Text: How to Write for the News Paper
I never imagined writing for a news paper in my life. I always loved stories, but I never put much thought into what it takes to produce and research a story in a news column.
As luck would have it I met the staff of The Courier who asked me ( as they do most people ) to write something interesting and send it in with hopes it would get published. I thought it was an easy request, so I went home that afternoon sat at my PC and imagined I was a hotshot reporter called Clark Kent and started to research my first story.
Like many journalists I hit Google pretty hard for ideas. “ GREAT STORY” I typed in the search box.. The search result came back with “ Great story of sex in Bangkok”. I thought for the purpose of research I should read it anyway. 1 hour later after following lots of links from the Bangkok story I hadn’t written a thing.
I looked around work for ideas and thought maybe I could do a story on the many different things we collectively bring to work for lunch. Curry, Pasta, Sandwiches, etc. Yep! Good story I thought! I’ll write about nutrition in the work place.
That afternoon back at home I hit Google search with “ Lunch at Work” the result? “Lunch at Work with your new Russian Mail Order Bride Svetlana!”. Oh you have to be kidding I thought as I sat back and clicked on the images of the pretty girls from the USSR. These girls were HOT STUFF I thought as I surfed the images. A few hours later after learning how to apply to bring a bride into Australia and a crash course on Russian, I came away with how to say “ You have beautiful eyes” in Russian and an E-mail address for a man called Nicolai who arranges all passport matters in Russia for a small fee, but still no real ideas for a story.
I wondered how the Journo’s do it? How do they write such entertaining and interesting stories? Just then my home phone rang, I answered it to hear a voice on the other side say “ Good afternoon Sir how are you today?” the call went on to be an annoying salesman wanting me to switch phone companies and it was here I hit on my best idea yet of a story. Back to Google I searched “ Annoying Salesmen”. The result? “Annoying Salesman needs to be spanked”.
An hour later after reading that story and many more of people who needed a good spanking, I realised how hard it is to write something for a paper, that is interesting and entertaining. However my search will go on to try and find that perfect story that I’ll write about some day and then I’ll begin my journey as a great Journo.
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03.07.09 — d.
Oh yes, wonderful to be able to laugh together. Perhaps NECESSARY. With your kids too - particularly when they get to be adults. Makes life worthwhile. d.
01.07.09 — d.
Good to see you back, George. I never thought to google a story. But some of the pieces you have here on Pool would make interesting stories, on their own. Maybe you should google your own name?????? Anyway, all the best with the journalism. d.
03.07.09 — George Koulakis
Yeah as always i had a lot of fun writing that. Kylie was saying to me later that the search for the story of stories was itself a fun piece to read about so i decided to post it up here. Isn't it good to have a partner who completely supports you with whatever venture you decide to follow. Like they say, behind every great man, is a greater woman. Sooo true.