This story about a N.H. Union Leader reporter let go for supposedly having a “New York attitude” is getting some play on Romenesko and Gawker today. From the Boston Phoenix:
Eight weeks later, [Margaret] Menge was asked to resign from the paper. The reporter, who ruffled a few feathers at the local police department, says she had no real inkling she was in trouble until she was suddenly summoned to that fateful termination meeting. She recalls Ed Domaingue, managing editor for news, telling her that she came to the paper “with a New York attitude. We do community journalism here.”
I actually worked at that paper, and specifically for Ed Domaingue, for several years in the late ’90s. It’s pretty funny he would say something like that (and I’m sure he did), because he’s one of the more aggressive, type-A editors I’ve ever dealt with. Also definitely one of my favorite bosses, too. But let’s just say he shouldn’t complain about any reporters having a “New York attitude”! I don’t know what happened to Menge, but I have a hard time believing she was fired for “ruffling feathers” in the police department.
Appreciate the kind words. New York is a wonderful place. Jimmy Breslin. Derek Rose, who always makes me think of the news value of trash cans in police investigations. Great restaurants. Great bars. Even have a daughter there, finishing her senior year at NYU. (And she knows more about the bars than I do) I was always taught two things (or, at least, there are two things I remember I was taught): Always speak kindly of the dead; don’t waste time explaining things to people who have no intention of listening to what you are saying. At least one of those apply in the specific case. (Anyone reading this should ask Derek to explain the trash can; made him one of my heroes! One of the handful of reporters I would clone without hesitation. And then work the ass off of in pursuit of great stories.)
Having a New York attitude in California is pretty difficult too, I grew up with parents born and raised in NY and moved to California when I was born. No one understands you or gets you here in California, beautiful state to live in but no culture what so ever, and people with out a clue! Speak your mind?? Whats that here? If you do that, talk about people getting offended. Mom and dad should have kept us in the big apple, we would have fit in a hell of alot more.
Heather, the New York attitude to us Californians is one of impatience, annoyance, rudeness, and general hostility. Californians speak their mind very well, but not in the hyper-aggressive and confrontational way that New Yorkers do.
In short, us Californians find New Yorkers to be offensive and downright useless. And by the way, there is more culture in California that you can shake a stick at, and much more diversity as well.
C’mon … more diversity in California than New York? Maybe if you’re comparing New York State vs. California, I guess. But NYC vs. LA, c’mon. NYC is probably the most cultural and most diverse city in the world. I would agree with you about impatience, because we’re always in a hurry.
As for the other stuff, well I think people here do abopt an unfriendly veneer, because we’re all so packed in close together and there’s a bunch of crazies and people that want stuff from us. Once you get past that, New Yorkers are just as friendly as people everywhere else.
Sorry for joining an old discussion but it intrigues me because I have lived on both coasts, most of the West and NYC and Miami. I think about the differences quite often and try not to be bias or stereotype. For whatever reason the West Coast does not feel like it has culture, although it actually does have a lot of it, I think NYC has the added element of history and without the added pizzaz of commercialism that the West has. Although that is changing in NYC more and more everyday, we are becoming more franchised, but our art and culture largely untouched.
As for the people, I have to disagree about the diversity. People here are basically the same. Go to Chicago you will find 100’s more neighborhoods devoted to individual foreign countries. NYC is very limited in that respect. Also, the creativity of the West coast outdoes the diversity of personality types and lifestyles you will find in NY. Pretty much it’s the same thing out here, and people dress the same all over the city. It’s hard to make friends here, unless you call drinking and working partners friends. People are usually looking to upgrade and the singles scene is the same way from what I hear. Maybe it was different before 9/11, but I think it’s hugely conservative comparatively. I’d like to hear others thoughts.
Essentially the New York attitude is an excuse to be obnoxious. I’ve dealt with them here in the Midwest, and to be honest the only thing I find exceptional is their inability to survive outside of a roach-infested urban trough of decay. I’d give the nod for creativity, intellect, and contribution to the US via exceptional developments in technology to Cali any day. New York? Well, they’re good at shuffling money around and losing it on Wall St!