Cross country mom

Man, they are just flying at me lately....

OK, so here's the situation:

Local cross country team has like 10 runners on the team, only the top five count in team scoring.
A XC mom calls, pissed HER kid never gets his pic in the paper.
He consistantly runs as the 6th/7th runner, so he doesn't account in the scoring. He usually doesn't crack the Top 20 in races.
He's the best senior runner (as she pointed out to me) on the team and she believes that he should get some recognition for that (please, stop laughing, I had a hard enough time not when she said it).
Now, his team ran in the State finals, best finish was 73rd (way out of All-State honors) and her kid - again - didn't finish as one of the top five racers from his school...YET I have a cool pic that has him in it.

Now, the dilema...do I run the pic (which would satisfy the mom and make good art) or be an ass - ignore her kid - and run the pics I planned on running (the top finishers, all those pics would be fine also).

I hate when parents call you out and then you have to make this choice...cause I hate making it look like they "got me to do that" (even when it's not the case), cause the pic would be fine to run, but I can live without it.

 

Never let parents dictate the way you run your ship, be it directly (by cowering in fear and doing as you're told) or indirectly (by doing the opposite of what they want just to spite them). They have a perspective that centers around their small circle of family and friends. Your circle is the whole of your circulation area. Never forget that, and hope your bosses don't either.

 

Still and all, you run the best picture.

 

Use the best art. Though there's nothing wrong with saying Johnny Hasapainintheassmom finished 324th as part of the caption.

 

Since his performance was irrelevant you're probably better off going with a shot of someone who actually contributed to the scoring -- as long as it's a decent photo.

If the mom calls, you can tell her you have a nice shot of her son if she'd like to buy a copy.

 

If it's the best pic, and the kid's a senior, run the fucker and make her day.

 

Bingo.

 

But if there's a tie for best photo, all bets are off.

 

I make a point to get different kids in the paper, but also of recognizing the stars when they are at their best. The best ones are always going to get in because, of course I always end up with the best shots of them. When they have big performances even for their standards, I make a point of including them.

When I get a good shot another kid who isn't the star, I make a point of including that kid, too. I don't ever count or anything, but I stay somewhat aware of who's been in how many times.

Keep in mind I only cover a couple high schools, so paying that much attention might not be practical for you.

 

Besides, he works so hard. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

Just because the mom is a twat doesn't mean the kid should suffer for it. Don't let your personal feelings sway this decision.

Sure, if you run it, she'll think it's because of that conversation. But are you going to lose sleep because of that when you know the real reason it ran (it was the best art)? Just insert the picture, stand up, say, "That's no sweat off my sack" and call it a night.

But really, if the kid didn't do dick, I don't think I'd run it anyway. That picture would have to be fucking phenomenal.