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Still feisty after all these years, Carl Hiaasen unloads on Miami politics and corporate journalism
"I still read the Herald every day," he continues. "You get excited about the good stories, a great project. Most of the time it's pretty predictable, but you can still spot the talent."
So his advice to this year's fresh-faced crop of journalism school graduates, no doubt dreaming of future Pulitzer glory?
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"You have to have a strong masochistic streak," he counsels. "You have to be able to say, öI'm never going to be rich, but I'm going to be happy. I'm doing good work and changing people's lives.' You have to tell yourself that every morning when you go into the office, because every day this business is becoming less and less fun."
That's some pep talk: Welcome to a life of diminishing returns! Now polish your lede.
"Well, being a journalist is also a legal way to work out a lot of problems," Hiaasen quips, flashing just the hint of a smile. "I look at it as free therapy.... If you can make people laugh, if you can take them along on this great ride where they're enjoying themselves, and at the same time get a few riffs in, if it sticks, fine. If it doesn't, at least you've got it out of your system."
