election coverage

As I write this, I'm waiting for periodic calls from my Province editor, Shannon (for those of you who haven't yet, you'll meet her at the wedding), clarifying stuff on the Okanagan election coverage I provided this evening. Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton. Her last call was checking on whether the new mayor of Penticton is Jake Kimberly (as I dashed off in a maddened frenzy) or Kimberley (with the second 'e'). Answer: the second 'e' should be there.

It's craziness, this election business. My deadline, for example, was 9:50 p.m. to get results of all three cities, AND pics of the Kelowna winner. The polls only close at 8 p.m., and then not only do we have to wait for results to be announced, we then have to track down the winning candidate. To help us, there's this requirement called "zzz copy" (or "zed copy," which I accidentally called "dead copy" because I didn't hear right and I'm not up on all the newsroom jargon. Yeah, Shannon loved that one). What it is, is writing the story ahead of time, with the important stuff (names, numbers) left out, to be added later.

Well, Shannon told me to write all my dead copy as though Walter Gray had won in Kelowna, since he's been mayor for three terms/nine years and hasn't actually done anything to piss anyone off. I suspected Sharon Shepherd could be the winner, but it was a long shot since incumbents usually win because people hate voting in municipal elections and those who do vote usually pick who they know - those who are already in office.

So I write the copy, and submit, then head to Gray headquarters for a pic and comments on winning, plans for the next term (are you bored yet?) etc. As I'm leaving, the numbers are just starting to come in, (it's after 8 p.m. now), and show Sharon Shepherd in the lead. $#!+.

So I RIP down to Shepherd's constituency office, where she's already making the speeches. It's about 8:30 p.m., and I start shooting pics (stupidly I had my flash on so there are cookie cutter shadows around her which looks bad). The reporters are all there, already, taking pics and notes (although, talking to one photog I know I found out the Daily Courier made the same mistake and angled everything in favour of Gray).

As soon as she's done, before she's even off her little platform, I'm in there, asking Shepherd how she feels about being the first female mayor of Kelowna. Just as she starts to answer, this ignorant CKOV guy sticks a phone to her ear and starts asking her questions for a broadcast, leading her away to a quiet area. MY DEADLINE!!! Remember, I now have to start from scratch (practically) on this story and still be done by 9:50 p.m.

Finally, CKOV Guy is done with her and I ask her a couple of quickie questions before running (literally) from the building and tearing home (well past the speed limit since I live across town) to write what I have. Along the way, Shannon calls, and I update her.

I get home just before 9 p.m. and start pounding the keys. Check the results for Vernon and Penticton, and the long shots in both those towns also won. Ga! More revamping. Fortunately, Shannon's done some zzz/dead copy on Vernon, so all I need to do is insert names.

Penticton arrived after 10 p.m. (giving Shazza less than 20 minutes to edit, question and have ready for her own, page deadline. No sooner was that finished and she had to jump to the Victoria/Nanaimo page, which was supposed to be to her by 10:20 so she could have the page done by 10:50. (addendum: she didn't get Victoria until after 10:40 p.m. which makes me feel a little better)

And within all this madness they expect you to also be accurate! I just hope it's intelligible.

The things I do for money ($250 in about three hours tonight!) I'll never understand. I'd really rather open a tearoom/book shop somewhere and write fiction. Oh - and vote for Pedro!