answer. 

When you are a reporter, you do anything to get the story. Whether it is standing outside in the sleet waiting for people to show up at a poll during a special election or  heading to the California-Mexico border to see what is really happening, there is nothing that you won’t do in order to get your story.

Currently, I’m taking a little hiatus from full time reporting, and am straddling the line of what we like to call “the dark side.”

Marketing. Mass Communications. PR.

I write for web for an awesome company, but some days I miss the thrill of being on the run for a story on deadline. So sometimes, when I need to get stuff done… I pretend.

Go ahead -Judge me.

The piece above is from a story that PR Daily ran about the three most-dangerous types of reporters.  That is the reporter I am. I sit there, I listen, I nod my head… and magically I get a story, because someone can’t stand a little awkward silence. 

Now this sometimes gets me in trouble in the real world, because I will just listen and people will just keep talking. Then I find myself in an awkward position when someone is spilling their soul out to me, and all I really wanted to know about was their day.

Tie a reporting nature in with a competitive nature, and you have someone that will try to scoop everything possible. Sometimes it comes in handy. Other times it annoys people. It is what it is. 

I read. I listen. I write. Most importantly - I ask. 

If you scroll down to the bottom of the article and read the comments, it’s pretty effing hilarious to see what PR people think of reporters. 

And the funny thing is? 

In my mind, I will always be a reporter.

No matter what job I have, no matter what side I’m on, my mindset is to get you to stop spouting bullshit and to tell me what’s really going on. 

Now it’s time to get back to work.