One Man, Two Jobs

Here's a case proving why one man should not be sent to do two jobs:

Tonight, I was reporter/photographer at an athletic banquet. That means I had to take notes, find colour, interview winners and coaches, etc. You know, the reporter's job.

However, after winning awards, the recipients were escorted to another hall in the same building to have photos professionally taken for the school.

The two biggest winners were named back-to-back to end the ceremonies. So I immediately hustle to the other hall to get what needed to be one shot of the two major winners together with awards in hand.

Winner 1 has already been in for a "pro photo" for the school's site. Winner 2 is drunk. Both have given their awards to coaches to "be put away untill Monday when they can pick them up."

I interview Winner 2 as best we could and say, "Stay put, I need one photo with you and Winner 1."

I find Winner 1, in the parking lot with coat on ready to head downtown and party. We come inside and Winner 2 is now missing, presumably gone downtown to party.

Winner 1 is getting pissy, so I conduct an interview and scrap the photo because a) they aren't together b) don't have trophies, etc and c) deadline is looming.

Now, if a photog had been there, he/she would have cornered both winners upon their arrival in the "photog room" and got them done and uploaded by the time I wrote the story.

Does this kind of stuff happen anywhere else?! I was so frustrated!

 

You're Canadian. Get used to it. I'm surprised that they don't have us delivering the papers too.

And, yes, having to balance photography and reporting can be challenging.

 

Oh, hey, I know it's part of the gig - sometimes. But there are times I just think "Why or how can this happen at a daily covering a pretty big event?"

My SE wasn't pissed. I explained the situation. He understood. And laughed.

As for delivering the papers; I did that at my first job. It was a weekly and Tuesday was my only guaranteed day off, it was also our publication day. I used the company van to drop off the papers for delivery. They paid me extra money to do so.