for the journalism inclined? | un: royals_fan | text

[apricitous]

Hello all.

I've been settling in, the same as I'm sure many of you have, but while I've taken a position to pay the bills, I've noticed a distinct lack of my previous vocation:

I was a reporter, and while I won't say I was the best one in the business where I come from, I would say that I truly believe in the power and importance of the free press. Now, I'm currently down in Wyver at the moment, but I do have an associate, the real head of this operation, who's been working on this problem from up in Olympia.

Neither of us have necessarily worked in the management of a publication before, so we're happy to sit back a little if someone with the experience would like to step forward, but we're also looking for people who are interested in working in journalism from any direction: bloggers, photographers, or the more investigation inclined.

You can ping me here and we can discuss it or we can meet up somewhere in the city as is easiest for you. I'm pretty mobile and more than flexible.

Thank you.

Comments

[apricitous]

That's a very interesting username.

Also do you have any experience?

It's not a 'no' if you don't, I'm just curious.

[vorrutyer]

Experience? No, not as such. I'm quite certain that I'm chock-full of native talent, though. Ooh, does gossip count as experience with journalism? It does, right?

[apricitous]

It does. I'm sure we've got room for a gossip column, if that's your area of interest.

[vorrutyer]

What - really? You're not above that? You, a serious journalist?

[apricitous]

The news is what's important to people.

Gossip is important to plenty of people.

Who am I to judge?

I wouldn't publish anything irresponsible and I don't find any value in 'punching down', as it were. But seriousness about journalism is about integrity, not specific topics.

[vorrutyer]

Me oh my. And is your silent partner as committed to virtue and open-mindedness as you are? Or are you just being kind to me because I'm a royal myself?

[apricitous]

I had no idea of any 'royalness' before you just mentioned it, and it doesn't matter if you are.

And if my partner has an issue with my standards, I should hope it's something he would raise with me personally. He seems like a good man, so I think he would.

[vorrutyer]

No? Aren't you a fan of royals?

And I must ask - why is your partner silent?

[apricitous]

Well, the baseball team, certainly. I can't say I've ever met any other royalty to my knowledge.

And he isn't silent, really. I just decided to make a public posting and I didn't speak to him about whether he wanted his name put out there yet, so I haven't mentioned it as a matter of courtesy. He did mention it to me, after all.

[vorrutyer]

Well, if it's any consolation, I'm quite the sportsman myself - I certanly know my way around balls.

[ nyuk nyuk nyuk. ]

Hmm...What sort of salary are we talking for this work?

[apricitous]

Given that I certainly don't have the funds to throw around a bunch of paychecks, it's going to be communal work, communal pay.

Whatever we can make by selling papers, after production costs, gets split among the writers evenly.

[vorrutyer]

But that seems unfair! I imagine far more people would be reading for salacious gossip than, oh, cutting investigative reporting on things that depress them, like wars or conspiracies or how the government is out to get them.

[apricitous]

If we all got paid what we imagine our work is worth, the world would be a much different place.

It's the best, and the most fair, thing I was able to come up with given I haven't been made aware of any starting capital and I don't have any of my own.

[vorrutyer]

Well, also, if everything operated under lines of "fairness," the world would be a much different place. Eurgh, thoughts of equity and equal division of proceeds send a shudder down my autocratic little spine.

[apricitous]

Now, do you mean 'fairness' or fairness? The two are quite a bit different.

No one's forcing you to do it. But it's the best I can do.

[vorrutyer]

Well, yes. Because there's no such thing as fairness, only "fairness."

[apricitous]

Fairness is possible. It's a lot more possible on a small scale, but it IS possible. I won't argue that historically, 'fairness' is a lot more common, because it is.

Hence feeling the need for a fourth estate.

[vorrutyer]

You know, back during the Time of Isolation, the Barrayaran Emperors ensured that proles weren't taught to read just so they wouldn't get any ideas from muckrakers like you...Ah, the good old days.

[apricitous]

And how well did that work out for them?

I don't know, I'm actually curious.

Either way, imagine how much potential was lost from their fear. 'Old', sure, but I doubt they were 'good'.

[vorrutyer]

Well, it kept them in power. Scarcely a rebellion to challenge them, and the rebellions that did arise were put down quick. Are there any other benchmarks for success...?

[apricitous]

Are there?

I'm curious what you think.

[vorrutyer]

[ Hah. Byerly can't help but smile just a bit at that response. Seems like this fellow isn't the sort who can be misled and turned around. ]

Oh, don't ask me. That seems like a hard question, and as a rule I try to avoid thinking too much about things. That's how you get wrinkles. Aren't you afraid of getting wrinkles?

[apricitous]

But I -am- asking you.

You, who brought up the topic, and the historical event, and explained it all.

But no, I'm not really afraid of wrinkles. They give people character.

[vorrutyer]

Handsomeness trumps character, every time.

But, in honor of your journalistic integrity: I have no great love for my head-cracking ancestors, no. I find that there are far more charming things that can be done with heads than smashing them. Though on the other hand, if proles hadn't been taught to write, then it'd still be Vor writing all the plays so all the plays would still be about the Vor and that sounds nice. One always wants to watch oneself up on the stage, no?

[apricitous]

Handsomeness and character are not mutually exclusive, though.

And I wouldn't say always. After all, it's not very fun to see yourself mocked or hated on the stage. And if all you see is veneration, it must get a little boring, don't you think?

Any limitation on how many people can make art is going to make inferior art to the art you'd get without the limitations.

For one, because of the variety. And for another, because art builds upon art. Someone's drive to tell a better story, paint a better picture, or do honor to an idea they've seen done in their own style has created some of the best pieces.