Give the RTD’s old dog, Jeff Schapiro, credit for learning a new trick: trolling for clicks.
It’s not exactly a new trick. But for a wizened member of the journalistic priesthood, grasping the power of trolling qualifies as a breakthrough.
Jeff has had two recent trolling successes. One, where he played out the doomsday scenario for the attorney general’s race, got some national attention and has now become the bloody hook of Democratic fundraising appeals.
The other is more of a staple — Jeff’s holiday gift guide for Virginia’s insular political class. For insiders, it’s a wink, nod, soft chuckle affair. For everyone else, it’s an ink blot. How can something like this be click bait?
Right here:
• Virginia’s political bloggers: better things to do while sitting around in their underwear.
• State Capitol press corps: better things to do while sitting around fully dressed.
Very good.
Smug, as usual, and even terribly dated. But still good. It gets clicks, and a link, from folks like me.
Thanks for reading, Jeff. And for taking a lesson to heart.
