“I am often asked to write about our direct competitors, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and CNN. Many people at The Times know people at these organizations. Many also used to work at them. But what my colleagues hear over drinks with friends can sometimes be difficult for me to report out. (It’s much easier to talk to friends than reporters!)
“Because we all work in the same industry and often know the same people — and because journalists love to grumble — news and gossip are often intertwined. A question I frequently ask myself (and my editors) is whether a story would interest a general audience. If the answer is no — for example, if it involves an internal reorganization with little external impact — then it probably isn’t something I want to cover.