Tables turned - interviewing journos

What are journalists like to interview? I've just finished a feature for which I needed the views of some local newspapers. So I did what you do, and rang a few up. And emailed them. And rang them back. And generally persisted until someone agreed to speak to me.

Here's a rough version of the merry phone chase:

Editor of an evening paper in the north of England. Apologetic. Very busy. Out of the office next day. Try again the day after, around ten. Called him several times morning and afternoon. His phone rang no one answered, no voice mail. Must have been a works outing.

The following week I got his secretary, more apologies that he was busy. Finally, the day before he went on holiday, I was passed a message it might be best if I spoke to the news editor.

Daily paper in the south of England. Two or three calls to news desk. Passed around various reporters. Pleasant but unproductive chats. One reporter agreed to send an email round editorial with my phone number & someone would get back to me - that's the way they do things, apparently. No one did. Few days later I was told I must speak to the news editor. She's far too busy, going on holiday next day. (Why do people have holidays in March?) Back to a reporter who couldn't possibly talk to me now, the next day, or the one after that, due to meetings, being on news desk and a day off. That bust my deadline.

London local paper. Emailed a named reporter who I'd been told was active and interested. No response.

In the end, I got the quotes I wanted from the news editor on the first paper. Took him by surprise and told him his editor had directed me to him. Which he had. A reporter on the second paper sent an email response to some questions I'd stuck in an email. They sounded as if they had been written by a sanctimonious PR person and approved by a committee. They arrived the day after I filed the piece.

To sum up. What are journalists like to interview? Exactly like everyone else.

Les