What's the dumbest story you ever had to cover?

[micropolitan guy]

I covered an event where Ronald McDonald came to a classroom as an prize in a reading contest, or something similar. I was told that Ronald was a local guy who volunteers for such events. When I started interviewing him, he wouldn't break character. After a couple of questions and rote corporate answers, I think he saw my frustration as I gave up and walked away.

"What's Donald Trump really like?"

 

[dixiehack]

Not a lot of women in McDonaldland ... what gives? Birdie the Early Bird is the only female. Some weird incel vibes.

The Smurfette Principle - TV Tropes

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

The Smurfette Principle - TV Tropes

Now singing The Smurfette Principle to the tune of Pleasure Principle so thanks I guess?

 

[Jake from State Farm]

After 9/11 I walked past one of our reporters on the phone: "Sir this is The Detroit News I'm doing a story on preparations in the wake of 9-11 and I was wondering if you had anyone at the big tire

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

The Smurfette Principle - TV Tropes

The Daisy Duke Principle is the same thing, but that term is already taken for something else.

 

[JBHawkEye]

I was assigned a story at my first job to interview a local rock band who had shot a music video with hopes of getting it on MTV (this was the late 80s, when it still played videos). The band seemed kind of sketchy, and they wouldn't tell me who shot the video, saying, "It was some friends of ours who want to get into the video business." There were a lot of red flags to it, but the editor said to write it anyway.

So I write the story (I did check with a regional music company and they did have a recording deal). Editor looks at it and says it's fine, and sends it to the composing room which was right down the hall (back in the cut-and-paste days). About 10 minutes after he sends it, I'm out in the hallway and I hear one of the women in the composing room say, "Oh my God...." and she starts laughing. She comes out and sees me, and she holds up the story that had just printed out. She says, "Did you write this? My husband was the one who filmed their video (he was a professional videographer), and he said it's absolutely the worst thing he's ever done, because these guys were stoned out of their minds and didn't know what the hell they were doing. And the check they wrote him bounced."

We held the story, and the next day she brought in the videotape with some of what her husband shot. It was awful, and we killed the story. We never heard from the band again.

 

[dixiehack]

JB! Don’t be a stranger brother.

 

[Machine Head]

I was assigned a story at my first job to interview a local rock band who had shot a music video with hopes of getting it on MTV (this was the late 80s, when it still played videos). The band seemed kind of sketchy, and they wouldn't tell me who shot the video, saying, "It was some friends of ours who want to get into the video business." There were a lot of red flags to it, but the editor said to write it anyway.

So I write the story (I did check with a regional music company and they did have a recording deal). Editor looks at it and says it's fine, and sends it to the composing room which was right down the hall (back in the cut-and-paste days). About 10 minutes after he sends it, I'm out in the hallway and I hear one of the women in the composing room say, "Oh my God...." and she starts laughing. She comes out and sees me, and she holds up the story that had just printed out. She says, "Did you write this? My husband was the one who filmed their video (he was a professional videographer), and he said it's absolutely the worst thing he's ever done, because these guys were stoned out of their minds and didn't know what the hell they were doing. And the check they wrote him bounced."

We held the story, and the next day she brought in the videotape with some of what her husband shot. It was awful, and we killed the story. We never heard from the band again.

Was the band Journey and the song Some Day Love Will Find You / Separate Ways or what ever the **** it's called?

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Was the band Journey and the song Some Day Love Will Find You / Separate Ways or what ever the **** it's called?

NOT OK!!!!!!

 

[justgladtobehere]

Was the band Journey and the song Some Day Love Will Find You / Separate Ways or what ever the **** it's called?

It was Slipknot.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Was the band Journey and the song Some Day Love Will Find You / Separate Ways or what ever the **** it's called?

I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[Machine Head]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Last night I went to see the band the son of one of my friends plays in, had a couple beers and that was the result.

Here ends your mh magic decoder ring lesson of the day.

 

[SportsGuyBCK]

I was assigned a story at my first job to interview a local rock band who had shot a music video with hopes of getting it on MTV (this was the late 80s, when it still played videos). The band seemed kind of sketchy, and they wouldn't tell me who shot the video, saying, "It was some friends of ours who want to get into the video business." There were a lot of red flags to it, but the editor said to write it anyway.

So I write the story (I did check with a regional music company and they did have a recording deal). Editor looks at it and says it's fine, and sends it to the composing room which was right down the hall (back in the cut-and-paste days). About 10 minutes after he sends it, I'm out in the hallway and I hear one of the women in the composing room say, "Oh my God...." and she starts laughing. She comes out and sees me, and she holds up the story that had just printed out. She says, "Did you write this? My husband was the one who filmed their video (he was a professional videographer), and he said it's absolutely the worst thing he's ever done, because these guys were stoned out of their minds and didn't know what the hell they were doing. And the check they wrote him bounced."

We held the story, and the next day she brought in the videotape with some of what her husband shot. It was awful, and we killed the story. We never heard from the band again.

Hubby ought to post that video on YouTube, and monetize it ... it'd probably draw more views than "Gangnam Style" ...

 

[MisterCreosote]

I remember covering an employees’ wing-eating contest at a local business one summer.

 

[Machine Head]

It was Slipknot.

"The Knot" is a gap in my kollege of musical knowledge (ht Kay Kyser) so I went down a brief rabbit hole to educate myself.

Oh my, what the kids do these days.

I still say Journey.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

A rodeo so small that the entry fee for each event was $10. The guy running it offered to let me enter bull riding “because it would be a good write-up.” I’d seen Tuesday night jackpots with better payouts.

Why was I there? The ME - who had lived in town for like a year - was convinced rodeo was a big deal and we should cover all of them in our coverage area. Since I grew up around rodeo, I was on the beat.

 

[HanSenSE]

Once at the Podunk weekly, the ciity's recreation director talked me into going out to the finals of their horseshoes tournament. It was a slow week, the start of football practice was a week or two away, the American Legion season was over, we were tired of slow pitch so what the hell, right? Except only one of the finalists showed up, So we took a couple of photos and I came up with something.

Unfortunately, the winner was one of those guys who once or twice a year would call with this story I thought I should do. Usually something like a school reunion. Uh, no. I don't even make it through mine sober.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

" There were a lot of red flags to it, but the editor said to write it anyway.

This could be its own stand alone topic. What stories did you know were a waste of time but the editor said "do it" anyways?

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I had to write a story about a guy who claimed he was bitten by an Octopus ... In the OHIO River.

Had to cover an old man's birthday party - at the Western Pancake House. He was 99 and the party was thrown by his former students. One lady I interviewed - I asked her why they were doing this - said something akin to the because they grew up in the 50s and it was wonderful. I wanted to punch her.

Once had to go the state golf association press conference an hour away for a non-story presser. I got there and I was THE only media member in attendance.
My lede ... "What if you held a press conference and the press didn't attend? ..."

 

[swingline]

I remember covering an employees' wing-eating contest at a local business one summer.

Hot stuff!