Self-loathing Journalists

[The Life]

I let a pretty egregious error slip into copy this week and have felt down about it since. It was caught during hard-copy edits, so didn't get into the pub that way. But it doesn't take away the sting of missing something so big. None of my friends understand why one mistake eats at me so much.

Got me wondering, do other professions have the same kind of self-loathing or are my friends just slackers.

 

[PeteyPirate]

I do not think that means what you think it means.

 

[Moderator1]

Loathing is a little strong but if you give a **** about your work, yeah, it bothers you.

 

[SF_Express]

It was caught during hard-copy edits, so didn't get into the pub that way.

Newspapers have been doing things by a system for a long time -- some here would argue a system that's being eroded drastically -- and when the presses start, "didn't get in the pub that way" is the bottom line.

If you're any good, it's not unusual that this bothers you, but believe me, I've had things go all the way to the doorstep in my life. You take this as a reminder and get better because of it.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I once dented the side of a rental car when I was told I spelled Dwyane Wade's name wrong for the second day in a row.

 

[The Life]

I once dented the side of a rental car when I was told I spelled Dwyane Wade's name wrong for the second day in a row.

I'm fairly certain Wade's mom has spelled his first name wrong.

 

[forever_town]

If you're any good at writing, any little mistake should bother you to some extent. The day you stop caring about doing your best is the day you should give up writing.

Having said that, it got caught before it went to press, right? In the end, that's probably more important than the fact you made the mistake in the first place.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I once dented the side of a rental car when I was told I spelled Dwyane Wade's name wrong for the second day in a row.

I'm fairly certain Wade's mom has spelled his first name wrong.

Yeah, but I did it once, was told I did it by the desk and then did it again. That really ****ing pissed me off (at myself).

 

[SixToe]

Making the apology to someone for spelling their name incorrectly is more gut-wrenching to me than anything.

It just reeks of your failure to do your job correctly. The simple task of double-checking the spelling is not difficult to perform.

f_t is right. When you quit caring, look for another job.

 

[goalmouth]

I'd be more concerned that I mis-used the term 'self-loathing'.

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

Making the apology to someone for spelling their name incorrectly is more gut-wrenching to me than anything.

It just reeks of your failure to do your job correctly. The simple task of double-checking the spelling is not difficult to perform.

f_t is right. When you quit caring, look for another job.

WFW.

 

[Starman]

I got chewed out big-time by some flunkies around the office when I docked myself a day's pay for a fairly stupid and egregious error that nobody else had even noticed. Mostly by ****ers who a) were way below me on the food chain anyway, and b) make more mistakes in three days than I make in three years.

Fine. So be it. Justice begins at home.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

I ****ed up the spelling of a city in a headline last week. Two years ago, I'd have cared. A lot. Now? Not so much. **** happens — especially when I and only one other (non-sports person to the nth degree) employee read the page because we're so grossly understaffed.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

I really hate to say it, but I'm to the point I agree with Pete. No offense, Pete. But with our continuously dwindling staff, I just do the best I can and move on. I used to lose sleep over the smallest things, but not anymore. Of course, if I have a busted hed or something, I'll be pissed, but I'm not going to dwell on it unless it starts happening regularly.

 

[SixToe]

Amending my earlier statement, I'd agree with Pete and Deeds about the small things when you're understaffed and stretched to the max.

 

[mustangj17]

I once dented the side of a rental car when I was told I spelled Dwyane Wade's name wrong for the second day in a row.

I'm fairly certain Wade's mom has spelled his first name wrong.

I'm pretty sure she only spelled it wrong once, and has been stuck with it ever since.

 

[J-School Blue]

The thing that scares me the most about how the online movement is being carried out in most newsrooms is the absolute erosion of copy editing. And whenever I'd bring up that I was uncomfortable posting my own stuff straight to the web without even another pair of eyes on it after I'd rabbited it out, I always felt my concerns were dismissed. Or I was told it was on me to get it right the first time (which...yeah, I agree the ultimate responsibility for screw-ups rests with the reporter. But by that logic, why have we had editors and copy desks since time began?)

In any case, I wouldn't call it self-loathing but your own should definitely bother you if you are about doing quality work of any sort. I wasn't a serial screw-up, but there were plenty of times the copy desk absolutely saved my ass. I think any reporter who's written on deadline has had that experience.

 

[zebracoy]

How about when you make a minor error and are belittled about it to your face because it's your editor's pride and joy?

At least its you being overly hard on yourself than someone else.

 

[Some Guy]

I once dented the side of a rental car when I was told I spelled Dwyane Wade's name wrong for the second day in a row.

W-A-D-E

How ****ing hard is that?

 

[write then drink]

The thing that scares me the most about how the online movement is being carried out in most newsrooms is the absolute erosion of copy editing.

it is deeply, deeply disturbing