PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - My feature article came out today...misquoted 15 minutes

BodhiBenz1987 · #12 12-27-2008, 08:13 PM

Cool article ... even if there are errors in it, they don't affect the overall vibe of the story. It reflects well on you, as well as on old MBs. It's nice to see an article about pure appreciation of older MBs that isn't just about alternative fuels.

But go easy on newspapermen, guys. As a teenager I worked in a horse stable, and shoveled you-know-what for a pittance ... that was easier, and more dignified, than a lot of what I've done at a newspaper. It's hard to be an expert on everything ... imagine writing a feature on, say, vintage Ginny dolls, and trying to get all the years, models, names, etc., straight ... and doing it while being required to churn out articles under harsh deadlines. I used to love doing this kind of story ... I would have loved to have a subject like Tyler, and not just because I love MBs ... it's always fun to write about someone's passion and to learn about the various things that make people tick. I was always very careful to get details right and to learn as much as I could about the topic at hand, even if it was something I knew nothing about. Unfortunately that's a large part of why I didn't cut it as a reporter. You have to get it done. You have to get it done fast. Most of the people who are "successful" reporters are the ones who learn how to breeze through stuff and not sweat over details ... which, again, is why I quit writing. I thought this reporter showed that he made an effort and put care into composing the story ... the writing style was lively, he didn't make you sound like an idiot, and he didn't make himself sound like an idiot to the outside perspective.

But Mercedes-Benz should be hyphenated. That would never have gotten past ME on copy desk!!!