Does anyone know the "oldest newspaper trick in the world?"?

Question

I don't get this line in a book..

"Commandant? This is Charlene Madlee of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Commandant, I have information that suggests that the security of this prison is lax and...Of course. Yes, I understand that....No, I know it isn't fair, and that's the reason I drove the forty miles from Memphis just to get your side of the story....FIrst barrack on the left. Thank you."

Charlene shook her head in disbelief. "The commandant just fell for the oldest newspaper trick in the world."

Can someone tell me the trick that she used, I don't get what trick she used.

Answer 1

There are 2 parts to this trick. First part is to pretend you have opposing information that you do not have, usually from a 'hostile camp' (that way there'll be no phone calls back and forth). The second part is to play sympathetic, use the phrase "get your side of the story" (which never fails to appeal to people), and bada-boom-bada-bing, you've got your interview. The third (unmentioned) part, is that now she's got the inside skinny and can go to the other party with a genuine story and ferret our more information and maybe get a good feud going - which makes for more newspaper fodder.

Answer 2

Well, I don't know for sure, but I take this to mean that Charlene doesn't really work for any newspaper at all. There is no Memphis Commercial Appeal, and she just made up the name to sound official and get inside the prison. Does this make sense with the rest of the story- that she is trying to get inside to either see someone or help them escape?

Answer 3

That's cute, I'd like to know what book that is.

according to Charlene, the oldest newpaper trick in the world is making something up to get inside of somewhere... (does that make sense)

Answer 4

I think it is that she pretended that she was sympathetic to him - that she felt he had been badly treated by the publicity and that she wanted to give him a chance to tell his side of the story. She acted as if she believed his side was correct. She pretended to agree with him to get in and get the story.