Slog - Comments on Lord Knows I'm Not the Guy to Ask About Ethical Journalism http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e This is going to be a longish, possibly confusing post, since I have to be very vague about the particulars. Apologies in advance. I have a friend...let's call her "Jen," who works as an editorial assistant at a Seattle publication--kind of a niche publication. Today, Jen got an e-mail from a writer at a much more prominent Seattle publication--let's call her "Diane." The e-mail, minus redactions, went exactly like this: [Jen,] I'd like to introduce myself. I'm in the market for story ideas, and was wondering if we could talk for a bit. I'd love to know what kinds of... Copyright 2008 Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:52:16 -0800 Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:40:40 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by matthew fisher wilder Dear [Stranger],

Hello! I read your blog regularly. I hope you enjoy the tannis root and rabbit stew! I made it myself! It's lovely! [CACOPHONOUS LAUGHTER REDACTED]

Sincerely,
[Matthew Fisher Wilder!]

]]> matthew fisher wilder http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737942 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737942 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:06:38 -0800 Comment by Josh Feit Paul Constant,

Great (weird) story. I loved the post. But please: Never ever use the word "journalistic."

]]> Josh Feit http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737943 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737943 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:07:16 -0800 Comment by Paul Constant Dear Josh,
What word should I use instead? Newsistic?
(heart,)
Paul Constant

]]> Paul Constant http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737948 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737948 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:12:23 -0800 Comment by monkey Truthinessistic?

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737950 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737950 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:17:10 -0800 Comment by phenics Let's play a game of "Who Has The Ethics Issues"?

]]> phenics http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737958 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737958 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:29:47 -0800 Comment by Lark Hawk Hmmm... the first email sounded to me like Diane was fishing for some newsroom gossip, or inside dirt on the publication itself -what writers were pissed at what editors or something - rather than trying to get ideas for stories from a competitor. Did Diane want Jen to bitch about Jen's boss so Diane could print a snarky story about the competition?

]]> Lark Hawk http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737966 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737966 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:43:51 -0800 Comment by courtlyn in Pennsyltucky Whoaaaa there. The only way this whole thing makes any sense is if this "Diane" was actually someone at "Jen"'s publication trying to see if she was giving away ideas, a la Jenna Rink in "13 Going on 30."
Anyone in the media knows that this not at all kosher. And it's beyond stealing, because she flat out asked. I'm baffled here.
I know I got wicked pissed when a reporter at the paper in the next town over ( who used to work at mine) wrote something awfully similar to my feature on k-9 police training (even using the same sources!) That girl, however, would know she was being a bitch and just wouldn't care. This Diane seems too clueless. SO methinks it's a ploy. Or hopes. Diane sucks.

]]> courtlyn in Pennsyltucky http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737971 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c737971 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:52:49 -0800 Comment by AlexW I agree with LarkHawk. It immediately seemed apparent to me that "Diane" was looking for dirt on Jen's publication - maybe a newsroom spat or scandal at her paper. The whole "if there's anything recent that's been frustrating you or a recent...issue that you think is interesting" line makes it obvious she's fishing for discontent.

]]> AlexW http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738008 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738008 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:38:29 -0800 Comment by Angry Andrew I’d love to know what kinds of issues are going on, if there’s anything recent that’s been frustrating you or a recent…issue that you think is interesting.

Diane has heard a rumor about Jen's paper and wants some information from Jen about it. "Apology greatly appreciated!" means that Jen was not "understanding [Diane] correctly." That's why Diane said she accepted the apology.

It's not that mysterious.

]]> Angry Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738037 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738037 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:05:46 -0800 Comment by Leeerker It seem like a good time to feed the paper lots of BS stories about the staff. Personally I would love to read a story in "Diane"'s paper about Dan trading blowjobs for salary with the interns. (Although, I guess it's too late now that the e-mails have been slogged)

]]> Leeerker http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738048 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738048 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:31:05 -0800 Comment by Boomer in NYC "Common people" indeed. On the plus side, you got some content out of the whole mess, and that's gotta count for something.

]]> Boomer in NYC http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738058 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738058 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:52:56 -0800 Comment by hillarrius Snork, snork, not sneeze, sneeze 'n cough (at the same time), tragic exhale. Ha ha ha. Ah ha ha ha.

Muh...fucking...tummy.

]]> hillarrius http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738071 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738071 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:12:17 -0800 Comment by dirge I think that it's pretty clear that [Diane] is a poorly programmed alien clone/robot. What kind of human could ever end the phrase "apology graciously accepted" with an exclamation point? I smell a linguistic uncanny valley.

]]> dirge http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738080 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738080 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:20:17 -0800 Comment by Paul Constant @ 6, 8, and 9: I hate to pull a George W. here, but the redacted information is kind of important: Jen's publication in no way competes with Diane's publication, and Jen's publication is so niche-y that even if it were going under...which I don't think it is...it wouldn't be news in Diane's publication, or gossip anywhere in the Seattle mediasphere.
Even if you are right, though, Diane behaved horrendously, and if she was trying to get information, she went about it in entirely the wrong way. It's just bad...newsisticism? Truthinessistic-ness? Something. Christ, I need a drink.

]]> Paul Constant http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738096 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738096 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:32:36 -0800 Comment by Sean I think it's pretty clear that [Diane] is trying to get into [Jen]'s pants using thinly veiled sexual innuendo ("anything ... frustrating you?"). [Jen] clearly recognizes this, but being the tease that she is, she plays dumb. Finally, [Jen] grows bored and forwards [Diane]'s email to all her friends to show what a big slut she is.

]]> Sean http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738107 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738107 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:49:59 -0800 Comment by Brodie @13
"[a] linguistic uncanny valley" is already a thing. It's called a Turing test.

]]> Brodie http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738132 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738132 Conflict of Interest Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:19:42 -0800 Comment by Geni Tell Joni Balter to write her own columns!

]]> Geni http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738231 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738231 Conflict of Interest Fri, 08 Jun 2007 07:50:44 -0800 Comment by Hank Lemme get this straight:
The guy who was "reporting" about how great the ACLU's medical pot bill was WHILE WORKING AT THE ACLU is now the arbiter of news ethics?
Awesome.

]]> Hank http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738257 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738257 Conflict of Interest Fri, 08 Jun 2007 08:26:13 -0800 Comment by Aislinn @ 15: Hilarious. And sad, because things like that actually happen, and the overall snarkiness of women toward other women is appalling. Unless I'm the one being snarky; then it's clearly justified.

]]> Aislinn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738282 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738282 Conflict of Interest Fri, 08 Jun 2007 08:44:05 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi The first e-mail sounded to me like an attempted poaching. I have no idea how it works in publishing, but if I wanted to snatch a talented whatever from another business, I think I would go about it that way. "Has anything been frustrating you?" "Would you like to talk about it?"

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738662 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c738662 Conflict of Interest Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:24:41 -0800 Comment by Bill MSN I NIIPET
MSN

]]> Bill http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c741395 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c741395 Conflict of Interest Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:40:21 -0800 Comment by Bill MSN I NIIPET
MSN

]]> Bill http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c741396 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/lord_knows_im_not_the_guy_to_ask_about_e#c741396 Conflict of Interest Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:40:40 -0800