Best of luck to a solid reporter, and a good guy.

A good guy, for sure.

I'm still troubled by that image of ratting out the video-shooters at a Eugene White meeting. Not quite sure what that was all about.

But no doubt--we've lost another good one. I have this impression that he wrote more than was printed...he was prolific.

Law School? OSU has a good one, but he might just be trading one poorly paid job for another.

Unless, of course, he plans to enter politics? lol

I'm pasting links to a couple blogs that I think are pretty good reads for those consindering law school:

http://www.firsttiertoilet.blogspot.com/
http://butidideverythingrightorsoithought.blogspot.com/

I just hope The Star will become more aggressive in examining questionable practices/questionable uses of funding in many school district administrative offices.

The video episode TTT mentioned certainly raised questions about journalistic ethics relating to becoming too cozy with news sources.

I do wish this particular young man success in all of his future endeavors.

To be fair, I've observed Andy since he started in education reporting--it's a tough job, and superintendents lie through their teeth for breakfast. In case one of their ranks strays off the reservation, the metro-area supers meet regularly to write their scripts and compare notes.

They live in a particularly unchallenged world. Their boards are lapdogs.

If a reporter starts asking too many tough questions, (s)he gets shut off. And then (s)he can't do his/her job very well. It's a tough balancing act.

Andy did it real well, or so I thought--that little video incident notwithstanding.

My take on his future: he'd be a great teacher...he'll be a frustrated lawyer, unless he specialize sin something that gives him tremendous satisfaction. He's not about the money.

Another friend of mine made the leap from journalism to law, and has done very well. The fact that he had tenacity and a conscience before going into law school helped.

It's already advertised. Just go to Poynter Forums, ad is atop the left side column.

Sorry, make that the right side

TTT - You make a very valid point about beat reporters being "shut out" if they start asking too many questions, etc.

I had to deal with this issue myself during my newspaper days.

I haven't heard/read much discourse about this nuts-and-bolts problem in journalism.

We've seen it on a much-larger scale in how the major TV networks have sucked up to the military/politicians during our most recent wars to gain better access.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this issue and how to deal with it without compromising journalist ethics?

I am considering applying for the job. I am currently a K-12 education reporter at a smaller (but not that much smaller) newspaper. I have never worked at a Gannett newspaper. Despite the layoffs, Indy seems like a good place to work. Thoughts?

Whitebeard: if you're on a reportorial beat, and the sources shut you out...if the sources are publicly-paid, make noise with your readers. You really don't have any other options.

I'm not sure if I have faith in readers any more, but there should be enough readers to smoke out the nonsense.


In every bureaucracy, there are folks who will talk. On or off the record. Even IPS. Gene White is a bully, and has to have things his way. He has sharp elbows under the basket. A little digging is all it would take...there are knives out there for him. Hopefully, good reporters can sort out the daggers from the rela news.

BattleCreek: run. Fast. The other way.

I'm with Varan, does Andy Gammill have any idea how bad salaries and job opportunities in the legal profession? He's most likely going to come out of law school and if he can find a job, it will be for a LOWER salary than he made at the Star and with zero benefits.

In 23 years of being an attorney, starting salaries for attorneys haven't changed. If he can get a job, he might get $30K to $35K to start. A lot of people I know are commission only...which means they won't even make $30K.

I'm no fan of Gammill after he pulled that IPS stunt, but I wouldn't wish this career move on anyone at this point. I would encourage him to talk to people in the profession before he amasses six figure student loan debt he will never pay back.

Paul K. Ogden
Attorney at Law
IU School of Law Class of 1987