Both Sides Now

I just served as an on-the-record source for the first time, with a trade pub reporter who believed me to a high-level healthcare pundit.

Save your laughs; I've long-since beat you to them.

I immediately understood the trepidation radiated by people being interviewed. This reporter couldn't repeat back what I said to her to save her life - every notion about my research work was preconceived, and she kept trying to cram my words to fit her theme. I fully expect to have someone complain , and fully plan to respond with my own criticisms if necessary.

What a strange first - I was on TV programs as a reporter, a radio show and occasionally took questions from journalism students needing to talk about the practice. I never indulged in the Benedetti "I'm my own unnamed source in this story" brand of journalism. I rarely wrote columns as a reporter for fear of showing my personal political cards to the readers. As a columnist, I rarely turned back into a reporter.

Still, I can't say I enjoyed speaking as an (ahem) authority.