> And I had to read about it in our rival paper while I drank coffee this morning.

...and here we have been told for decades that competitive print journalism is dead, since all the papers are owned by the same big congolmerate. I think it's kind of great that you have competition, think of how much sharper it makes you both. Although, ouch.

>
I want to know what it's like to have the jury members file in and tell the judge they have reached a decision. I want to know what it's like to sit in a completely silent courtroom as the judge reads the verdict. I want to see the reactions, no matter how pained the family members are. I've pictured it from reading John Grisham books, but I know it's not quite how books and movies portray it. I don't think actors, no matter how good they are, can truly know what it's like to be the father of one of the defendants. They can't possibly know the emotions that go through that father's mind as he sits in the court room every single day, waiting for 12 people to decide how many years his 18-year-old son will spend in state prison. Well, I'm going to have to wait to see that, too.

I can see that what interests you about your job is the human element, not "just the facts, ma'm". When I read your paragraph above, I wonder, then, how you would have written your story. Although I don't deny that factual writing can also be dramatic, the "newshounds" I am acquainted with seem more concerned about knowing what happened--and preferably being the first to know--rather that in just the [mere] human drama of it. But, then again, they're just amatueurs, heh.


>
> While it wasn't my fault, I feel as though I'm the one who was scooped.
In all honesty, I'd rather work six days a week than be scooped. I guess that's why I've always tended to be a borderline workaholic; I hate to leave things for someone else, knowing they might not get done.

..and it's amazing how quickly people around you--particularly people around you who wish to avoid responsibility--will figure that out about you ;-)


>
> What's the solution? I'm not sure. But I do know that I'm going to talk to the editor Monday morning (after I make an attempt to reach the co-defendants' attorneys) and let him know that I'm frustrated and almost mad. I don't know if he'll have an answer, but I do know that this kind of thing can't keep happening to me.

koala"interested in how the editor will respond"mom