Quote of the week
Friday, Apr 1, 2005 - Posted by Rich Miller
I’ve just about come to the conclusion that the best training for journalists would be to require them to spend a semester or a summer working at McDonald’s or Wal-Mart, and requiring them to actually survive on what they earn there, including the paying of rent, groceries and health care.
Exactly.
UPDATE: Notice, he’s talking about those in training, not current journos. Please read before you gripe.
- So-Called Austin Mayor - Friday, Apr 1, 05 @ 11:42 pm:
That would be damn good training for lawyers and doctors too.
- Anonymous - Saturday, Apr 2, 05 @ 12:13 am:
We (the public) get the journalism we deserve.
- Anonymous - Saturday, Apr 2, 05 @ 1:08 am:
“We (the public) get the journalism we deserve.”
Or the McJournalism, as the case may be.
- DownLeft - Saturday, Apr 2, 05 @ 3:37 am:
Don’t forget politicians. It would be great training for them as well.
- Anonymous - Saturday, Apr 2, 05 @ 8:09 am:
I had to work at the Centennial Bldg. for $400/month - same thing. The employees at McDonalds dress better.
- Anonymous - Saturday, Apr 2, 05 @ 9:20 am:
Give me a friggin’ break. Most of us did work at McDonalds. Hell, most of us aren’t making much more now than we did when worked at McDonalds. That statement would work for about any profession.
- Anonymous - Saturday, Apr 2, 05 @ 11:54 am:
9:20, give ME a friggin’ break.
You are out of touch. Maybe you should go BACK to McDonalds for a while.
- Anonymous - Sunday, Apr 3, 05 @ 1:05 pm:
I’m with 9:20 on this one. Not all journalists are starving, but I don’t think I’m alone in having waited tables while working as a reporter just to make ends meet.
And I think people are more likely to talk about the Michael Jackson trial than the social security debate, no matter how much space/time/effort papers devote to the “important” stuff. Whoever doesn’t think so has got to be somewhat of an elitist himself.
- Bill Dennis - Sunday, Apr 3, 05 @ 4:15 pm:
I’m an elitist? Damn! Why didn’t someone tell me! Here I am working my third shift job, writing columns for two small non-daily newspapers (competing with the chain-owned daily) and using my blog to people interested in local government, local crime and local issues … and no one bothered to inform me that all I am is a pointy-headed intellectual.
Shouldn’t I be making more money if I’m an elitist?