Fight for the Feature
PHOTO CAPTION: TOP ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT): OLLIE, DANIEL, LENA
BOTTOM ROW (LEFT TO RIGH)T: JAMIE, JULIA, THEO
Mallika Badwal – What’s better than a beautiful Tuesday morning at the Oddity’s newsroom, sun shining, birds chirping and —
“F**K this system!” Julia yelled, slamming the keys of the ancient Dell monitor that just broke down for the millionth time. Across the room, Theo looked up from his layouts. “Try unplugging it.”
“I did, even made sweet talk and begged like it was my ex.”
“Maybe it’s into boundaries.” Julia shot him a glare. “You think you’re so funny.”
Before Theo could respond, Jamie poked her head into the room, camera slung around her neck. “Bad time to ask if we picked the front-page feature?” Theo raised his eyebrow, “You mean the one we were supposed to decide last week?”
Julia rubbed her temples in frustration, “It’s been a rough week. Emergency meeting in five.”
Jamie turned to the hallway, shouting, “EMERGENCY MEETING!!” Ollie rounded the corner, munching on a muffin, “Is this about the raccoon again, because I didn’t mean to let it in!”
“Not the raccoon,” Julia deadpanned. “I thought the raccoon was adorable,” Lena said, stepping into the conference room.
“You would.” Theo muttered.
“Okay, we haven’t decided the feature for the first issue of the semester. What are we thinking?”
Jamie jumped excitedly. “A photo essay on the abandoned campus buildings and the haunted stories surrounding them!”
Theo scoffed. “That’s just your entire Instagram board.”
Jamie shot back, crossing her arms. “I’m not taking criticism from the guy that published ‘hot profs of Dalridge.’”
“It was our most read piece so …”
“I’m more concerned with how you got the visuals than why it was our most popular.” Julia said, rolling her eyes.
Lena smiled, “Maybe we can do a feature on the campus’s new garden. I interviewed a few students and even a bee.”
Jamie raised her eyebrow, “Wait, a literal bee?”
“I took it as a sign.”
Ollie eagerly raised his hand, “Better idea, a review on the best vending machines on campus!”
“You know what, it’s better than haunted buildings or bees.” Julia sighed. Daniel walked in, taking a seat.
“Look who finally decided to join us.” Theo said sarcastically.
“Where the hell have you been, you missed the pitch meeting.” Julia pointed.
“I was in a meeting, you know the one with actual adults. Ones whose clothes weren’t stolen from the Value Village reject bin.”
“Charming as always,” Jamie muttered.
“Okay, give us your pitch Daniel.”
“Yeah, so, I’m thinking we do a survival guide on Dalridge for the incoming first-years and not some propaganda admin would slap on the brochure.”
Julia blinked, then smiled. “I hate that I love it. We can turn it into a multi-section feature where you will write the main piece, Lena you can add-in on the campus garden to either study or cry.”
Lena nodded, already writing notes down, “And I can talk about the free yoga on Fridays!”
“Ollie, can you do a side column on the top ten cafes on campus and Jamie you take the photos.”
“On it!” Jamie and Ollie said in unison.
“This is our feature guys!” Julia said, slamming her hands on the table.
Theo leaned back on his chair. “Look at us actually functioning like a real newspaper.”
“Yeah, until next month.” Julia said, shaking her head.
Stay tuned for the next Installment …
Photo contributed: Mallika Badwal
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