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Ok so let's talk about when you shouldn't do an interview folks... #thread
Many of you academics want to be public, and that's great. But sometimes, our job is to tell the people who want to interview us that they have to come with the right questions.
If you call me, and haven't done a bit of homework, and you are asking me for resources, and you don't have an idea about the article you want to write, I'm not going to write it for you.. I can do that. Why tell you?
When you call me and you're just starting a piece.. come with some specific questions. Don't be vague. I am happy to help you, I'm just not going to spend a whole bunch of time of mine telling you what to write.
If you don't know a religious term., look it up before you call me. Just get it a little right, ok? I know you're calling because I'm supposed to be an expert, but it's exasperating if you haven't read A DAMN THING.
If you start talking and your reporter person becomes short with you.. Don't waste your time. They want you to give them the piece They, not you will be paid for. If you keep asking me for numbers and don't know @PewReligion , then I know you don't know ANYTHING.
also if this is about race, please don't patronize me. OK?that is definitely NOT going to get you an interview w/ me.
Finally, be secure in what you know. Sometimes, I let people go because I know they should not quote me because they can't keep up- and they are going to quote me improperly. Beware. If the person doesn't know what they are doing, don't bother. It could just get you in trouble.
So yea, I'm being kinda nice to the person who called me, but honestly, if you don't come up with decent questions like my students do in the classroom, you're not ready to write that piece. #fin
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