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Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Join Badie Tour on Wednesday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In journalism, a telephone can be as much crutch as vital tool.
It’s too easy to pick up the phone and chat up the mayor or commissioner so-and-so. It saves time, precious minutes that can be put to better use, like digging deeper or crafting a solid read from top to bottom.
And because of that, the phone is a journalist’s best friend.
Sometimes, though, we miss something when we opt for convenience. Details. We miss the nuances and tendencies of the people and personalities we write about by relying on the phone. It’s hard to see a frown, grimace or smile over an optic line. You can’t see a foot tapping on the floor, either, or a Jacob Lawrence print hanging in the foyer.
And when it comes to words, stories, details make the difference.
As a columnist, I’m trying to reign in my phone addiction. Your help would be greatly appreciated. I’m hitting the road, people, trying to get as far away from 6455 Best Friend Road (the AJC Gwinnett News office off Jimmy Carter Boulevard) as I possibly can and still be in the county.
Think Charles Kuralt. The late CBS television journalist filed more than 600 television episodes of “On the Road.” There are a few differences, though: I’m black and, while it may be debatable, a tad more handsome. I won’t be traveling via motor home, either.
The Badie Tour will be low-key Wednesday affairs. It’s just me, my 2002 Galant and a few tools of the trade — laptop, pen, pad, cellphone and occasionally, a photographer who’ll capture exchanges between journalist and residents talking about the ordinary and extraordinary — real life.
Make no mistake. You’re vital to the success of the tour. Don’t show up, and I flop. So please do. Let’s rap.
We can talk about your county, subdivision, street or school. No topic is unworthy, and as long as it’s not slanderous, it’s ripe for dialogue.
Mark this date down. The Badie Tour’s first stop will be Snellville. The only thing I really and truly know about the ‘ville is that U.S. 78 bisects it, and some colleagues live there. Aside from that, I’m clueless.
So on Wednesday, between, say 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., I plan to set up shop at a place where all Snellvillians visit at some point in time: The town’s state-of-the-art recycling center off Lenora Church Road at Briscoe Park. Its address is 2531 Marigold Road. Call 770-985-3539 if you need directions.
Snellville Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer recommended it and has graciously agreed to hang out with me for a bit. He’s also my backup plan. Every neurotic columnist has a few. Say no one shows up to meet me at the recycling outpost.
By default, Mr. Oberholtzer becomes the topic of Thursday’s column. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. He’s been mayor three years and councilman for four. I’ve never met him and had never talked to him until Monday. He takes pride in his city. He has to.
Who else would suggest a recycling center as a place to see and be seen?
“It’s busy,” Oberholtzer told me. “Especially on Saturdays.”
We shall see. See you on Wednesday.
