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Topic: My job is on the line
| Author | Message |
| marniew | Posted – 8/19/2008 11:25:04 AM | show profile My editor threw me under the bus for the second time in the ed meeting yesterday. I tried to correct the situation by defending myself, but it didn't work. I have a meeting with the ME at 3 today. Here's the story: My editor, who the sales staff refer to as "the fluffer," is sent on location to do the interview via recorder. She interviews and does her thing with the client (yes, what you think), then I transcribe and write the story. It's all good, it's a by-line! My ed went on a trip two weeks ago, which was supposed to be 2 days but turned into 8. The other 6 weren't business. She has the vaca time so who am I to judge. The problem was, the story was due on the day she was supposed to return. No recorder, no story. I asked her to Fedex the recorder, and she conveniently forgot. She returns, gushing about her trip to a private island that the advertiser "owns" and other unmentionables. Gag. About the recorder, she gives me some sob story of how she didn't have a car to get to the post office, etc., etc. She says that she'll cover for me (me?) and I can have an extra day. Wow, generous. I now have 24 hours instead of 8 to transcribe a 2 hour interview and write a 6,000 word article. Thanks. So I write the monster, staying up until 3 in the morning, and present it to her the next day. She's embroiled in some psycho drama with the boyfriend, and she announces that she has to leave for the day to do "boyfriend maintenance" because he gets jealous when she travels (wonder why). She doesn't touch my story. No problem. I didn't need sleep. I use the time to copyedit the article and slip a new copy under her door. I feel proud of finishing it and moving on with the weekend. Monday rolls around and we have the meeting. ME asks about my story, and editor interrupts. Editor says that I was late giving her the story and she still needed to edit. I defend myself and tell the ME that the editor did not give me the recorder until Thursday and that I gave her the story the next day. Editor stands up, in full drama mode, and says that I am totally lying and had the recorder for 5 days. And--get this--she whips out the Fedex bill to prove she sent it to me. I tell the ME I gave it to her Friday morning; editor claims she had to leave early for advertiser meeting (another lie). ME glares back at me and goes into lecture mode about the EAs not pulling their weight. I know I should have insisted, but I sat down and shut up to not make matters worse. ME schedules meeting for today. I confront my editor, who reminds me that I had all day Thursday AND Friday to write the story. She insists she sent the recorder, and that I have a real problem with slacking and in telling the truth. I know I'm not a multiple personality or delusional, so I shut up again. She's done this to me and the two other EAs before, so there is no winning. Now I'm preparing my defense to the ME. What the hell am I going to say? The editor services the advertisers, so what value do I bring to the publication other than writing? The lies will eventually catch up with her, but I can't be the sacrificial lamb until then. I REALLY need the job and benefits now, and this job carries a TON of clout. Any advice would be great. |
| writerandeditor | Posted – 8/19/2008 11:35:12 AM | show profile I know you need the job and benefits, but start sending out your resume anyway. That place sounds awful and unbelievably unethical. I guess you can explain to your ME your side of the story, but I'm not sure if it will do any good at a publication that has such crappy work practicies anyway. |
| Suet | Posted – 8/19/2008 11:40:37 AM | show profile | email poster My advice is, get as much as you can in writing with someone like this. If you have a meeting with them, write an email to summarize and say "as discussed...". In this particular instance - what is the date on the FedEx receipt? It seems that would solve a big piece of it. But yes, it is a crappy environment you are working in, and I would definitely try to get out of there ASAP. Oh, and I also advise you to email me the name of the publication so that my morbid curiosity doesn't kill me : ) |
| catlondon | Posted – 8/19/2008 11:51:12 AM | show profile How much e-mail documentation do you have? A lot I hope--enough to print out and organize into a timeline that supports your position. If you don't and survive, then you will have learned enough to document everything--"As per our conversation this morning, I wanted to confirm that you didn't have a car to get to the post office and were unable to send me the recorder." That sort of thing. You can also turn it back on the ME..."I hoping you can give me insight on working more effectively with Suzie so I can do the best job possible." Of course, if she's that tight with the advertisers, then nothing you say or do will matter. And I'm curious why you slipped a copy under her door. Did you not also e-mail her a copy so that the onus would have been on her to look at it over the weekend? And who signed the Fed Ex bill? Not you, evidently, but it should be easy to track down the person who signed for it and ask what became of the package that was supposedly sent to you. You can even look that up online. |
| rhino writer | Posted – 8/19/2008 11:55:58 AM | show profile If she has a FedEx bill, whatever she's claiming to have sent will be trackable -- when it was sent, who it was sent to, where it went, whether it was delivered. You may not be able to do this, of course, but you might mention it to the ME as part of your defense. Did you e-mail her asking for the recorder, or was it by phone? If you have records, bring them. But get out of there. The writing's on the wall and it's not in your favor for the long term. Ack. Good luck -- let us know what happens. |
| mkelly | Posted – 8/19/2008 12:46:32 PM | show profile If she's done this to you before, I assume you have documentation now to cover your ass. And if she didn't deliver the goods at the original specified date, I assume you went to her supervisor (the ME) and told him or her that the story won't be ready on time because she failed to give you the materials as promised. As I've said before: a little mistrust and lack of faith in people's abilities can go a long way. This is one of those times. |
| Marie | Posted – 8/19/2008 1:15:05 PM | show profile Before you go into the ME, write a clear e-mail documenting the whole saga, omitting of course the more salacious details, which afe really just suppositions on your part. Just stick to the timetable. End it with "I believe the dates and signature on [name person] Fed Ex bill should help clarify this somewhat." Unless you've lost your mind, which I doubt, that FedEx receipt was not for the recorder, seeing as she even told you she didn't send it. But you need to look for another job. |
| kristendkirk | Posted – 8/19/2008 2:25:27 PM | show profile It might be near impossible, but stay calm as you talk to the ME. Just offer the facts; don't bad mouth the editor. Say next time you'll definitely keep the ME in the loop if she/he would like you to do that. It might take a long time --years! -- but the ME will eventually realize you're telling the truth. Network like crazy and get the hell out of there. Kristen Kirk www.thefamilythatreadstogether.blogspot.com |
| chucho | Posted – 8/19/2008 3:53:44 PM | show profile I second kirsten here. Oh, and please delete "threw me under the bus" from your internal vocab :) Using linguistic memes will only get you jobs in places where they are used . . . *cringe* |
| hurldog | Posted – 8/19/2008 4:04:04 PM | show profile I'm sorry, but I find it really funny that someone who would scold someone for using a cliche would refer to it as a "linguistic meme." Teehee. |
| Mirage | Posted – 8/19/2008 4:53:20 PM | show profile marniew I don't really have anything to add to the great advice you've been given by other posters. I just wanted to wish you luck in your meeting today, and to encourage you to get your resume out there and start networking. You don't need to deal with that kind of aggravation 5 days a week. |
| chucho | Posted – 8/19/2008 5:07:39 PM | show profile Hurlog: Um, touche. :) |
| Marie | Posted – 8/19/2008 10:27:55 PM | show profile Report back what happened in the meeting. |
| milkmilklemonade | Posted – 8/19/2008 11:33:00 PM | show profile If I didn't know better... I'd think she was my old boss. Boyfriend drama, sleeping around, and the lying. If she shows up at 11 wearing an outfit from The Limited TOO and leaves at 4, you might have my old job. The best thing I ever did was quit. |
| jobhunter08 | Posted – 8/25/2008 1:05:38 AM | show profile Wow, this is crazy. Can we get an update?! The date on the bill should be all that's needed. |
