Just doing my job

 

           I had my first official interview with the principal at Riverside, Jim Key. I am going to share our conversation because I think it is good for any young reporter to hear. He also told me repeatedly I could tell this to my professor and my class.

            Let me begin telling you the story with a quick fast forward to a phone message from Principal Key today. He sent a rather nice apology and said it had been a hard week and day, but no excuses, he was just sorry.

            It started out normal. I walked into Principal Key's office and we kindly shook hands. I gave a brief overview of how I would use my voice recorder during our conversation and take a few pictures after we spoke.  I sat back for a second and then leaned forward with skeptical eyes.

 "I have to ask, Lander, what is this story? I mean, why are you doing this?"

            I was a bit taken back because we had already discussed my covering the truancy issue and I had asked him a few questions over the phone.  

Now, I realize it was the same question as I mentioned in my last post, "How can I trust you."

I stumbled over some sort of response I can't remember and we moved on to my questions. He answered all of them in detail, with as much as he wanted me to know. Especially the last question, which was a generic one about whether I had left any corners undusted and left out good questions or should get another contact. His response left my eyes wide open.

"Well, you know, if you were an educator, administrator, or someone studying the issue I would say get in contact with parents and students dealing with the issue first hand. But, you are a reporter."

Principal Key continued to tell me about his views on reporters. Reporters are in and out without a care.  Few care about the story and even then they use people like himself and his teachers to get the job done. Without saying it directly, he was saying my story on truancy was just a project for class. Once I turned it in, it was over.

My jaw hit the table. He gave a few examples of reporters that made him feel this way and he had been open to them. He was no longer open to reporters, like me. Key told me he was sure I meant no harm and I was a different case, but he had no reason to believe so nor the energy because he had students to tend to in the halls. He did have kids to tend to, and he did with care. I witnessed it.

He told me not to take pictures with students in them because it was trouble he didn't have time for if the story was just a project, which was assumed when I walked through the doors.  So, I did not take the pictures. I took a few of him in the office, but once through the doors students were surrounding him. He made a point to mention students by name and encourage them.

I walked out of the school wanting to call my mom. The next business he left the message on my phone and it made me think the world of him. I understood he was protecting the people he loved, but it sure did make me feel a lot better.

Learning lessons interview, by interview.