”Inch count too high? Sources not calling you back? Editor hates your lede? No one wants to go on the record? City Council running too long? Type it up and send it to me. Tell me about it! I want to get a pulse on newsrooms,” the creator of dash30dash.org journalism blog calls upon journalists. 

dash30dash.org is giving journalists a chance to anonymously share their complaints and everyday conundrums.

You can find posts here reading as follows: ‘Sometimes I forget why I went into journalism and then I remember- I'm a masochist.’

‘You know what annoys me... When I follow a story on nightside for so long and then it moves dayside. That drives me nuts!

‘I cannot form complete sentences at the moment. How am I supposed to do a 2-hour radio show?’

The person behind the project is also anonymous. IJNET got in touch with the newsman behind it via E-mail.  

IJNET found out he is a former journalist who now watches the profession from the safety of a public relations job.

Clarifying the title ‘-30-‘ the former journalist said it’s an old journalism convention for the "end of the story.” “It's more of a reference to the end of my journalism career. But I also use it to symbolize 'signing off' likes a reporter's exclamation point to the day,” the anonymous newsman responded via E-mail.

In response to the question “What's the value of sharing these universal gripes for journalists now?” the former journalist said “I'm hoping my site provides some catharsis for the frustrated journalists, especially those who work for community newspapers...I want reporters to share about their jobs so hopefully others can see what it takes to make the news. They do such an important service to their communities and their audiences.”

“I'd like to set up something where I can mix in longer essay-type entries about life in the world of journalism and newsrooms,” says the newsman behind the project. 

Journalists can contribute anonymously via email at newsman.comment@gmail.com or follow Newsman 16 on Twitter.