No worries mate…. Oh, you’re an intern! … #*@~*
I have been marvelling at the laid-back Aussie temperament ever since I landed. I have also been revelling in being treated like a proper journalist. Not just the pesky work experience kid in the corner, fighting for a desk, sharing an email address and lucky to have access to that most modern of communication instruments – a telephone.
Well, it didn’t take long for either of my illusions to be ripped asunder. It just took a modicum of journalistic endeavour for the laid-back Aussie character to break.
Researching a story about an ill-advised move by a TV personality (who I shan’t name, since for some reason the story never made it into the paper) who joined a racist Facebook group, I was firmly put back in my place. I had already confirmed with the personality’s agent and it was the real deal, not some cyber-imposter. I then wanted to call the company he works for to get a statement from them. After a lot of buck-passing and question-dodging (and a man on the end of the phone who said he could not give me even his first name just to chase up the enquiry) I was put through to a different gentleman who also refused to divulge his name.
“I’d be careful what you’re saying because that’s not the ‘real’ [Mr x],” he said before asking: “Are you an intern at The Australian?”
Am I that obvious, I wondered. (But I think a quick Google of my name had flung up an entry from this very blog, informing him of my second-class journalistic status).
“Yes, I am,” I said happily.
“Well then I have absolutely nothing to say to you,” he raged, before hanging up the phone.
A second call had me on hold before I was again mysteriously left listening to a dial tone.
At a third attempt, and after it was pointed out that [Mr x’s] agent had confirmed it was the ‘real’ [Mr x], the man added: “Why do you keep calling here?! Stop calling! We have nothing to say from our perspective. If you carry on calling, we will be making a formal complaint against you. Clear?!” before again hanging up.
Crystal, thanks.
