don't mess with this young woman
Gillian Young, 18, had a hard news story. On Oct.29 she sent this story off on a whim to the Toronto Star. And when the editor passed on her pitch to another reporter, asking him to write the story, she smelt something sleazy in the air.
The other reporter called Young after she sent her story in. He got quotes from her, asked for her contact, and said it wasn't likely her story would get in. That they have a select group of reporters to write hard news stories. This was understandable, but something just didn't seem right.
Luckily Young had someone on the inside. Her reporting teacher Cathy, writes for The Star. She called her up and explained the situation. Her teacher Cathy replied that no, this should not happen. That she was not encouraging students to get published if people were just going to brush them off and steal their news story.
Cathy is a hard headed woman. She will drive you into the ground if she has to. She will make you feel great if she wants to. Young knew she had the right person on her side.
Cathy spoke to the editor. The editor explained you can't just send in hard news stories like that, that his reporter was going to do all his own research. That he had sent him out on the story. "But you wouldn't have been able to send him out without this young girl's pitch" she said.
Now Young is receiving a check for $250 as well as a mention for being a source. The reporter doing the story is keeping her updated, and benefiting from her as a contact. The young woman celebrated by going to a halloween night at a local pub. When she went to work the next day, her boots will still warm from the night before. Very little sleep, and very little recovery time was in order for this little trooper.
Her plans for tonight?
"I have a hot date with myself," she says, "me, some DVDs, and a big bag of halloween candy."
She gives me a flashy grin, and I think, man, that's one hot reporter.
The other reporter called Young after she sent her story in. He got quotes from her, asked for her contact, and said it wasn't likely her story would get in. That they have a select group of reporters to write hard news stories. This was understandable, but something just didn't seem right.
Luckily Young had someone on the inside. Her reporting teacher Cathy, writes for The Star. She called her up and explained the situation. Her teacher Cathy replied that no, this should not happen. That she was not encouraging students to get published if people were just going to brush them off and steal their news story.
Cathy is a hard headed woman. She will drive you into the ground if she has to. She will make you feel great if she wants to. Young knew she had the right person on her side.
Cathy spoke to the editor. The editor explained you can't just send in hard news stories like that, that his reporter was going to do all his own research. That he had sent him out on the story. "But you wouldn't have been able to send him out without this young girl's pitch" she said.
Now Young is receiving a check for $250 as well as a mention for being a source. The reporter doing the story is keeping her updated, and benefiting from her as a contact. The young woman celebrated by going to a halloween night at a local pub. When she went to work the next day, her boots will still warm from the night before. Very little sleep, and very little recovery time was in order for this little trooper.
Her plans for tonight?
"I have a hot date with myself," she says, "me, some DVDs, and a big bag of halloween candy."
She gives me a flashy grin, and I think, man, that's one hot reporter.
posted by Gillian Young at 4:30 PM
3 Comments:
Congratulations Star reporter. You're good! And you're on your way! And you look the part - perhaps a little too sexy but hey, I'm only your mother.
I second the first poster's comments, but hey I'm only her dad.
Gill, you won the battle. I've heard of the Star doing this at least a dozen times. You are the first one to ever have anything come of their hard work. Good work.
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