Winning

Winning isn't everything, but it sure is nice when it happens. Today is a day that reminds me why I love being a journalist. I need these days every so often, because working 12 hour days with people yelling at you can kind of wear you down. It's kind of the curse of competence, the better you are, the more people expect of you at the assignment desk. But today, it was all (well almost all) worth it. I had been in a fight with the Department of Criminal Investigation, the State Medical Examiner and the Attorney General's office. There was a case we had been following and things just weren't adding up. For the past week I have been working, reading Iowa Code and on the phone trying to track down information. Today my work paid off because the AG's office called me and gave me the news that they will be convening a grand jury to investigate the case. It may not sound like a major deal, but it is for me. I followed up, followed my instincts and had the first major news in this case in three months. I beat the competition. I beat the newspaper. And I gained the respect of the A.G.'s office and the new head of the DCI. And really...the respect is all that matters.