Long Nights and Hard Ledes

The Adventures of an Autistic Journalist and Obsessive Nerd

Posts Tagged Journalism

The Prague Blog Wrap-Up and Epilogue

Jan 1

Posted by AlexTiegen in Asperger's, The Prague Blog, travel | No Comments

It came to me as I walked past a block of old apartment buildings and storefronts atop a hill in my maternal grandmother’s hometown. I was lost with my little brother in a foreign country, and I didn’t speak the native language. I was confused and  so exhausted that I had fallen asleep every time we boarded a bus or train.

And yet, I felt at home in a city I had never visited.

Plzen’s small town atmosphere and landscape of historic architecture and modern industry reminded me of my childhood hometown of Newburyport, Massachusetts. I may not have been able to understand the residents of Plzen, but I could almost imagine myself growing up in their city.

Of course, I might have just been intoxicated on fumes from the city’s famous brewery.

In any case, it was a turning point  in a trip that had been both exhilarating and frustrating. After four days of traveling in the Czech Republic, I finally felt comfortable in our maternal grandparents’ homeland. The stress and troubles of the trip faded away. And while they would eventually return, I felt a surge in confidence that made  me look forward to the last half of our adventure.

Our trip to the Czech Republic and Britain was  my most satisfying experience of 2009, and I came home with a greater appreciation of the joys and trials of  traveling  and blogging abroad. Here are some of the lessons I learned on our trip.

Learning from being lost

Czech maps must have been designed to confuse and infuriate tourists. On our first full day in Prague, we walked in the opposite direction of our destination, the city castle complex, for at least 45 minutes because the map from our hotel was confusing.

Luckily, I thought to plot out our trip on Google Maps before leaving Florida. Once we doubled back on our path and turned the Google Map upside down, we found our destination. Eventually. We would have found it sooner if I hadn’t let my doubt get the better of me, ignored the map and let my intuition lead us in the opposite direction again.

Buses and trains are also an easy way to travel Prague. And passengers are surprisingly tolerant of an awkward traveler. Or at least they were polite enough to curse in Czech so I couldn’t understand.

Czech, Mate, do you speak it?

We quickly learned that it’s almost impossible to speak Czech if you didn’t grow up in the country or take years of lessons. The language is littered with letters like  d’ (pronounced dyeh) and words that can be torture for the tongue if you’re unfamiliar with their pronunciation. It’s sometimes even difficult for those raised in the Czech Republic.

We stopped using our phrasebooks about two days into the trip, after we realized they only contained three words of any use. One of those was Prosim, which we thought meant  please but has several definitions not listed in our books.  The other was dekuji ,or thank you.

The last was na shledanou, or goodbye, which my brother and I mispronounced in two separate ways, leading to arguments between us and awkward looks from the Czechs we spoke to in our first days.

Thankfully, many Czechs in Prague speak at least a little English, especially those who work at the train and bus stations.  Online pronunciation guides with audio samples can also help you become accustomed to the language before you leave for the Czech Republic, although we didn’t take advantage of them.

Strangers and family in a strange land

Who you travel with can define your trip. Exploring Europe with my little brother meant the journey was rife with fun and frustration.

We argued almost every day. David once admonished me for panicking about taking risks, like tasting pears growing in the former Nazi prison of  Terezin Concentration Camp and Ghetto or climbing under a fence  and onto private property to retrieve a sample of soil from the nearby river.   On another day, I threatened to send David home early because he refused to wear a  money belt so he couldn’t be pickpocketed.

But we also learned to cooperate and celebrate the joys and dilemmas of the trip together. David’s sense of humor helped me cope with the stress of the trip, and he was able to stay relatively patient whenever I had random freak outs.  I couldn’t imagine enjoying the adventure as much if he hadn’t been a part of it.

Once we arrived in my grandfather’s hometown of Ostrava, our relatives played a large role in making our last days in the Czech Republic exciting and informative. They translated for us, treated us to a home-cooked meal and lots of  alcohol, and helped us learn about our maternal grandfather’s family. Our time with our relatives was the most satisfying part of the trip for me, and I’m grateful I was able to connect with them.

It’s hard to travel with excess baggage

Foreign travel is often romanticized. There are countless tales of  travelers who leave their old lives and worries behind and relax or change while vacationing abroad.

Those travelers didn’t have Asperger Syndrome.

The stress of the trip exacerbated my neuroses and made me irritable. I have trouble communicating with people in my own country, where I’m  relatively comfortable. Trying to express myself and cope with the anxiety of being lost, being somewhat responsible for my little brother,  and missing planes, buses and tours made me lose the slight restraint I’m usually able to maintain.

I ended up snapping at David for little things, like not acting excited enough about our trip, and I panicked about nuisances like not being able to negotiate a bus aisle with my overstuffed luggage.

I realized my anxiety was taking away from my fun and annoy my little brother, and I decided I needed to relax. I started to accept that not everything on the trip would go the way I needed it to, and I stopped obsessing about my mistakes.

Once I relaxed, I communicated more naturally and derived more pleasure from the journey.

And while I still got stressed out, I felt I dealt with my anxiety better in the later days of the trip. At least some of them.

The perils of Audacity

I originally planned to edit and post most of my Prague Blog entries while in the country. Obviously, that didn’t happen.

We endured severe delays on our trip to Prague, and the delay threw off our schedule.  But I’m not sure I would have been able to post as much as I liked if everything had gone according to plan.

I wanted everything to sound natural, and we recorded the audio for our Soundslides presentations without a script. I had to sort through minutes of extraneous or inappropriate material to find content for my presentations. It also took  at least three or four days to edit the audio and photos for each presentation.

If I ever attempt a project this massive again, I’m going to make sure I have a script and plan for how long it will take to edit audio presentations. I will also edit less heavily to make the presentations sound more natural than the earliest presentations I posted.

I had not edited audio for about a year before taking on this project, and I had never taken on a project this complicated with multiple tracks. I feel I improved my skills in audio editing and blogging on this trip, and I hope you guys enjoyed partaking in our adventures.

I enjoyed my adventures in Europe, and I’m looking forward to what the new year will bring for me and this blog. But mostly, I’m glad I no longer have to reserve a significant amount of my day or week to editing audio.

Now, enjoy this deceptively cut presentation of highlights, outtakes and rants from our trip.

Caution: The following slideshow contains adult language and content. Pictures were taken by me, David and Ondrej Vanek.


Long Nights and Hard Ledes will now return to its normal subject matter. Look for the next post in a week or so.

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Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better

Jul 5

Posted by AlexTiegen in Freelancing | No Comments

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about possibly taking a sales job in South Florida.

Since then, the principals of the company dropped out of communication, and the job just vanished.

I think it’s for the best. I wasn’t terribly excited about sales work, and there was little opportunity to earn money in the first month on the job.

I have more time now to focus on reporting and finding a job in journalism or another industry.

And I’ve been thinking recently about the importance of assertiveness and self-discipline.

When you are employed, you have a safety net of bosses to guide you and a network of co-workers to support you.

As a freelancer, I lack much of that. I’ve needed to look within myself to find motivation and innovation.

I’m hoping my attempts to inspire and push myself will help me mature in my writing and allow me to find a job.

I’ve created guidelines to focus my efforts. I hope others will find these helpful, as well.

Be your own copy editor- fairly common sense

  • You take for granted how much you owe an editor when you answer to one every day. As news organizations shed copy and section editors, however, it’s becomingly increasingly essential for reporters to proofread and double-check the minutiae of their story.
  • I’ve always had a problem with proofreading, as I hate reading my own writing. Here are some strategies to fix that :
    • Finish stories early to give me time to proofread.
    • Take proofreading course at NewsU.
    • Print out my stories and read the hard copies before sending to editor.

Be your own assignment and section editor-also fairly common sense

  • As a freelancer, it’s tempting and easy to just wait for story assignments. But assignment editors don’t monitor all the news. So I’ve been hunting down stories myself. Here are strategies I use:
    • Look for angles and sources other reporters miss and propose follow-ups.  Editors usually reward initiative with a story. They’ll tell you if you’re stepping on a staff writer’s toes.
    • Latch onto an issue and make it an unofficial “beat.” My assignment editor called me “parks reporter” because I hounded the county Parks and Recreation Director for stories.

Start freelancing for larger outlets

  • I’ve started researching specialty magazines that  encourage in-depth and feature stories. I’m using my knowledge of the Treasure Coast and its history to pitch a couple ideas.
  • I’m going to approach large newspapers I’ve been intimidated by in the past. And I’m going to take more initiative in pursuing freelance contracts to get footholds with the papers.

Market myself

  • As someone with Asperger’s Syndrome, my natural inclination is to avoid attention. With a flood of unemployed journalists freelancing and searching for jobs, however, I have to distinguish myself.
  • This blog has helped me to get my name out there. I also use Twitter and Facebook to market myself and reach out to colleagues.  
  • I try to take part in conversations on social networks so I become part of the online community instead of just a promoter.

Refine multimedia reporting techniques

  • Neither of the news organizations I freelance for offer much opportunity to use online reporting techniques. So I have to take it under my own initiative to come up with ideas to use my online skills. Here’s how I’m doing that:
    • Taking pictures every week with my digital camera. Posting them on Flickr.
    • Practicing my audio editing
    • Combining the two skills to create SoundSlides.

On that note, this blog will soon host my first big multimedia project. Look for the announcement in the near future.

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Speak Softly and Carry a Big Cane

Jun 28

Posted by AlexTiegen in Asperger's, obsession | No Comments

house bathtub

Of all the characters on TV, I relate most to the irascible doctor who can’t stand people.  And who bears a strong resemblance to Sherlock Holmes and a star of Blackadder.

The egotistical, (mostly) unrepentant bastard might seem an unlikely subject for this blog.

But Dr. Gregory House represents a challenge journalists face frequently: the challenge of balancing rationalism and humanity. He also embodies the struggle to change while staying true to yourself.

I told you this blog would get geeky.

Drawing Lines in the Sand

One of my favorite House episodes focuses on his treatment of a severely autistic boy.

Unlike his fellow doctors, House is able to communicate with the child.  He convinces him to inhale anesthesia and uses the boy’s beloved PSP to send him a message.

At the same time, House makes a nuisance of himself to protest the removal of his blood-stained office carpet.

His teammates speculate he has Asperger’s Syndrome and can’t tolerate change, a symptom of the disorder. They think it explains his emotional disconnection and quirks.

Spoiler Alert:  Nope. He’s just a jerk.

Turns out he was pretending to have Asperger’s to con his boss into returning his carpet.

But that’s not the most important revelation.

The most fascinating reveal is that House may not have autism, but he wishes he does. House, who values rationality above all else, opines about the boy:

Why would you feel sorry for someone that gets to opt out of the inane courteous formalities which are utterly meaningless, insincere and therefore degrading?

This kid doesn’t have to pretend to be interested in your back pain, your secretions or your grandma’s itchy place. …I don’t pity this kid – I envy him.

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

House’s desire for an excuse to defy social norms (or simply be a jerk) is intriguing.

When I was younger, I used my Asperger’s Syndrome as an excuse not to make eye contact or brush my hair. I still use it as an excuse to speak whatever’s on my mind and invade peoples’ privacy.

Journalists also value the opportunity to escape awkward social graces, and, like House, we use our jobs as an excuse to do so.

We criticize public officials and call them out on their lies. We break rules of propriety to get information. We make private lives public and expose secrets for all to see.

We justify ourselves using rationalism, much as House uses rationalism to justify intruding into patients’ lives, medically and socially.

If we don’t question authorities, few others will. It takes assertiveness, honesty and at least a little outrage to do our jobs. All this is true.

People accept us because we make life better, just as House’s boss doesn’t fire him because he’s an asset to the hospital.

But this only lasts until our sense of privilege and rationality outweighs our dedication to those we serve.

Both Sides Now

Journalists and House are both grappling with identity crises right now, and the cases fascinate me as I attempt to reconcile my autism with my desire to better myself.

House is realizing that his rationalism is changing from a commodity to a liability. There’s a difference between being a jerk who callsAutopsy-house-md-3129242-100-100 out patients on hypocrisy and being a bully who questions the motives of a dying girl.

Journalists are also grappling with change. We’re adapting to a world where blogs and online publications offer a convenient alternative to traditional media.

As we do so, however, we sometimes allow rationalism to overcome our humanity.

Earlier this year, the St. Petersburg Times posted a mug shot website that updates with arrest information and gives general stats about the crimes and accused.

Rationally, there’s nothing wrong with the project. The information is public record, and people deserve to know.

But it lacks the humanity that characterizes the best of journalism. It reduces people to images and statistics. It robs them of motive, background and character.

Compare that to the Times’ recent coverage of a chief Scientologist’s alleged mistreatment of his staff and worshippers.

It’s hard-edged and incorporates online-exclusive elements. Most importantly, it doesn’t use rationality to shy away from humanity. It uses video interviews and anecdotes to show personality and motive.

It makes people care.

The  ability to blend humanity and rationality to tell a compelling story is what distinguishes  journalists from other news sources.

And it allows us to change and adapt while remaining relevant and true to our nature.

…But If You Try Sometimes You Just Might Find

As I watch journalists and House pursue change, I  learn from their choices.

When my autistic tendencies start to become an annoyance, I remember how House tempers his jerk tendencies with his humanity.  I take a deep breath and think about how I can curb or counter my behavior.

When rationalism puts me in danger of emphasizing facts and figures over characters in my stories, I remember how other journalists work humanity into their articles. I follow their example to stay humane and fair in my own work.

Learning how my real and fictional role models confront change helps me realize how I can improve myself. It gives me confidence that I can change myself without betraying what makes me special.

It gives me hope for the future of journalism. And it gives me faith in House’s ability to change and pursue a relationship with his boss.

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Risky Business

Jun 20

Posted by AlexTiegen in Dual Jobs | 2 Comments

Here’s a riddle for you:

I write for two news organizations. But I’m employed by neither.

I put as much work into most of my stories as a staff writer does. But I only earn enough money to pay my basic bills.

Who am I? Answer: I’m a freelance reporter in a time of economic turmoil.

As a consequence, I had to apply for a commission-based, part-time job in sales and public relations/marketing with an online business directory for a city in South Florida  to supplement my income as a freelancer. I got it, although I haven’t actually started my first day of work.

In an ideal world, I would never need to apply for a job outside of journalism.

Since I don’t have a reporting job in South Africa or a pet tiger, however, I can safely state that this is not an ideal world.

Plus, it’s important that I keep my options open to job experience outside of journalism.  Even if this is not a stable career, either. Nor is it a career that I see myself doing long term.

I’m sure you’re asking (And I’ve asked myself): How can I call myself a reporter if I take a job that is the antithesis of journalism?

I remain a journalist because I remain committed to the responsibilities and values of a reporter. I’m not significantly lessening my freelance assignments, and I won’t allow this job to change or compromise who I am as a journalist.

I haven’t worked my first full day on the job yet, and I am already having second thoughts about it. But I need to at least give it a chance.

However, if I do stick with the job, I need to balance it and my duties as a journalist.

So here are tips and guidelines I’ve made for myself and others. Some of these I came up with after thinking of my own experiences with journalism and slight experience with PR. Others came to me when I attended LaidOffCamp/FreelanceCamp in Miami.

*Operate outside coverage area or beat when doing PR. Notify editor to make sure there are no conflicts of interest.

  • The sales job is far south of the coverage area of Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, from which I receive most of my assignments, except for big chains I might need to solicit.  My editor said the job is not a conflict, but I’ll make sure to analyze if stories involves any of my clients in sales to avoid conflicts
  • Repeated for Forum Publishing Group, which has a coverage area that includes the city this sales job focuses on. My editor said it did not provide a conflict. I decided I’m not going to cover anything in that city if it is centered on businesses.  I might not be able to cover the specific city at all.

*Draw a line of demarcation between Journalism and PR/ Sales.

  • I need to make sure my employers, clients, readers and sources know that I don’t mix journalism and public relations.
  • Clients for the sales job should know me as a representative of the online directory I’m employed with and freelance ad writer, and that I can’t and won’t offer them any services as a journalist or pass off any ads as articles.
  • Sources and readers should know me as a professional journalist who reports fairly and accurately. I have to show them that I won’t favor one source over another and that I won’t let my sales job affect my reporting.

*Stay honest. Stay as unbiased as possible.

  • This is probably the trickiest tightrope to walk. If you work in journalism and PR/ advertising simultaneously, it’s hard to keep one writing or business style from carrying over into the other.
  • I’m going to have to edit myself harder than I have in the past to make sure I’m not embellishing facts, using deceptive language or taking sides in my articles.
  • I need to keep a dialogue with the readers to ensure I keep my facts straight and my reporting. Online journalism works best when it allows audiences to keep reporters on the straight and narrow. I’m hoping audiences will point out when I’m wrong or biased. And I hope those discussions take place on this blog, too.

In an ideal world, my feet would never touch this shaky tightrope. But this is reality.

I could learn much about journalism and sales if I balance these jobs properly. All I can do is try my best and hope I can mature as a professional from both jobs.

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Greetings from the Empire of the Ants

Jun 14

Posted by AlexTiegen in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

I love journalism. I also love to eat. And travel. And buy books.

And enjoy many other pleasures that require earning a stable income.

In the face of frequent news of newspaper shutdowns or closures, however, it’s hard not to worry.

I worry I won’t be able reconcile my love for journalism with my hope for a stable career that will allow me to live independently, help others and have fun.

Sometimes, I get angry that I devoted time and energy to an industry in its apparent death throes.

But then, I remember how much my life has changed since I started to pursue a career as a reporter.

Journalism took me from the largest island of the Bahamas to the hills of New England and the Treasure Coast of Florida, also known as the  Empire of the Ants.

I went crabbing with a musician struggling to support his family on the north coast of Andros Island and interviewed residents of a beachside hamlet hoping to see their town revitalized.

I met camels raised in the hills of New Hampshire and dined on pizza with a Sudanese refugee.

Journalism forced me to seek conversation and intimacy, a frightening task for someone with Asperger’s Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism.

It forced me to fight my skittish inner nature and confront police, town officials and, most intimidating, angry parents.

It introduced me to some of my best friends and mentors.

And despite journalism’s troubling decline and a long and tiresome job search, I still love and am loyal to the profession that helped me mature as a writer and human.

Just not to the exclusion of another career that could make me happy.

So this blog is a chronicle of my journey to find my place in the changing world of journalism, or, failing that, find my place in another fulfilling career.

And it’s an exploration of how my Asperger’s Syndrome changes how I look at the world as a reporter and human being.

But most of all, this blog is going to be fun. The most amusing facet of having the Geek Syndrome is that it makes me obsess about anything that interests me.

That includes books, TV shows, comics, cartoons or music.  I use these to learn about and interact with the world, along with my daily interactions with sources, friends and family.

But more on that in another blog post.

I hope you find this blog entertaining and helpful. I know it helps me vent, as  did my last blog. More importantly, however, I want this to become a resource for other journalists, autistics or geeks. Feel free to comment, ask  questions or propose a way to contribute. I’m excited to see how this blog evolves, and I hope it allows me to keep in contact with old friends and meet new ones.

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