Scoop!

So it begins

It was October 24, 2016, when Josefine Maria Kramer's life changed without her realising it. Well, her grandmother always used to say that life changes constantly and you would only comprehend it when it had happened. So, this really wasn't her fault. But sitting in her boss' office in the Daily Morning News building in London, with his steely blue eyes fixed on her, she couldn't know what this meeting would contain and what it would mean for her a little more than two months later.

'So, Jo, you've worked with us for just over one year now, is that correct?' he asked her, resting his arms on the large wooden desk in front of him.

'Yes', she answered immediately, though she was pretty sure this was a rhetorical question, as she was fairly certain that she saw her personnel file in front of William Kaine.

'And you've worked in the cultural news department so far', he said then, 'as a junior editor.'

'Yes', Jo answered again, slower this time. She was a trained journalist, she had studied for six years in Hamburg, then went into practical training for two years, worked for that newspaper for another year and then came to London. Still, with all of her experience in journalism, she didn't have any idea where this interview was about to go.

'So, would you like to work as a regular editor sometime soon?'

'Oh Gosh, I would, actually!' It was almost embarrassing how fast Jo answered him. She really didn't want to sound too desperate. But she was living in a flat with her co-worker Sam and his boyfriend. She stayed in a bed in the loft above the living room. And still the rent was about one thousand pounds per month. It would be great to actually have some money left by the end of the month instead of eating pasta with ketchup for the last week before her pay check. 'You're not joking, are you?' she asked then.

'I'm not joking. However, I need to pay you the editor's salary and for that I need money. As you know, we need to sell papers to make said money and for that I need your help. I can't pay you more when I'm not certain that you will pay me back, so to speak. So, you haven't had any scoops yet, have you?'

Where in the hell was he going with this? Of course, Jo understood that the Daily Morning News couldn't pay her money that the newspaper didn't have. She might not work in the financial news department, but she surely knew that much. So why offer her the position in the first place? Did he have fun seeing the disappointment in her eyes? He was definitely succeeding if that was the case. She could feel the sweat building on her neck when she finally answered. 'Well, William, with all due respect, the cultural news department isn't exactly known for its scoops when it comes to discussing plays, concerts and movies. It's a little difficult to find something new about the shows, which the audience doesn't know.' Jo bit her lip. A snarky, sarcastic remark really wouldn't help her case, but it was too late for that now, she guessed.

He studied her for a moment and then smirked. 'I'm aware of that, Jo. But what would you say if I made you an offer? Give me a scoop, a good story by the end of the first week of January and I can guarantee you the position as an editor. I will know you're worth my money. Well, I already know you can write, but I need the sales as you can imagine.'

Jo cleared her throat for a moment. That certainly was easier said than done. 'I would love to give you a story. But it's not like Lin-Manuel Miranda will suddenly and secretly tell me, it was all a lie and he didn't write Hamilton or something like that. As I said, there aren't many big stories to find unless it's about the artists. And I'm pretty sure, we do have the society reporters and paparazzi for that.' She really tried not to sound too disgusted. But no, she could never understand why someone studied journalism just to end up as a society reporter, chasing celebrities and fabricating lies.