Chan Is Not Missing From the NY Times

There's a fun article in the Observer today about NY Times Metro reporter Sewell Chan and his seemingly unending energy to churn out stories. Gabriel Sherman points out that he wrote four pieces yesterday (checking today's paper, Chan only has three pieces, but he contributed to another), making his byline appear an average of 1.15 times a day. There is amazement from colleagues (the Post's David Seifman says Chan is the only reporter to bring a laptop to City Hall) and wonder about whether or not he's too ambitious. But all in all, his efforts seem appreciated, as his journalism go-go-ism seems boundless:

And he is constantly offering pieces to editors. Wendell Jamieson, who edited Mr. Chan’s M.T.A. coverage last year, said Mr. Chan used to intercept him as he walked through the newsroom and follow him, suggesting ideas.

“There’s a lot of great, ambitious, smart reporters in the newsroom,” Mr. Jamieson said, “but he’s the only reporter I know who actually pitched me a story while I’ve been standing at the urinal in the men’s room.”

Hear that, aspiring reporters? Bathroom pitches are a new playing field. The article also notes some issues with Chan and how the Harvard Crimson mafia rules the Metro Section (there's Chan, Jennifer 8. Lee, and Michael Luo!).

Chan answered students' questions in the NY Times' "Ask a Reporter" section - it's all very cute. And the post title is a reference to Wayne Wang's Chan is Missing. Trust us.

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By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on June 21, 2006 11:06 AM

Comments [rss]

Rebecca

Interesting to me as well is how none of you choose to remember what a wheedling little anus Sewell Chan was – and evidently remains – as polite behavior evidently gets a person nowhere in the New York rat race. He is a smart little rat indeed!

The kind of 'adults' that school generates, incapable of normal functioning. Words fail me...

Try that kind of finesse-free steamrollering in London or Paris and see how far you get.

Dahlia

no one even mentioned the best part - when he was at hunter, he was editor of The Observer. Maybe that's why The New York Observer wanted to do a story on him!

Mike B.

Represent, Rob.

Also Dave "Paradise Hotel" Kerpen from '94. The rest of us...well, we did some stuff.

Rob Sosin

Yeah, Sewell and Jenny 8 went to Harvard, but they also represented New York City-style as Hunter College High School kids (as did NYT's Nick Confessore and Slate's explainer Dan Engber!) Whoooooooooooo! Class of '94! We all up in this mainstream media bee-yotch!

I'm sorry, school spirit dictates I gotta put that out there.

Rebecca

I also attended that 'illustrious institution', was pushed to achieve great things, never learned what teenagers really ought to, and wouldn't wish the egomaniacal meat-grinder life of a Hunter student on a dying dog.

Eric Kissack

Interesting to note that Sewell Chan and Jennifer 8. Lee, aside from both attending Harvard, also both attended Hunter College High School in NYC. Just, you know, FYI.

Jen

I like him. Mr. Chan, will you marry me?

MissPinkKate

Doesn't sound like the guy has a life outside of work (he asked his boss for a cot so he could sleep at this office! He comes in on days off and weekends!). Kinda sad, really.