The dream was delightful. . . and then . . . there’s the realization that the jangling phone is ringing in real life. It is 5:10am. It is still dark out. Who could be calling so early?
408 area code. I recognize it from yesterday when a print/web reporter left a message. He needed some information about Wayne Freedman’s upcoming book.
Bleary-eyed, I return the call. After I introduced myself, he says, “I need the URL for my article.”
“I emailed it late last night to the address you give in your voicemail.”
“What address?”
I repeat the address he has recorded on his voicemail, including the spelling.
“O . . . yeah, he says, “that email no longer works.”
“Do you know that it’s 5am here?”
“Yeah . . . sorry.”
I am surprised how annoyed I am feeling—after all he did say he was “sorry.”
For the past few months, I have been working with Wayne on the Second Edition of his book It Takes More Than Good Looks To Succeed At Television News Reporting. There have been rounds of edits and tweaks as he focuses on creating a book that is rich in content, a fun read, and succinct.
During the editing and book design process, I’ve learned some things about Wayne:
- He’s married to the love of his life
- He’s very proud of his daughter, Lauren
- He’s an avid golfer
- He’s a great teacher
- He’s concerned about being too wordy
- He has won 51 Emmy’s
- He is respectful
That’s it! That’s why I got so pissed at the early morning phone call. There was zero respect. None. Nadda. The reporter had my phone number for a week. Yet he waited until the afternoon before his deadline to contact me. When I returned his call, his voicemail message gave an inactive email account. He then “consciously” chose to call me at 5am. Really?
All this got me thinking. Why has Wayne won 51 Emmy’s?
- Yes, he’s an excellent writer.
- Yes, he speaks well on camera.
- Yes, he has a good eye when shooting video (and stills).
- Yes, he’s a talented news reporter.
- Yes, he knows how to edit a story.
- And the most important is — he’s respectful.
Wayne respects his craft, coworkers, subjects, audience, the people he interviews, and the stories he tells. AND he respects himself enough to give us his best.
Any reporter—TV, newspaper, magazine—will benefit from the techniques and tools Wayne teaches. Perhaps, if more were like him, reporters would have a better reputation.
Even though Wayne’s book is directed primarily to television reporters, the wisdom between the covers can be used by anyone who is telling a story, collecting oral histories, and speaking on stage.
