One project that I had worked on quite a bit, but had to give up, was a story on a nonprofit organization that had just started providing job training for former prison inmates in New York.
I didn’t want to give it up, though, so I didn’t really. I kept corresponding with my contact, and though I could not put together a convergence project (i.e., a story with video and slideshow and audio to accompany it), I ended up with a decent print story with a few photos. That story was just posted online today.
And the best part about this story was working with my contact. She was amazingly cooperative—not a common experience for a journalist—and even went so far as to stay up late just to find me an official document stating New York’s recidivism rate. I have an e-mail from this lady date-stamped at 11:26 at night, after she was already worn out after a full day at various New York prisons and looking forward to the Memorial Day weekend. I would never have asked her to do that, but she went the extra mile on her own initiative to make sure I had the information I’d need.
That’s why I couldn’t let this story go. I had to see it through.
Comments
I'll stop now...
Also, I haven't been using Facebook for close to two months (I know, what is this world coming to, right?), so if she adds me as a friend to stalk me, it may be a while before I add her back. I *might* get on this weekend, but no promises on that... I don't mind being stalked by non-creepy people, but it's not really stalking if she has permission from the person she is stalking to stalk said person, is it?
Oh, do you remember my pen-pal by any chance? She got married last week. I'm going to (finally) send her a little congrats card today or tomorrow. We're probably going to renew our old correspondence by snail mail soon.
I remember mention of your pen-pal. I don't particularly remember anything beyond that she is from MN... Did she marry anyone I know? :P
I sincerely doubt you know her husband. (That's just sooo weird to say/type!) He's from New York. They met while she was nannying there, a couple years ago I think.
It'll be even weirder when we start talking about our own spouses! Scary thought...*shudder*
Gah, don't even say that. I feel so much disconnect with my friends already when they start talking about their fiances/husbands. I haven't a thing to say in those conversations, unfortunately. :P
Ha, yeah, I just start talking about my beautiful trombones when guys start talking about their girlfriends, or girls about their boyfriends. Then they look at me funny...I don't understand...
Haha! You rascal (even with your litte halo).