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 [1] 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 [2] 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.