A13

If you're a freelance writer, then you know that you've always got to be looking for a fresh story -- or, at the very least, a fresh angle -- to pitch editors. And you'd better come up with a good, attention-grabbing lead to your query and story too.

So it always takes me by surprise when I see the same old stories repeated over and over and over again. There's a good example on Page A13 of Tuesday's Globe and Mail (I'm catching up). In her health column, Dr. Marla Shapiro informs us that eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate may be good for you! Apparently there's a new study on the subject.

Amazing. Now there's something I had never heard before. What's next? A little red wine is good for heart attack prevention? I can't wait to read about that again.

Over to the right of Shapiro, on the same page, poor André Picard really struggles to eke out a lead. The guy's done great work, and everyone can have an off day. Still, I can't resist quoting the lead: "Gunshot wounds and knife injuries are far less common in real life than in the blood-splattered world of TV and movies."

You don't say. I'll bet there aren't as many talking penguins either.