Bad moves and brass tacks

It was early in the newsroom.  The “daysiders” as they’re called (those who work 8:30 a.m. to after the 5 or 6 p.m. newscast) still hadn’t arrived.  It was somewhere between the end of the morning show and the beginning of what traditional scheduling deems the “regular workday.”  My mind was foggy.  It had been a rough night of storms in the Valley, I didn’t get much sleep.  In an effort to stay moving (because my desk was looking like a comfy place for a brief and unexpected nap) I got up to get my mail.

I walked over to my little mail cubby, expecting it to be empty.  Oh joy!  My mental fog lifted a bit.  I love letters, and I had gotten one!  I snatched a dirty envelope out and began the trek back to my desk.  I envisioned an elementary school student carefully drafting the letter with her doting teacher looking on.  Innocence and sweet youthful verbiage sealed with a stamp.  I sat down to examine who may have taken the time to send actual written correspondence.  Oh.  Oh no.  Uh-oh.  The image of my little writer was replaced with something much more sinister.

The return address was a state prison.  I received a letter from an inmate.  It’s ok, I told myself.  It’s probably just a nice letter from a viewer who happens to be behind bars.  No biggie.  I unfolded the two pages of handwritten scrawl.  I felt my head get faint as my eyes took in the words:  ”…when I get out, I will find you and make you sorry we ever met.  You will pay…”  I swallowed.  Blinked.  Checked the name.  Did a Google search.  I had never met this person.  I never interviewed him.  In fact, I wasn’t even sure he had ever made the news.  Yet, he felt it necessary to contact me.  I suddenly felt very vulnerable.

I got two more letters from the aforementioned prisoner.  I learned how to drive with one eye on the road in front of me, and the other checking the rearview mirror.  I cried.

Those weren’t the only crazy forms of correspondence I got while anchoring.  I received emails.  Each day for a few months, I got a morning email from the same viewer who took it upon himself to write an eloquent rap song about the morning show, among other things.

Then, there’s the real face to face contact.  Being in the field as a reporter is a blast.  You and a photojournalist racing around, swapping old stories and making new memories.  It was a smart move, whoever decided to put a photog with a reporter.  The buddy system works.  Especially when you meet “P.J.” (name has been changed) from (a Valley area) for the first time, in person:

P.J: WOW!  It’s really you!  You don’t just live in my TV!

Me: (weighing whether to explain to him that no, I don’t in fact, just live in *his* TV… I like to split my time evenly among all morning viewers.)  Yes!  Hi!  It’s so nice to meet you (hand shake)…

P.J: It’s P.J.  And you’re Jenn.  (Yep. I am.  P.J. was grasping my hand a little too long and inching closer, bending his face down into my personal space) Well, I don’t care what they say, you’re a lot prettier in person. (He winks.  I wince.)

Me: Oh, that’s really very sweet of you.  It’s the make up.  (Seriously, make up does wonders.  Trust me.  I mean it.  For those of you who have actually seen me “outside of your TVs” and on my off-days, you know what I’m talking about.)  So, P.J., you, um, obviously watch the morning show.  Thank you!  Must be up early to see it…

P.J: (interrupting me) Oh, I don’t miss it.  You’ve got a face that would make anyone get up, early.  Yep!  Man!  It’s SO GOOD TO MEET YOU!  (He was breaking out in a bit of a sweat.  It was February and not that warm.)  What are you doing in (certain part of the Valley)?  Do you live here?  I see you from time to time in (a certain store) and I’ve always thought, she’d be the type of woman I would want to date.  Do you have a boyfriend?  You must be married.  Some lucky (expletive) probably snatched you up…

Ok.  Obviously not everyone is a P.J.  And it really is fun to meet viewers!  It’s been one of the biggest joys of my career.  But, there are just some things that cause concern.  I call them “bad moves.”  Writing suggestive rap songs: Bad move.  Being too forward: Bad move.  Writing a death threat?  Beyond bad.

So, let’s get down to the “brass tacks” of encountering public figures.

Public figures realize the importance of meeting people.  They need what you offer: whether that’s your vote, your money, your viewership.

Generally, public figures are nice.  Everyone has a heart.  Some are just warmer than others.  A public figure will usually engage you in some form of surface conversation.  There is a finesse to this part of your encounter.  Obviously, it’s great to start a conversation!  Ask questions, keep it professional.  Being involved in a conversation does not necessarily mean you can cross the line from business to personal.  Use common sense and recognize the person has unseen boundaries.  I understand: you see them more often than they see you.  To you, a public figure may seem like familiar territory.  It does not give you a hall pass to talk about personal issues (ie: weight, money, family, relationships, love life, etc).  Those topics can come later, if your public figure senses you may have a mutual rapport and trust.

Avoid major sarcasm.  To you, your peers, or your family, your humor may be the best thing since Comedy Central.  However, you want to give your public officials a sense of approachability.  You’re cool.  You’re smart.  You’re great to be around.  You don’t want to turn them off with remarks such as “some lucky — probably snatched you up.”  Bad move, dude.

Avoid awkward circumstances, such as talking about other public people with your subject.  I know everyone has favorites.  For example, some snippets of real conversations I’ve had with viewers:

Viewer 1: “I like (so and so on this channel) but, wow – (that person) has the most annoying laugh.  But, the others seem ok.  Do you like them?  Are they nice?  (This person) seems annoying…Do you guys hang out?”

Viewer 2: “(news anchor) seems like such a (again, with the expletive).  Oh, I hope you don’t know her…”

Actually, chances are, I do.  Entertainment and news are very small worlds.  Don’t put your public figure in the awkward position of having to maneuver through a dicey conversation.  As Anchorman Ron Burgundy so eloquently put it, “You stay classy, San Diego…”  Well, there’s more to that quote.  But the important message: keep it classy.

One more thing.  Did you ever visit a museum when you were little, and your parents, teacher, etc. told you not to touch the paintings or the statues?  Well, that’s a good rule to live by.  I’m not saying every public figure is a work of art.  I’m not saying a handshake is out of the question.  Just remember, this is the first time a public figure may have the honor of meeting you.  Do you hug everyone you meet for the first time?  Unless you’re Tommy Boy meeting his step-brother, “Brother’s don’t shake hands, brothers gotta hug!” – No.  Do you brush a strand of hair from their face?  I tend to think of Jonah Hill‘s character in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”  The clips of him start at 1:18.  Do the opposite.

Simple advice to live by…

Plus, it will also keep you from becoming a “P.J.” in a future blog entry.

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