tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post6094434205095402618..comments2024-03-28T06:20:48.661-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Who's the Victim?Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22736339935933646452019-05-18T14:27:02.013-04:002019-05-18T14:27:02.013-04:00Dick, thank you so much for a wonderful day! You a...Dick, thank you so much for a wonderful day! You are amazing!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-40172841425076942572019-05-16T14:00:38.317-04:002019-05-16T14:00:38.317-04:00Yes, you have to worry about that, the "glory...Yes, you have to worry about that, the "glory" seekers. It's such a tough balance. Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-2967072691264893802019-05-16T13:59:49.443-04:002019-05-16T13:59:49.443-04:00YES!! Don't you feel so virtuous doing it in t...YES!! Don't you feel so virtuous doing it in the snow? And then, sometimes, reading the soggy paper?Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-39822160114664730222019-05-16T13:33:11.005-04:002019-05-16T13:33:11.005-04:00Sadly, you're part of a dwindling group who st...Sadly, you're part of a dwindling group who still gets their news from print journalism, Judi. But I have a lot of hopes for digital journalism in the future. I worked most recently as managing editor of NBCNews.com - and saw first hand the possibilities of what can be done with the news on line. R.G. Belskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856350506014676824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-83491272608011693892019-05-16T13:31:31.331-04:002019-05-16T13:31:31.331-04:00One of the most difficult parts of being a journal...One of the most difficult parts of being a journalist (and I'm sure Hank can attest to this too) is having to interview the families of crime victims. It has to be done when you work in the media. But you never really get used to it...R.G. Belskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856350506014676824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87162781767258512802019-05-16T12:46:55.191-04:002019-05-16T12:46:55.191-04:00I do subscribe and read an actual newspaper every ...I do subscribe and read an actual newspaper every day! I could read it online but I don't like doing that so I am willing to trudge down my long steep driveway every morning to get the paper out of the tube. And in the winter time that is a very big deal.Judihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06777683026890358953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-14078200055337207492019-05-16T12:39:08.417-04:002019-05-16T12:39:08.417-04:00I still subscribe to a paper paper; two in fact. H...I still subscribe to a paper paper; two in fact. Houston Chronicle and the WSJ. Unfortunately we also have killings here. I've noticed the families of the victims turn to the local news stations to tell people about their loved ones. Some hold press conferences. More do one-on-one interviews. I don't think I could handle either one. I know everyone is curious about the murderer, or alleged murderer. But at what point does the coverage become too much and encourages wanna-bes to seek out that kind of "glory?"Pat Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12732230586783432052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-69651434402664705122019-05-16T12:06:23.389-04:002019-05-16T12:06:23.389-04:00Triss--that is..so brilliant. Brilliant brilliant ...Triss--that is..so brilliant. Brilliant brilliant brilliant.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-28721347787335912272019-05-16T12:05:54.658-04:002019-05-16T12:05:54.658-04:00Diana, you are so right--and the newspaper allows ...Diana, you are so right--and the newspaper allows you to get the news in the order you want! Sometimes I have to make my husband turn off the news on TV--it just gets to be too much . Now we allow ourselves an hour, that;' all. <br />And Dick, i am so eager to see that documentary--I've heard so much about it! Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84233832612089168492019-05-16T12:03:30.461-04:002019-05-16T12:03:30.461-04:00Yes, nothing like the Sunday paper for allowing th...Yes, nothing like the Sunday paper for allowing the space for a bigger in depth story..and kudos to the editors for giving the reporters time to do them! Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-52426121512436989282019-05-16T12:02:30.959-04:002019-05-16T12:02:30.959-04:00Liz, it stopped?That is so depressing..Liz, it stopped?That is so depressing..Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-13122834648929564442019-05-16T12:02:04.332-04:002019-05-16T12:02:04.332-04:00Yeah, agreed, I think sometimes the victims are th...Yeah, agreed, I think sometimes the victims are the story. And these days, there's a trend not to say the names of the perpetrators, which is fascinating, too. Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-49659948147477986862019-05-16T12:01:59.917-04:002019-05-16T12:01:59.917-04:00Now I wish I was going to Pittsburgh, and that'...Now I wish I was going to Pittsburgh, and that's a sentence I never thought I'd write. Liz, one thing I've noticed recently: the press very much downplays the names of mass shooters these days. You can read multiple articles (sadly, multiple because we can't go more than a week without some horrible assault) without ever having the shooter identified by name. I applaud this development - don't let violence be a way to celebrity anymore.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-80616277805686815502019-05-16T11:57:51.740-04:002019-05-16T11:57:51.740-04:00I find that so frustrating, Hank. A thriving cultu...I find that so frustrating, Hank. A thriving culture of real journalism is essential to a healthy democracy. I know I'll always be aboe to get the Washington Post and ABC News, but where am I going to find out what's happening in my city if it can't support a newspaper or quality TV journalism?Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48547465320181523692019-05-16T10:44:19.629-04:002019-05-16T10:44:19.629-04:00Thanks, Triss. Hope you enjoy the book - and Clare...Thanks, Triss. Hope you enjoy the book - and Clare!R.G. Belskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856350506014676824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8675218711106371622019-05-16T10:43:23.742-04:002019-05-16T10:43:23.742-04:00Thanks, Diana. Hope you can check out BELOW THE FO...Thanks, Diana. Hope you can check out BELOW THE FOLD - and enjoy it. There's plenty about investigative journalism there from my character Clare Carlson. <br /><br />I understand your sentiment about not wanting to name bad people who shoot innocent victims, but that's just not possible for a journalist to do. A journalist's responsibility is to deliver the news to people - whether its bad news or good news. And the people who carry out terrible crimes are news.<br /><br />There's a wonderful documentary on HBO about Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill where Breslin has an exchange with someone who criticizes him for giving so much publicity to Son of Sam. Breslin tells the person (in more colorful language that I'm using here) the same thing: He's a newsman, and his job is report the news. Son of Sam is news. <br /><br />These are some of the issues I try to deal with in BELOW THE FOLD. R.G. Belskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856350506014676824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-11337639833081094832019-05-16T10:15:18.177-04:002019-05-16T10:15:18.177-04:00Congrats to RG Belsky and thanks to Reds for this ...Congrats to RG Belsky and thanks to Reds for this interesting post.Yes that everyone has a story if you look for it. My kind of book for sure and I am going off to order it right away. Yes, we still get a great daily paper (the "failing" NY Times on our steps before breakfast. The world at our door. I am toying with the idea of writing about the much different area where I grew up, and have been getting that home town paper ( a good one, still owned by the same family) for background.No better way to learn about what's on people's mindsTrisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08058396345946250313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-42990805701858202622019-05-16T09:55:57.126-04:002019-05-16T09:55:57.126-04:00Welcome to Jungle Reds! And congratulations on yo...Welcome to Jungle Reds! And congratulations on your new release!<br /><br />Hank, I still read the newspaper but these days, especially after the 2016 election, I start with the comic pages and I wait until after I had my coffee and breakfast, read a happy novel or do something calming before I read the newspaper. These days too many sad news stories.<br /><br />We need to STOP naming the baddies who shoot innocent people in the media. I agree with Jacinda, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, about refusing to name the shooter in the newspaper. We need to focus more on the victims.<br /><br />The mention of mystery novels and homeless people reminded me that many novels until modern times rarely had stories about people who were NOT from noble or royal families. I think Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer was the only novel, which was actually a collection of stories about people from different walks of life.<br /><br />I think Alex Patterson had homeless characters in his novels. I remember a story (I cannot recall the author) about the First Lady and the President. It was a novel. The First Lady would go out in disguise and dress up like a homeless person.<br /><br />I am interested in reading about investigations by journalists because I learn about something that I never knew or suspected.<br /><br />Thank you.<br /><br />Diana<br /><br />Bibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75800657734229909302019-05-16T09:18:45.526-04:002019-05-16T09:18:45.526-04:00Don't get me wrong, I love the feel and smell ...Don't get me wrong, I love the feel and smell of newsprint and I love journalism. But I have yet to win the lottery for enough money that I can become idly rich and buy whatever I want without thinking of the cost. Even the small cost of the weekly price tag for all the newspapers I once read.<br /><br />And I do love to write since I cover concerts, comic conventions and write album reviews. It's not quite the same as REAL journalism but it's a tiny dipped toe in the water.Jay Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11409350742317719903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-9902539677136822112019-05-16T08:55:11.112-04:002019-05-16T08:55:11.112-04:00Thanks, Margaret. I try to provide a realistic &qu...Thanks, Margaret. I try to provide a realistic "warts and all" look at journalism in BELOW THE FOLD. But, despite all the changes in the way the media delivers the news in recent years, there's still a lot of good journalism around. R.G. Belskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856350506014676824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-60915244585562964142019-05-16T08:52:48.605-04:002019-05-16T08:52:48.605-04:00Congratulations on your new release! I read the Su...Congratulations on your new release! I read the Sunday print edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer because of the wonderful investigative stories they publish--opioid crisis and human trafficking. I heard the reporters on the opioid story speak at a public library forum.Margaret S. Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07979191318652199350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-4954574268038048342019-05-16T08:41:22.572-04:002019-05-16T08:41:22.572-04:00Thank you, Liz. Really appreciate all your support...Thank you, Liz. Really appreciate all your support. See you again in a few weeks...R.G. Belskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856350506014676824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-32370007202154606072019-05-16T08:40:27.676-04:002019-05-16T08:40:27.676-04:00Or name Casey Anthony's baby? Interesting poin...Or name Casey Anthony's baby? Interesting point, Hallie. Of course, sometimes the victims are the story like with Jon Benet. It's definitely an interesting discussion. Hope you enjoy BELOW THE FOLD. R.G. Belskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856350506014676824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56325881349754550592019-05-16T08:37:22.261-04:002019-05-16T08:37:22.261-04:00Yep, that was kind of the idea behind BELOW THE FO...Yep, that was kind of the idea behind BELOW THE FOLD too, Flora. Everybody has a story, even a homeless person - so what is their story? As a media person though, the unfortunate truth is you can't cover EVERY murder. So you have to make decisions every day based on a lot of factors like who the person is and what else is happening in the news that day. There are no easy answers...R.G. Belskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856350506014676824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79183074329018777102019-05-16T08:32:24.998-04:002019-05-16T08:32:24.998-04:00I think you'll find that the one thing Clare h...I think you'll find that the one thing Clare has in common with Harry Bosch is integrity about doing their jobs -Harry as a homicide detective, Clare as a journalist. That's a very important quality to me in the books I read - and the ones I write! I left full time journalism a few years ago to write mystery novels, Lucy. But after many years in newsrooms at the New York Post, New York Daily News, Star magazine and NBC News, I have plenty of behind the scenes experience to draw on for my books! Hope you enjoy BELOW THE FOLD.R.G. Belskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10856350506014676824noreply@blogger.com