Thursday, August 10, 2006
Worker's Compensation
An announcement goes over the p.a. system. Typing ceases, headphones are taken off, and like zombies in a horror movie, everyone raises from their seats. Then... a mad dash out of the newsroom.There's pizza in the kitchen.
For those in the newsroom, the occurrence of major events almost immediately translates into longer hours, more responsibilities and watching enough CNN to cause acute myopia. And how are we compensated?
Unvaringly, without fail, always -- with food.
I got free breakfast for coming in early for Pope Watch 2005. Sammiches were provided for weeks on end during special coverage for Hurricane Katrina. And today, as news broke of a failed transatlantic terror plot, the management treated us all to Papa John's pizza.
The funny part is that nourishment seems to keep everyone happy. I have to stay until midnight? Fine. I have to produce three pieces for the show instead of the usual one? Okay. Just feed me, and I'll do whatever you want.
I guess it doesn't take much to keep a journalist content.
continue...
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Amen to that one.
It's so bad, I have scouts in my old office and in the main newsroom. Whenever they see food -cookies, bread, sandwiches, anything - I get an e-mail. Or, in the case of cake, I get a call.
Oooooh, I'm late as hell, but this was the case at LSU during the hurricanes. Mainly the radio station housed WWL and they fed us like kings. They sent out Prod. Asst. to the surrounding restaruants for menus and let 'em get what they wanted. But if you talkn' bout LSU Student Media....well let's just say, all we do is call Dominoes near campus and they ask us what time the delivery needs to be made. LOL!