Possibly dealing with a pissed off principal

[forever_town]

One of my intern reporters wrote a story about gang violence in our county and interviewed two students from a local high school. The parents of each kid gave their kid permission to talk to my intern for the story and we end up running a story on the front of our free section and feature it on our Web site.

Anyway, I got a call today from the intern that the principal apparently called the two students into his office and was upset that they talked to the reporter intern. He threatened to write a letter to the big J-school where that student intern is attending.

Before this guy calls and decides to go ape**** on me, how do I (diplomatically) tell him to get his head out of the ****ing sand and deal with the REAL problem that he doesn't seem to be facing?

I have a feeling I'll be pulling out the "I stand behind the accuracy of this story and I do not apologize for publishing it" card, but is there something I can keep in mind before I have to deal with him?

 

[Flash]

That the parents gave the kids permission ... ipso facto, none of his business.

 

[ADifferentOkie]

Have a snappy comeback if he says, "I'M A MAN! I'M 40! COME AFTER ME!"

 

[txsportsscribe]

mr. principal is overstepping his boundaries

 

[zeke12]

Upper deck him.

 

[Jim Tom Pinch]

Upper deck him.

That's never a bad response.

 

[sportschick]

Comet bomb, boys, Comet bomb.

Principal can ***** all he wants, but if the kids' parents said they could talk there's not much he can do.

Hell even in the parents didn't give permission there's not a damned thing he can do unless your reporter talked to them on school grounds.

 

[slappy4428]

That the parents gave the kids permission ... ipso facto, none of his business.

Well, Mr. Principal. Please call the journalism school. I'm sure the powers that be would enjoy the fact that one of their students wrote a great story and pissed off an officious little puke like yourself.
Now, is there anything else?

 

[forever_town]

Have a snappy comeback if he says, "I'M A MAN! I'M 40! COME AFTER ME!"

I would make my comeback in writing ... by penning a column in which I describe his response as putting his head in the sand instead of dealing with the REAL problem.

 

[Walter Burns]

One of my intern reporters wrote a story about gang violence in our county and interviewed two students from a local high school. The parents of each kid gave their kid permission to talk to my intern for the story and we end up running a story on the front of our free section and feature it on our Web site.

Anyway, I got a call today from the intern that the principal apparently called the two students into his office and was upset that they talked to the reporter intern. He threatened to write a letter to the big J-school where that student intern is attending.

Before this guy calls and decides to go ape**** on me, how do I (diplomatically) tell him to get his head out of the ****ing sand and deal with the REAL problem that he doesn't seem to be facing?

I have a feeling I'll be pulling out the "I stand behind the accuracy of this story and I do not apologize for publishing it" card, but is there something I can keep in mind before I have to deal with him?

Call the principal on it. Tell him to write his letter, and you'll write one, too. Mention that journalism's a profession where going to jail to protect a source is a badge of honor, so he probably isn't going to get the reaction he hopes for or expects.
Oh, and be sure the principal -- an educator by trade -- knows what kind of lesson he's teaching this intern.
Make sure the intern knows you'll go to the mat for him. That kind of loyalty can't be bought. And make sure the intern learns the lesson in all this. Sometimes, that kind of criticism can be the best praise.

 

[Cosmo]

Upper deck him.

Well played. Failing that, stick your **** in his ear.

 

[jakewriter82]

Put him on blast. That seems to work for everything these days.

 

[The Last Boy Scout]

Oooooh, he's gonna write a letter to the professor and tattle?!?!? I just soiled myself in fear, and I'm not even involved.

Seriously, any J-school professor worth a **** will tell this clown to **** off for you, Town.

 

[In Cold Blood]

let him call the j-school. if the professors there are anything like the journalism professors i've had, they'll put him in his place quick, fast, and in a hurry.

 

[Cadet]

The principal is being a bully. Remind him of that, and ask if his district has a no-tolerance policy regarding bullying.

You will need to tell the intern he/she did nothing wrong, and in fact did everything right by getting parent permission to interview a minor on a touchy topic. You may need to tell the intern this once or twice. Remind the intern about the "badge of honor" stuff, too. And that the principal's phone call, if it happens, won't affect the intern's school or work standing. You have to say these things - don't just assume the intern knows.

 

[boots]

One of my intern reporters wrote a story about gang violence in our county and interviewed two students from a local high school. The parents of each kid gave their kid permission to talk to my intern for the story and we end up running a story on the front of our free section and feature it on our Web site.

Anyway, I got a call today from the intern that the principal apparently called the two students into his office and was upset that they talked to the reporter intern. He threatened to write a letter to the big J-school where that student intern is attending.

Before this guy calls and decides to go ape**** on me, how do I (diplomatically) tell him to get his head out of the ****ing sand and deal with the REAL problem that he doesn't seem to be facing?

I have a feeling I'll be pulling out the "I stand behind the accuracy of this story and I do not apologize for publishing it" card, but is there something I can keep in mind before I have to deal with him?

This ends all the bull**** here. Tell him to write the letter. Tell him that you're going to write a letter to the school board, councilman, and mayor, about his actions in this regard.
More attention to this gang problem is the last thing this ass clown wants.

 

[Tom Petty]

The principal is being a bully. Remind him of that, and ask if his district has a no-tolerance policy regarding bullying.

that's pretty damned solid ... then tell him to **** himself.

 

[slappy4428]

Not a problem, Mr. Principal. Oh, and I'll be happy to also explain the situation to Mr. Superintendent with copies to the Mr and Mrs. School Board Members about your threat, on how you've threatened a 22-year-old for interviewing some 17-year-old students, with their parents' permission, about the problems at your school.

Now, can I get you the j-school's address?

 

[wickedwritah]

As others have said, let him write a letter to the editor, and let his words hang him. You need only to gently guide him along, since he seems like he can finish it off easily enough.

 

[forever_town]

Thanks for all the help, guys.

I was pretty sure the intern and I were in the right, but I didn't want to feel unprepared if the guy decided to go ape**** on me. Now that I've read the responses to this thread, I'm almost hoping he does contact me so I can put him in his place.

I believe I've already told my intern that she did everything right. I'll make absolutely sure she knows it and knows I've got her back. I'll also tell her that pissing this guy off is a good thing along the lines of a journalist going to jail to protect a source being a badge of honor.