For Halloween this year, you could be a reporter (notebook, phone, side eye for your younger colleagues) or a reporter who could possibly get laid off (no costume necessary), or a reporter who has been laid off (just add flask.) Or you could go with one of these — here are five journalism costume ideas that you can do yourself with things you can mostly pilfer from the newsroom.
— Comment troll: This idea comes from Carlie Kollath Wells at NOLA.com. Paint yourself green and bring along that tablet. If you’re really in character, you’ll have something to say about everything everyone around you says.
— Tweetstorm: This is either when someone sends out a ton of tweets one right after the other, like Twitter diarrhea, or when you’re bombarded by tweets after doing something other Twitterers don’t like. Either way, print off a ton of tweets and tape them all over yourself and you’re done. You can bring an umbrella or galoshes if you want to be cute.
— Gas mask: Journalists have needed these in several places this year, including Ferguson, Missouri and Hong Kong. Plus, if you choose this option, you’ll be ready for the next big story.
(Photo by Kristen Hare)
— Facebook algorithm: Since no one really understands these, you can do whatever you want here.
— Twitter verified symbol: Get a white shirt, print out a Twitter verified symbol and paste it on that white shirt. Everyone will know you’re really you. Partner costume idea: My colleague Ben Mullin also recommends a hashtag as a costume idea, which is basically just cutting out # in cardboard, paint it black and stick your head through the middle. If that’s not helpful, there are real tutorials on this one.
