‘Girl quits job on dry erase board’ story too good to be true?

A random girl quit her job. Nothing special about that. A random girl quit her job via a a series of messages on a dry erase board, photos and one infamous email — and more than 160,000 people have “liked” this story on Facebook.

The series of photos are hilarious. She gets in some really good jabs against her (ex) boss. But … it seems to good to be true. C’mon, who would really spend the time and effort to quit like this? And send it in an email, where it could be spread around? Something smells fishy here.

The story is on theCHIVE, meaning it may just be a big joke. In 2008, Jay Leno, Chelsea Lately, The View and more all reported on a teenager accidentally texting her father that she had lost her virginity. Turns out, it was all a hoax.

Is this story real then? Right now, it remains a mystery. But the public has already spoken — this story is a viral sensation.

An AP Stylebook iPhone App

Finally, the AP Stylebook has an iPhone app. Because this is just what the world has been waiting for. And by world I mean print journalists, since they are the only ones who use the AP Stylebook. Well, other than college students studying journalism.

For those of you not in the know, the AP Stylebook is every print reporters’ Bible, or at least it should be. It tells you the standard way to say numbers, dates, states, titles, etc. It also changes every so often, so it’s good to have an up-to-date one. For example, I need to get the latest copy because I’m wondering if they changed Web site to website yet. 

Back to the app. It will cost a whopping $28.99 and, according to Mallary Jean Tenore of Poynter, “is a stylebook on the go, a hybrid of theonline and print versions that some believe will be especially appealing to new users, as well as journalists and others who don’t have an online subscription or who would rather not keep the printed version with them at all times.”

My question is, was this really something anyone was waiting with bated breath for? I think not. It seems more like the AP Stylebook is trying to say, “Hey, we’re still cool! We have an iPhone app!” (They also have a Twitter account.) And is carrying the actual book so hard to do? It’s cheaper than the iPhone app and still just as useful.

Does anyone else out there think this was completely necessary? If you do, let me know. And not to be totally hypocritical, but why isn’t there a Blackberry app?

Picture from APStylebook.com

NH reporter, prostitution rings, and Craigslist

This might have been my favorite news story of the day. A New Hampshire sports reporter was arrested for allegedly running a prostitution ring, reports the Metro Desk at the Boston Globe.

The man is Kevin Provencher. The 50-year-old reportedly advertised the prostitution ring on Craigslist and other sites. For some reason, seeing this just made me laugh. Personally, as a reporter, I never want to be a story. I will report on it, blog on it, and follow up on it. But will I do something stupid enough to have a story written about me? I certainly hope not.

The best response to this? Someone said he should have been paid more.

Video: A musical on how to save newspapers

But there are some good ideas in there, like robbing the bank and boobs everywhere. Just kidding.

News in Wellesley!

This last week has been crazy with news in Wellesley. Last week there was the armed bank robbery/bomb scare. On Saturday, Babson College, located in Wellesley, closed down due to an outbreak of the norovirus. Finally, a Wellesley woman was arrested earlier this week for allegedly striking a police officer at the airport. 

It’s been so great covering all these events. There’s a little bit of everything thrown in there- crime, health, some more crime/oddball news. There also a small dash of town politics thrown into the mix since the Wellesley woman was on the School Committee in the 90s.

One of the most interesting things is seeing how others report on the same stories as I do. Before the Globe started their Your Town Wellesley, I was used to basically being the only person who wrote about Wellesley. Now I can compare what I write with the Boston Herald, the Globe, WBZ and more. 

Makes me think that back before journalism was slowly having the life dragged out of it by the internet, reporting must have been so different. There really was competition between different papers. Now, we’re all trying to not sink together.

I do find it odd that at least two cameramen have seen me using my point and shoot and told me I was ruining their jobs. Maybe they are thinking the point and shoot erases a need for them? Or that I can get it up faster than they can? All I know is I have this tiny camera and they have huge, expensive, real machines. 

How can they think I am out to ruin them? I am simply trying to survive as a print journalist. In order to do that, I have to use the tools available to me.

Image from flickr.com

Newspaper now a bottle opener

Thought this video was really amusing. Not sure if it works though.

[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCGf8V5PzMI]