Newsroom chatter distracting?

Yes, moments like that are the truly chilling revelations.

 

While we're at it, bring back the fart contests and the porno mags.

 

Some management types frown on porno mags. Even the SI swimsuit issue isn't entirely safe.

 

Wouldn't say that.

But a quiet newsroom is one that lacks passion.

Or personnel . . .

 

We're in the same boat and I fall on the same side.

I've been a victim of excessive blah-blah-blah and I've been called onto the carpet for excessive chatter. My booming voice doesn't help matters either. There's nothing worse than trying to write on the fly and being interrupted by inane chatter.

I adhere to the simple rule: if it needs to be asked and it's vital, ask. If not, STFU. A newsroom shouldn't be a tomb, but it shouldn't sound like a bar near Fenway on gameday.

 

If you're in on your day off watching the game and cheering on every play, then that's on you guys. That's just asking for trouble. But if those clowns couldn't just ask you to tone it down, they are cowards. Going to the boss? Really? That's absurd.
My sports dept starts to sound like a sports bar at times, but if it gets too crazy or I'm on deadline I certainly am not afraid to let someone know that it's not the time. I know chatter is part of the job, and I worked at a newspaper that was quieter than a morgue, but it's a fine line between normal chatter and loudly giving play-by-play on an insignificant game. If there is something real good going on we can get QUITE loud, but as long as it's just a brief thing like a game-ending play.

 

One of the best purchases I've ever made. I might look like Bartman, but it's worth it on deadline.

 

I wear my ear buds all the time when the distractions get too annoying. Past bosses have threatened to ban them because we can't communicate, and my current boss gets pissed when he tries to ask the guy with the noise-canceling headphones a question. That is pretty annoying too, but I would be so pissed if I couldn't listen to my music while I work.

 

One ear bud in, one out is how I roll...that way if someone is talking at me...I can hear enough of it to understand that they are actually directing their noise at me.

 

Same here. Either that or have the ear buds half-in. My previous boss outlawed headphones of any kind. I thought it was kinda dumb.

 

If we're busy and there's a lot of communication needed I do the one-bud thing, or I don't wear the mat all, but I've had them all on tonight. I think it's dumb, because the chatter is much more distracting to me than the music. I don't think people should wear ear-muff style or noise-canceling headphones in an office where there is a need to communicate.

 

Plus, ear buds are much more fun cause you can yank on the cord and they pop out of your ears to show you are annoyed at the person for talking to you...in that passive aggressive manner I love!