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Tom Cole, my mentor at @NPR has just retired. @Bob_Mondello suggested I share some memories:
Razor blades and splicing tape were the tools of the trade in 1995, when Tom and I started working together.
Over the next 25 years, we collaborated on a wide cross-section of...
Razor blades and splicing tape were the tools of the trade in 1995, when Tom and I started working together.
Over the next 25 years, we collaborated on a wide cross-section of...
...arts and culture stories, including tales about blues musicians, classical performers, punk rock pioneers, a pop art nun, and the origins of Superman.
We often worked down to the wire to get a story ready for air.
“You had weeks to do this story!”
We often worked down to the wire to get a story ready for air.
“You had weeks to do this story!”
I imagined him throwing his hands into the air in befuddlement on the other end of the phone call. “Why do all you reporters wait until the last minute?”
Guilty as charged, with no good answer. But, he was resigned to that reality as much as I was resigned to him...
Guilty as charged, with no good answer. But, he was resigned to that reality as much as I was resigned to him...
...rescheduling an edit appointment. If I had all my ducks in a row for an 11:00am edit, it wasn’t unusual to get an email saying, “Could we do this at 2:00?”
But, I get it. He had so many reporters delivering so many subjunctive clauses to correct...
But, I get it. He had so many reporters delivering so many subjunctive clauses to correct...
...and an endless stream of dangling participles to rearrange.
I can’t imagine how many times he lopped off opening paragraphs to get right to the action. By the same token, there must have been countless cases where he solved the ending of a story by...
I can’t imagine how many times he lopped off opening paragraphs to get right to the action. By the same token, there must have been countless cases where he solved the ending of a story by...
...trimming a sentence or two or five off the backside.
I’m happy that Tom’s finally stepping off the conveyor belt that constantly feeds the beast. I’m grateful for the wisdom that he shared. I learned so much from him.
I’m happy that Tom’s finally stepping off the conveyor belt that constantly feeds the beast. I’m grateful for the wisdom that he shared. I learned so much from him.
