journalism – One Tired Puppy

Banned

It was a circuitous route from which I learned the news today. A Twitter contact retweeted an @mirtle Tweet and so it was I learned my old friend, Gregg Drinnan, has been banned from the Kamloops Blazers pressbox. Ten years ago, I was wrapped up in a miserable situation, writing for a thrice-weekly newspaper under… Continue reading Banned

Back to work

Molson uses amateur bloggers to report Summit

Writing long form

Is writing prose becoming a lost art? Many of us live in a 140-character word. Often in conversation, if you haven’t gotten to the point in less than two minutes, I start to lose interest in what you’re saying. I just don’t have the patience to listen to anyone drone on, struggling to find what… Continue reading Writing long form

My Olympic dream

We trained alongside Robyn Meagher at the track field. We knew her dedication and commitment to long-distance running. It was many years later she realized her dream of running for Canada at the Olympics … was it 1992 in Barcelona? I never had such fantastic dreams for my athletics. Maybe I’d set the bar as… Continue reading My Olympic dream

To enlighten and inform – or fill the holes?

Every time there’s a cutback at a newspaper, my heart bleeds a little. Every time there’s a cutback at a newspaper that used to be mine, my heart breaks. My former employer, Kamloops This Week, announced a few days ago it would be killing one of its thrice-weekly editions. Our little paper will no longer… Continue reading To enlighten and inform – or fill the holes?

Gotcha? Or keep your trap shut?

There is no such thing as ‘gotcha’ journalism. There are only tough questions that people get caught answering in a ridiculous manner. The Republicans have accused Katie Couric of ‘gotcha’ journalism against Sarah Palin. Horseshit. The woman is so beyond vapid that even a vacuum can’t exist between those ears. More importantly, Conservative MP Lee… Continue reading Gotcha? Or keep your trap shut?

Name dropping

Oh yes, there was a time when I was a closet wannabe star-fucker. I hid it well … as I do with all nervous emotions. Straight face, calm voice … but meanwhile, my brain is screaming. Like the time I was interviewing Jarome Iginla. It wasn’t just his first professional hockey game in B.C. It… Continue reading Name dropping