Angry phone calls
As journalists we have to stay accountable. And part of that is having our contact information printed on each online story, and in each publication.
This is necessary and helpful in getting sources and feedback from the community. However, not everyone who calls will be relevant or nice.
Just last week, I got about four phone calls from people who didn't live in my community but still were angry about a topic I had written about - barking dogs. I got phone calls from people all over the county (of which I cover just a small part) complaining about their neighbor's dog and the noise it creates.
When this kind of thing happens, there really isn't much I can do to help. They don't live in my coverage area and don't have a problem that I can solve. I don't work for animal control, nor do I wish to. But what I've learned is that the caller doesn't really want me to solve the problem. They know the number to animal control (and have probably exhausted the buttons making those calls). The call has nothing to do with me as a journalist.
What they do want is to be heard. They just want to vent and share their frustrations with someone who will nod and say, "That's terrible."
So, instead of trying to explain to them that I am an impartial observer who can't solve their problems, I keep my mouth shut and let them talk. While they are yelling or complaining I can type, add to my To Do list, and get other bits of work done.
It's a win-win for everyone. And maybe we'll gain a loyal reader or two!
How do you react to angry phone calls and messages?