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How much is too much?

I've been a reporter for only a few months now and when I got a work cell phone the first thing I did (after turning it on of course) was put the number on my office voice mail so that contacts could reach me when I'm not in the office.

Being available all the time was great in the beginning. But as I've done more articles, more readers have been calling the number listed with my name to ask questions or comment and because it's my work cell I nearly always answer.

But no longer. As of today, my cell phone number is not on my office voicemail. I'll still give out the number, but on an individual basis to people I need to speak with for work.

The phone annoyed me for the first time when I got a call very early on a Sunday from a reader asking a question I didn't have an answer for. The reader was adamant they needed an answer right away but I couldn't help them. If they had called on a weekday I would have been able to track down an answer, but the weekend is no good. The phone call woke me up when I much preferred to sleep in, and the reader (and I) were frustrated I couldn't help.

A couple days ago I took my work cell phone with me to a step aerobics class because I was expecting a call from a source a few minutes after the class ended. However, about 20 minutes into the class, with my heart going and sweat dripping, I noticed that the phone light was blinking. I grabbed the phone and rushed out, thinking that the source had called early. And was it the source? No. It was a reader with a really simple question.

So that was my breaking point.

I'm still available to readers through e-mail and my office phone, which I answer when I'm there and always return calls as soon as possible. But I don't need to be available to everyone all the time, 24 hours a day. And especially not at the gym, or on a weekend.

Anyone else have stories about this problem?

Published Friday, January 11, 2008 12:31 AM by ElysseJames

Comments

# re: How much is too much?

Friday, January 11, 2008 9:11 AM by Derrick
First, be happy your paper gives you a cell phone. I have never worked for an operation like that.

I made the mistake of listing my name in the phone book and got calls from readers at 3 a.m. a couple times. I'll never do that again.

# re: How much is too much?

Friday, January 11, 2008 7:06 PM by GenePark
Great post Elysse, and this is definitely something I've considered over the years.

Alas, I've opted to keep my cell numbers, both personal AND work phones, on my voice mail.

There have been times where I was interrupted by readers. Once I was out partying with some friends. This isn't the most flattering of situations, but I was a little tossed, and at about 3 a.m. while I was still at the bar, a reader called me and asked what the results of the elections for the local Democratic Party were.

However I don't seem to be as inundated with as many calls as you, as my paper does NOT list my direct line in print. Only my email, and that's where I mostly field reader thoughts, complaints and such.

I don't mean to be in any way critical of your decision Elysse. In your case, it seems perfectly understandable and I'd probably do the same thing too.

However my personal feelings goes back to what I said earlier: Reporters being surrogate representatives to our readers, whether in sales or editorial. It may be cynical, but I think of our readers as customers, and in a business that runs 24 hours a day, I should stand ready to serve 24 hours a day.

Or maybe it's because no one else ever really calls me. :P

# re: How much is too much?

Thursday, January 17, 2008 4:17 PM by Jamie Ward
I used to give out my cell number when I worked for a newspaper full time. That ended when one of my sources called and threatened my life on my cell phone because he didn't like the story I wrote. Sometimes the truth hurts, right? Anyway, I use my discretion now when giving out a cell number and would never leave it on office voicemail. If the organization you work for provides you with a cell phone, it's probably so editors and staff can get in touch with you. In that case, I'd be careful about giving it out to readers and sources, especially if your org already gives your e-mail address out.

# re: How much is too much?

Friday, January 18, 2008 4:35 PM by Andres
Here is something you may want to think about too: Giving out your cell phone number to contacts can be a troublesome as well.
When I was a high school sports reporter, I had my cell phone on the card and gave it out to coaches. For the most part it wasn’t too bad, but one coach gave me problems. One year he called me up on a Sunday morning and wanted to know why I didn’t mention any of his wrestlers at a tournament I covered. Luckily, I turn my cell phone off when I sleep.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if it just him – and this is something you may need to look out for too – but I know he gave out my cell phone number to a parent who wanted to know why I didn’t mention his kid’s name in a story another time.
The next time I got cards, I took my cell phone number off.
If people have questions for you about your work, that’s what your office number and e-mail are for.

# re: How much is too much?

Saturday, January 19, 2008 7:56 PM by aaronaup
I just did the opposite.

After about a year of not having my cell number listed in my voice mail, I added it a few months ago. We'll see if I make it as long as ElysseJames, but thus far I am pleased.

I was sick of coming into the office in the morning and listening to good tips on phone messages wishing they would had just called me at home. As a crime reporter, I have to be on 24/7, because, well, crime never sleeps.

Adding my cell number has given me more access to sources, and though it has woken me up in the middle of the night, the stories have been worth it.

The key, and I am speaking with only a few months experience being completely available, is knowing when you can and can't answer the phone. I don't work out with my phone, no matter how important the source. If I don't readily recognize the number, I don't answer the phone when eating with friends or having drinks at the bar (that's for professional reasons).

But I do sleep with my phone and will answer in the middle of the night. Shows where my priorities are.

# re: How much is too much?

Friday, February 01, 2008 11:31 AM by SonyaSmith
I throw my cell phone number around all the time on my beat. And - my personal number is the same as my work number. At first, I chose to take a separate work phone but keeping two phones charged and putting two phones on silent and keeping contacts organized on two phones was just way too much. Now I just have one cell phone and it's a beautiful thing to only have one place for all of my stuff. As for giving out my cell phone number, I'm actually happy that I gave it out -- because sources from my old beat still know how to reach me. I'm so bold I put my cell number in my e-mail signature - but that's mostly because when covering Irvine I was out of the office so much it was best for people to call my cell number first. It also came in real handy to let people know to call at any time when there was something big going down in the city. That's how I got the news first out of all media of a double homicide - even though getting that phone call on my cell phone at 4 a.m. was a bit crazy.
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