“This door is locked after 1730 hr.” is the message that greets you on the inside of the copy room, something you don’t normally catch unless the door is closed. Continue reading
NEWSFRIENDS – Transit Referendum
The news friends tackle the transit referendum the only way they know how. Vague questions.
On sources
I suppose my time at journalism school (so far) has made me more of a stickler for ‘What makes a good news story’, at least when it comes to the topics of my own interest.
I do read and enjoy The Daily Dot, but every once in a while, I can’t help but tell them that they’re doing it wrong… Continue reading
NEWSFRIENDS – a new podcast about the importance of news and friendship
It’s a new project. Take a look, take a look!
On layoffs
When I was younger, CBC was one of two channels that we had for a while. I was mostly infatuated with television growing up, the government funded channel, as well CBC radio, were things I listened to/watched throughout most of my life.
It was only fitting that I would attend journalism school with CBC in my sights, still as that dream job in the back of my mind. Continue reading
News Friends – Godfrey’s birthday party at the art gallery
That’s right, the NEWS FRIENDS took to the streets of the Vancouver Art Gallery on monday to talk to people that gathered around for Godfrey’s birthday party.

Sunday Social Club 04/19/15
Conflicts of interest can come from the strangest places. The Site C dam being an example of Provincial Government spending for no other reason to “create jobs”, but alternatives were never looked at, the environment was never thought about, and all sorts of groups of people are willing to do anything they can to make those understand how much of an environmental hazard it could become.
As a budding reporter trying to do a good job, it’s better for you to get to the heart of the story that to right fluff pieces about how great it is because you’re in a relationship with someone that works there. You’re willing to overlook things, or ignore problems, sacrificing how weird it is, to stay in a relationship that bleeds into your writing. (most times, it doesn’t sound like a great one either.)
That kind of stuff can really bite you in the ass in the end.
This is what I’ve learned about conflicts of interest. Even if you’re in a small town news paper, never find yourself in a small town paper willing to fluff an article for others that don’t care about you as much as you’re willing to fluff. Then I half to read about it, and get exhausted.
on disruptive behaviour
You ever notice the behaviour that civilians seem to have these days when it comes to live news cameras? Whether it’s being interviewed or just walking past it, they lack a certain morality on purpose.
Take for example, the guy that decided to stand in-between a reporter and his camera during the news of an oil spill that happened in Vancouver some days back:

Fancy Lad Weekend
First order of business coming out of school for the term was a fancy lad photo-shoot. You might ask yourself, Michael why?
Good question. I don’t have any answers other than some of my peers thought I looked very 19th century with my chops, and demanded such a shoot to happen.
Needless to say I always comply. Continue reading
Post Mortimer
There was a time, long ago when Conan O’Brien still had the ‘Late Night’ show, and the musical guest at the time was D12. The song that they was rapping was My Band, something absolutely crucial as an ensemble piece.
In-between all their verses, they would just start shouting “Where’s Marshal!?” as if Eminem, the man himself (and arguably who the song is really all about) is missing and nowhere to be found. Continue reading