By Taylor Emma | Observer Reporter
Photo by Cheyne Ordonio
On April 27, Scott Croteau of the Worcester Telegram, came to Mount Wachusett Community College to speak to aspiring journalists and criminal justice majors. He talked to students about his career as a crime reporter. Croteau then gave advice to students on how they can be successful journalists and why he chose to write crime stories.
“I don’t want to be sitting at my desk making phone calls,” Croteau said. “I get a kick out of cops.” Croteau has encountered numerous gangs in Worcester, including the Latin Kings and Hells Angels. Croteau has been involved in ice rescue training and with the police during raids, while keeping a humorous attitude.
“He’s not going to hit me; he’s just going to scare me,” Croteau said about a time he was chased by a drug dealer. He often goes alone to dangerous streets to gather sources for his stories.
His stories are sometimes construed negatively by his readers. “Have I received death threats? Absolutely,” Croteau said. “But I still get Christmas cards from some families.”
Croteau said the emotional toll brought by reporting crimes and murders is devastating, but when a family thanks him for sharing their loved one’s story, it helps Croteau to continue his work as a reporter.
Croteau told journalism students to never hold back on writing specific information. “Put me in the world of grey,” Croteau said. “I want to give you [the Reader] the facts so you can make your own decisions.” When Croteau interviews a potential source he always lets the source know that all of the essential and factual information relevant to the story will be published.
Croteau advised the students to build trust with their sources. Trust allows the source to willingly talk to the reporter and will potentially reserve that source for future stories. “If anyone is shy, and you want to be a reporter, then you shouldn’t [be a reporter],” Croteau said when he gave the students advice about interviewing. Croteau warned the students to be prepared for a tough entrance into the profession. He said, “If this [reporting] is what you want… then don’t quit. You [the reporter] will learn something new every day.”
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