A word about Word on the Street

By Zach Urness / Sports editor

One of the coolest parts of being a reporter is the random people you meet. You learn quickly that each person has a slightly different story to tell, and that every week brings a new set of details you couldn't have imagined the week before.

One of my stories this week, for example, is about a grizzly bear reaching into a truck bed and stealing an elk carcass. It doesn't get much stranger than that.

And yet there is one part of my job that is far more random and idiosyncratic than the rest by far.

It's called "Word on the Street," and if you read our newspaper, you've seen it. In the upper right hand corner of page A2 is a question (i.e "what is your favorite holiday memory?"), four pictures of local people and their names, locations, and answers to the question posed.

Since this section is actually one of the most popular, I thought that you, our magnificent readers, might like to learn how it all comes together.

The first step is for Ethan, the editor, to decide to whom he'd like to appoint the task. Generally it falls to the reporter who's worked here the shortest amount of time, but occasionally, he gazes across the office and notices one of his reporters "managing" his fantasy football team instead of working, thus leading to it suddenly being that reporter's turn.

The second step is to come up with the question. The editor, reporters and advertising staff usually spend a few minutes shouting out random questions to this end. Most of the suggestions are related to current events and are fairly innocuous, but sometimes we'll hear suggestions for questions like, "Which do you prefer, boxers, briefs or free and easy?" or "Can I have your phone number?"

To be fair, both questions were suggested by the sports editor. He's got a lot of issues.

Anyway … The final step is finding people willing to answer the question and, often far more difficult, people willing to have their picture taken. There are many strategies you can use to this end. Personally, I prefer the "charming yet respectful young man" routine.

For example, I usually stand at the entrance to a public place with lots of people, like, say, a grocery store. As people walk toward the entrance I make eye contact, hit them with a shy smile and say, "Well, hello there!" in a friendly voice intended to put up them at ease. Despite my best efforts, I get the impression that many people initially think I am trying to:

A) Explain to them the best way to achieve spiritual enlightenment

B) Sell them something

C) Hit on them (usually this is only the women … usually)

Once the person is actually looking at me, I say: "I work for the Lake County Leader and each week we like to ask people a quick question and take their picture, would you mind, it would only take a second?"

Notice the lack of punctuation. This is key. You have such a narrow window to catch people before they blow past you, that it helps to talk fast.

If things go well, you'll ask them the question, get their answer, name, and location, take a quick photo, and send them on their way.

But things are rarely that simple. I've met more than a few people who, for whatever reason, decide to turn the question into a philosophical debate or to use the opportunity to vent their particular frustration.

To wit, once the question was "What is your favorite snack?" Seriously, this must have been the easiest question to answer in "Word on the Street" history.

But instead of simply saying, Cheetos, Doritos, or popcorn, one of the guys I met used his opportunity to rant for roughly 25 minutes about how evil corporations were destroying newspapers across the country.

And in all fairness I did check, but there is no snack called "evil corporation trail mix."

Another problem I commonly face is photo-phobia. I don't mean to pick on the ladies here, but frequently the women I meet are more than happy to answer the question, give me their name and hometown. But as soon as I raise the camera, they take off so fast you'd think a grizzly bear wielding a samurai sword was chasing them.

Despite these setbacks, "Word on the Street" is usually fun just for the random people and their random answers. Here are a few of my favorites from the past year.

Q: What band would you like to see perform at this year's Super Bowl?

A: Elvis

Q: What is the worst mistake you've ever made?

A: Probably telling my dad I didn't like him

Q: What was your worst Valentine's Day present?

A: Being left seven months pregnant while my husband went skiing.

Q: What is the most dangerous thing you've ever done?

A: Met my boyfriend

Q: If you could meet one person in history, alive or dead, who would it be?

A: Cher

Q: If you could name a foret fire anything, what would it be?

A: Smoky the Bear

Q: What is your biggest pet-peeve?

A: When people ask me annoying questions at the grocery store

Thanks a lot, pal.