“Stephen Trono’s on the phone for you!”
Ted Taylor, our 6pm show producer, saw my jaw drop to the floor when I entered the newsroom and he said that.
Thus began a mad scramble to get a phone-recording system running so we could talk – and we did, for almost a half-hour.
I’ve written all about that at the Website but one thing Stephen – we’re not close friends, but we’ve talked over the years – wanted me to know, about why he called me.
This Bend developer who’d been shot five (or is it six?) times by his wife – and lived, and is still with her – had been back in Bend and able to speak since mid-October.
Why hadn’t he talked to any reporters? Because not a single one called him to ask if he’d talk!
Seriously. I mean, he could be fibbing, but why fib about that?
I know reporters have this all-too-often reputation of rushing up to someone who’s house is burning down, sticking a microphone and camera in their face and saying “how do you feel watching your life ruined?”
Or something like that.
But the words “sensitive” and “journalist” are not mutually exclusive.
This was just a very vivid reminder that we should never, ever assume someone does NOT want to talk. And should always make the attempt. The worst that can happen is screamed obscenities in your ear and a hang-up on the other end of the phone line.
I think I’ve quoted the grizzled old editor’s line here before: “If your mother says she loves ya, check it out!”
Point being, it’s worth those hang-ups for the one time someone says, “Finally, I’ve been waiting for someone to ask me!”
But that has to be the first time I can recall in a local, high-profile story that someone, after months of waiting for someone to call them, called me. I’m sure glad it was me, of course, and the final chapter of this somewhat bizarre tale has yet to play itself out. But as I approach 20 years in Central Oregon, sometimes just being here the longest (and trying my hardest always to get it right while getting it first, and trying to be fair and accurate) can bring good stories my way. and I’m grateful for that.
Leave it to Barney 