What you’re seeing is REAL.
That truly is The Door (of Shame, Blame and Brilliance), which is the most important door in our two-door newsroom. Not just because it leads to the commode, but also because it displays the best and worst examples of print journalism clipped and taped there by reporters at Siuslaw News since the 1970s. We like to think of The Door as the Smithsonian of journalistic history, except with the occasional sound of flushing. As I mentioned a couple of months ago when I closed The Door after it’s year-long run as a weekly feature here, I would re-open it under the following conditions:
1) A new example of print journalism Shame, Blame or Brilliance has been deemed worthy of inclusion
And
2) Our delivery guy, “Joe,” hasn’t used the commode in at least two days
As you’ve probably guessed by now, each of these incredibly strict criteria has been met! (And if you haven’t guessed that by now, a position in Walmart security is waiting for you.) What this means is that we will be participating in an extremely rare induction ceremony for The Door, which hasn’t occurred since running out of glue sticks and adhesives in the mid 1980s.
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! We actually have two examples of print media history to include on The Door, which has arguably become recognized around the world as a “journalistic Mecca” of sorts — or what Barbara Walters once called “Weewy Impwessive.”
In keeping with tradition, before we reveal our two latest additions, let us join hands and, in a monotoned voice similar to anyone describing Beyonce’s new album, repeat the following:
The Door is a beacon, drawing us into the jagged rocks of journalism.
Okay, you can let go now; sorry my hands were sweaty.
Our first entry comes from Newport News-Times, which is a newspaper here along the Oregon coast where, apparently, mixed media art means something else entirely…
I’m not sure if it was intentional, but this article doesn’t talk as much about Sam Briseno’s art as it does about it’s enormous size.
“…120 feet in length…”
“…17 feet tall…”
“…10-foot interlocking sections…”
“…galvanized for longevity…”
Fine. Maybe it’s just me. But I’m feeling a little inadequate right now.
Speaking of which, before our next entry, I should begin by saying everyone makes mistakes — even ME. No, it’s TRUE! (Next time, please try to act more surprised.) For this reason, I am submitting a photo that recently appeared here in Siuslaw News, on a page I worked on.
Seems innocent enough, right? I mean except for the women kneeling in the front row making the Oregon “O” in front of their mouths. If you were thinking anything else, shame on you… but it gets worse. You should probably know that the mascots for our two local college teams are the Ducks and Beavers. Wait, it still gets worse…
In my defense, the photo and cutline were submitted to us. However, given my years of journalistic experience, and factoring in a natural thought process my wife has referred to as “naughty,” I really should have caught that before it went to print.
Not to say that I would’ve changed…
(Ned Hickson is a syndicated columnist with News Media Corporation. His first book, Humor at the Speed of Life, is available here from Port Hole Publications.)
Ned's Blog 
Hi Ned,
These are awesome! Would love to see more from the earlier days.
I read some of my old crap yesterday and immediately crawled into fetal position from the embarassment. It’s so blame and shame-laden and riddled with horrible cliches, that it’s not even worthy for your Door. I keep those snippets around just to remind myself that even though I play a writer on TV, I’m not one in real life!
Michelle
Thanks, Michelle 😉 If you get bored, you can click on the gold “The Door” link in the post and it will take you to the archives for that feature. Some of the things that newspapers miss are a mixture of hilarity and horror.
By the way, I keep a file with all of my rejection letters/emails from editors and publishers over the years so that some day, if I ever make it on Conan or Letterman, I can read their names on TV 😉
And don’t kid yourself; you don’t “play” at being a writer — you IS one.
Now take a nap or something and get better!
Personally, I like that the photo of the group showing their “true colors” is in black and white.
LOL! I didn’t even think about that 🙂 Shows where my mind is…
I imagine you were.. ummm.. pelted with letters regarding the beaver cutline, which I think it’s appropriate to be called a cutline…..
LOL!! I will bow first today…
UNCLE HENRY!!
Your wife isn’t going to let me come over to play any more.
HEY!! I wear the PANTS in this family!!
(right Honey?)
The beaver! Symbol of the great nation of Canada!
The beaver! A reclusive creature whose thick, luxurious fur protects it from the ravages of subarctic winter. The typical Brazilian would freeze to death up here.
The beaver! Almost hunted to death by outdoorsy men from Europe who spent long periods of time without seeing women.
The beaver! Proudly displayed across from the Queen’s head on the Canadian nickel.
The beaver! No Canadian home is complete without one.
And as an added bonus, we present Primus:
Leave it to you.
Or Beaver.
I’m not sure which…
I was waiting for a typo on “duck.”
I’m working on it…
What is it like in the news room the morning after something like this happens.
It’s total pandemonium. Phones ringing. The editor slamming her first on the desk and blowing cigar smoke in our faces. Beavers pounding the front door…
Rubbing from the other writers.
Yeah, that too…
OK Tom and Ned…really? Beavers pounding…rubbing from the other writers? Your wife was write. You are naturally naughty.
We should party.
Only if you get rid of the stuffed fighting Irishman.
so good and i thought pubic art had to do with manscaping?
Could be why I didn’t pursue an art degree…
There was already a knot in my stomach at, “The metal artisan has designs on his mind; designs in steel.”
I’ll try and finish this later when I’m more psyched up for the horrors within.
Take your time, Lizi. He’s still in the spawning stage…
That’s the thing. “Spawn” is just the wrong verb here. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Is it me or is there something about having a dead, stuffed and mounted version of your favorite team’s mascot on the mantle above your fireplace that is just kinda counterproductive to cheering the team on?
I mean wouldn’t it make more sense to have a dead, stuffed and mounted version of the team you hate mascot on your mantle?
That’s why I have an actual Fighting Irishman – formerly fighting I suppose – and Trojan – old time one…you know inside the horse…not the condom. Couldn’t fit the horse on the shelf. Shame.
I’ve always thought the same thing. About not having a stuffed condom on the shelf, I mean — unless you’re rooting for the Fighting Bobbitts. But I also agree with the mixed message that stuffing your mascot and having it on display sends. It’s one of the reasons I won’t go into the home of a Redskins fan.
Aaaah hahahah I thought “galvanized for longevity” was funny until I read about Gina’s stuffed beaver.
I think there might be a connection…
For obvious reasons, that ‘stuffed beaver’ struck a chord with me on numerous levels.
I was really hoping you wouldn’t see that, Lester. Would it help if I told you it was road kill before it was stuffed?
Uh… probably not. Sorry.
Well done – you naughty boy…
Well, I just report the news; I don’t make it. And any documentation proving otherwise has been destroyed.
So their true colors are halftone? Maybe something akin to shades of grey? Possibly 50?
Yes, but don’t let E.L. James know.