02.12.01

By Kelly Gerow

My advice for young reporters who are seeking advice as young reporters is to not be doped up when you meet new people who can help you on your way to be becoming a better journalist.

I had the pleasure of being the shadow of Pam Stallsmith, a reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, while she worked at the Capitol. However, I was also recovering from a cold and a few days and nights of medication, so my day passed by like fog - slow and cloudy.

"You're here on a Byzantine day," Stallsmith said to me. She said that all of the exciting news happened on Monday. The election of judges was the pressing business the Tuesday I went to observe the floor of the House of Representatives.

Stallsmith, who began at the Times-Dispatch in 1988, has been reporting during legislative sessions for five years. She covers education and social issues, and prefers the House to the Senate. During the rest of the year, she reports on the Board of Education, campaign finance and politics. She is one of the four full-time reporters from the paper working at the Capitol.

The Times-Dispatch also has six part timers reporting on legislation, and tends to take a statewide perspective on the issues.

Covering the General Assembly is like being at a cocktail party, Stallsmith said, because of the constant social interaction. Stallsmith presumably knew everyone in the building, and a lot of them knew her. She chatted with several legislators, and speculated on what delegates were discussing in private.

In the first hour and a half that we were in the House chamber, there was one recess and two at-ease periods. During these moments, and often during session, the delegates checked e-mail, played card games on their laptop computers and ordered food from the pages.

During the time we spent in session, the House voted on bills on their third readings, which included many bills related to special license plates.

Delegate Panny Rhodes, R-Richmond, who had earlier given a speech regarding an article by Jeff Schapiro of the Times-Dispatch ("We may differ, but it does not mean we are fighting, and it doesn't mean we are slapping," she said), voted against all license plate bills - including one allowing special plates for supporters of Virginia Zoos.

Later we went to the press room, where the session could be heard better, though sound travels oddly in the concave roofed-room. Stallsmith said that the other members of the press are friendly, but there is still competition.

I met nearly everyone in the room, as well as many people on the floor, but either due to my lack of memory or to my CVS-brand Nyquil haze, I couldn't remember any names. Except for Schapiro's, because he wore interesting glasses.

Stallsmith's advice for covering the Legislature was simple. Basically, know what you're reporting on.

"I would suggest being able to see the big picture. It's very easy to get bogged down in debris," she said. "Have familiarity with state government, like understanding how a bicameral legislature works."

She said that a reporter shouldn't be afraid to ask questions.

"It's better to ask an extra question than to report an error," she said.

Also, do your homework, read through bills, read other newspapers to know what the competitors are doing and know the issues. She suggested that a reporter should follow issues that he or she finds personally interesting.

Stallsmith also recommended checking with patrons and talking with the members. She said to know as much about the members as possible and to "follow the money" to see where their interests lie.

"Work your sources. Always talk to people," she said.

Her most helpful advice, however, was to wear comfortable shoes.

And if I had asked, I'm sure she would agree that it's best to be clear-headed and healthy when on the floor. I've made sure to remember that since that day.