March 1, 2000
The keyhole peeper opens up - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER - The recent success of my team that travelled to the venerable Pacific Coliseum to witness the trappings of democracy elect Ujjal Dosanjh the Premier of British Columbia, has given me pause regarding why it was all so successful. I have always been a fan of journalism. (By that I mean there is still a little nobility in that profession.) That’s why this team (quasi as ever) went to the convention to cover the damn thing like a real news team sans the press passes.
We were only bestowed with visitor passes that let us into all parts of the hall, except the convention floor. But, with a little arm twisting, a phone call here and there and well-directed e-mails, I managed to snag a couple of passes for Maneesh Puri and I.
Timing, as one great comedian said to another is everything, and I guess we were blessed to have perfect timing, as we hit the convention floor the precise moment that the leadership hopefuls were doing their speeches. The secret to being successful at anything is not what you know, but whom you know. Those of you who attended Tupper’s career day and attended the media panel, will remember one Mi-Jung Lee telling us, the unwashed masses, to keep a contact book. Well I guess I have enough numbers and addresses to start one, but I haven’t yet. Tip #1: Start a contact book. Even with the most minuscule and worthless of information, record it and you never know when you’ll use the damn thing. Keep in contact with all of your contacts. Not necessarily by hounding or stalking them, but if you’re dealing with a columnist, read his or her column regularly. Vent praise or frustration with their writing by dropping a line when appropriate.
If you will need someone’s help or you want to establish a connection, do your research first. Read their column or watch or listen to their show beforehand. Read or digest anything you can, not only is it gratifying to them, it’s polite and not to shabby on your part.
Keeping contacts are important, because you can use some of them for things, you never thought of. For example I got Rafe Mair’s E-mail and one day I used it for the purposes of an interview that assisted me greatly for a CAPP11 project.
You need not necessarily need guts to approach someone for an interview. You need a combination of shame and chutzpah. Chutzpah is the Yiddish word for guts, you need a little of that, plus a little star struck nature and respect for whomever you’re talking to. Never ever ever, go up to someone you don’t know and call them by their first name. For example, I went up to Joy MacPhail, introduced myself and called her Ms. MacPhail. Once she acknowledged my mere existence and we had chatted for a few minutes, I called her Joy, gingerly pushing it through the conversation by means of something that the conversation involved. To land the interviews we did at convention, all it took was approaching someone at the most opportune time. I didn’t go up to Moe Sihota when he was buying his son a hot dog, or when he was on his telephone talking to someone. All you do is walk up to someone, introduce yourself and begin bantering. Bada-bing, you’ve just conducted an interview.
When asking a question, you need to either use the least words possible or the most. Christy Clark of the Liberals, was approached by me with the question, “Why are you here?” That opened up a minute and a half of her dribble. Which translated to quotes for me. Gordon Hogg on the other had, managed to get a lengthy preface that included quotes and facts from me. The late Barbara Frum, of the CBC’s Journal, said use the least amount of words. She’s right, but sometimes you need to hit the bugger hard. Usually the more words, takes the interviewees attention and shows you know your stuff.
Be polite, if you have to. Politeness shows you’re not a grubby, cynical, and abrasive son-of-a-bitch. It also shows you’re somewhat human.
Be mean, if you have to. Sometimes, a politician can be totally overbearing, as well as short change your ability. They’ll think your a meek and soft, show the bugger you can play their game too.
Never abuse your position, well... only if you have to. Don’t go up to anyone and say, “I’m so and so, from this and that, let me in or else...” That’s abuse of power and it shows that you’ve got more ego then you handle.
Be prepared to talk to anyone. Even the chambermaid’s in hotels or the pie maker at the diner can make better conversation than a Prime Minister or a Premier. They’re more human and sometimes more interesting.
Other than that have fun. As Robert Fulford said you could be doing a worse job than being a reporter or doing something in the field of journalism. Can you believe the gall of Planta? He’s not even a journalist and he’s giving tips on the damned profession?
Oh, yeah be honest and don’t lie.
Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca
An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .