Comments on: I should know better, and now I definitely do http://merandawrites.com/2007/06/21/i-should-know-better-and-now-i-definitely-do/ curious by nature, journalist by trade Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:26:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Dana http://merandawrites.com/2007/06/21/i-should-know-better-and-now-i-definitely-do/#comment-2567 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:16:35 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2007/06/21/i-should-know-better-and-now-i-definitely-do/#comment-2567 Definitely did the same thing about a month ago, except it was an e-mail. The boss had been sitting on a stack of Web items that needed edited all day and sent them my way for a second read near the end of the day. About 15 minutes after he sent them to me, I overhear our Web editor asking the boss where they are. The boss tells her in a shocked tone "You don't have them yet???? Dana must still have them." I'm in the middle of giving them a final read when the boss calls me in and tells me in an admonishing voice I really need to get those to the Web editor ASAP. Annoyed that the boss spent five hours ignoring them and then -- instead of apologizing to the Web editor -- painted it like it was my fault, I sent an e-mail to the Web editor explaining what was really going on. And totally sent it to my boss instead. Wow. While my e-mail did redirect the blame to my boss, it did also defended him by explaining that he was swamped that day because of some staffers being out, so it wasn't too awful, but still. Luckily it was Friday and he was aching to get out the door so the aftermath wasn't too bad and it was never brought up again. My review isn't until January *crosses fingers* Definitely did the same thing about a month ago, except it was an e-mail.
The boss had been sitting on a stack of Web items that needed edited all day and sent them my way for a second read near the end of the day. About 15 minutes after he sent them to me, I overhear our Web editor asking the boss where they are. The boss tells her in a shocked tone “You don’t have them yet???? Dana must still have them.”
I’m in the middle of giving them a final read when the boss calls me in and tells me in an admonishing voice I really need to get those to the Web editor ASAP.
Annoyed that the boss spent five hours ignoring them and then — instead of apologizing to the Web editor — painted it like it was my fault, I sent an e-mail to the Web editor explaining what was really going on.
And totally sent it to my boss instead.
Wow. While my e-mail did redirect the blame to my boss, it did also defended him by explaining that he was swamped that day because of some staffers being out, so it wasn’t too awful, but still.
Luckily it was Friday and he was aching to get out the door so the aftermath wasn’t too bad and it was never brought up again.
My review isn’t until January *crosses fingers*

]]> by: Meranda http://merandawrites.com/2007/06/21/i-should-know-better-and-now-i-definitely-do/#comment-2440 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:27:06 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2007/06/21/i-should-know-better-and-now-i-definitely-do/#comment-2440 I know you're both right, that in the long run this story is not a big deal. Fortunately, I was able to work it into my package about superintendents, and it was only further evidence of the trend I was pursuing. But the sinking feeling at missing the story isn't why I felt bad, nope. It was sending my editor an iChat about him. But yeah, luckily, he got over it and hasn't mentioned it since. But I'm still keeping him out of my iChat conversations from now on. ;) I know you’re both right, that in the long run this story is not a big deal. Fortunately, I was able to work it into my package about superintendents, and it was only further evidence of the trend I was pursuing.

But the sinking feeling at missing the story isn’t why I felt bad, nope. It was sending my editor an iChat about him. But yeah, luckily, he got over it and hasn’t mentioned it since. But I’m still keeping him out of my iChat conversations from now on. ;)

]]> by: Mindy McAdams http://merandawrites.com/2007/06/21/i-should-know-better-and-now-i-definitely-do/#comment-2433 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 03:49:07 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2007/06/21/i-should-know-better-and-now-i-definitely-do/#comment-2433 Great post, Meranda. It's so personal and so well told -- I can easily imagine how tied in knots you must have felt. Howard's right -- you will screw up again, because we all do. It's normal. And your editor knows that too. Great post, Meranda. It’s so personal and so well told — I can easily imagine how tied in knots you must have felt. Howard’s right — you will screw up again, because we all do. It’s normal. And your editor knows that too.

]]> by: Howard Owens http://merandawrites.com/2007/06/21/i-should-know-better-and-now-i-definitely-do/#comment-2429 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 01:29:13 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2007/06/21/i-should-know-better-and-now-i-definitely-do/#comment-2429 You're not the first reporter to miss a story. And it won't be the last story you miss. Do you job. Do it well. Be a good person to work with and supervise, and so long as you work for good editors, you'll have very little to worry about. There are worse things than missing story. If you're working with and for good people, there is all kinds of forgiveness. You’re not the first reporter to miss a story. And it won’t be the last story you miss.

Do you job. Do it well. Be a good person to work with and supervise, and so long as you work for good editors, you’ll have very little to worry about.

There are worse things than missing story.

If you’re working with and for good people, there is all kinds of forgiveness.

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