By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
Michael Rodriguez
“I want to see if you’ll catch something when you read my story, and if you don’t then you have to give me a dollar.”
Judging by her smile, I could tell Heather Cathleen Cox, our staff writer here at the San Benito News, was dead serious when making that statement on Friday. I know her well enough now to identify a rather mischievous smirk she makes (unknowingly, I might add) when seeking my approval. And that smirk was out in full force.
So there I was, reading her article on Elida S. Villarreal in this week’s Hooked on Hounds entry, at first paying careful attention to her wording in an attempt to find whatever it was she wanted me to find. I guess you can say that I humored her a bit when editing the piece; after all, I appreciate writers who’re as enthusiastic as Heather is about their work.
“Good job,” I told her after reading the story, hoping she ignored the fact that I didn’t find what I was supposed to be looking for.
“You didn’t see it!” she shouted with a tone that was more accusatory than inquisitive. “Sparkly purpling!” she exclaimed further.
Heather explained that her use of the words “sparkly purpling” to describe Mrs. Villarreal’s earrings in the story was her way of accepting a dare I made God knows when, in which I challenged her to find a way to use silly words in a legitimate article. I just never thought she’d do it or would even remember something that I had said weeks ago and in jest.
Still, it’s a testament to how serious she takes her craft. Obviously, Heather wields a rather impressive vocabulary and can easily work just about anything into her stories, so it’s not like “sparkly purpling” was really that much of a challenge. She’s just fiercely competitive, and whether she’ll admit to it or not, Heather is secretly competing with me to see who’s the better writer.
I’m winning, by the way.
But in all seriousness, I wanted to share this anecdote with you – our readers – as a testament to the attention to detail we give every story that’s printed in the News. There are times when it’s 12 midnight, usually on Friday nights when we have to cover the football games, and the same people who arrived to work at 8 a.m. remain in the office going over every word in the paper before it’s sent to the press. Our eyes are bloodshot and our patience wanes, but it’s a labor of love that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
When Heather sat down with me to read the Hooked on Hounds feature, it was not unlike any other time we go over stories. We had our notes handy and our recordings documented in case it was necessary to revisit something. Every word was scrutinized. Every quote was verified.
It’s probably nothing special to some, but this process means something to us. Our names are forever associated with these articles. Our reputations. Our livelihoods. It’s not something we take lightly, nor do we scoff at any article that comes our way, no matter the nature of the content or the subject matter.
I take great pride in my work, and to this day I still get excited when I see my name in print. That also means I put a lot of pressure on myself to excel, and I think I can speak for the entire staff at the News when making such a statement. That’s why these stories, these words that accompany our bylines mean more to us than a paycheck, because our sense of purpose is attached to every article.
When there’s a typo in the paper, which unfortunately occurs from time to time, my entire day is ruined. Just ask my wife. I usually shut down and refuse to talk, sometimes for hours at a time. My only comfort is the fact that I will always have another story to write. That’s what I look forward to, and I try to instill that same enthusiasm in every writer whose name appears in this newspaper.
Every story is an opportunity to start over. A sparkly purpling opportunity (it’s actually not as easy as it appears).
Read this story in the Nov. 11 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
1 comment
Man! it was not a case of serendipty ? I’ve always felt newspaper reporters jobs are in a fun and adventurous way sort of Scooby- Do-Ish….