The Dispatch Monthly Mailbag for November

Charlotte Lawson is up for the Monthly Mailbag.

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Dear Dispatch Members,

A new month means a new Monthly Mailbag. 

In October, Rachael told us about her career in political journalism, being a boy mom, and her favorite (and least favorite) craft beer. If you missed that, you can read it here.  

Now, Charlotte Lawson is ready to answer your questions. 

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  1. Edrkoch

    What was your major at UVA?

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    Michael Dan Martin

    Johnny Cash is Classic Rock?

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      David Burke

      Johnny Cash was Punk Rock, man.

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  3. Wlbrockman

    To test your suggestion that you are a "serious" R & R aficionado, please tell me if you have and have listened to a recording Rolling Stone once recognized as the 25th most influential album in the history of R & R--"Trout Mask Replica," by Cpt. Beefheart and His Magic Band. If so, do you agree with Rolling Stone's opinion? Explain your reasons, por favot.

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    John D. Wright

    Hi Charlotte,
    If you get a chance, I hear the walls of old Constantinople in Istanbul are really impressive.

    The Question: With your majors in college, did you know you wanted to be a reporter on those topics? What were you picturing your career would be? Just curious.

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    Adam.Zerda

    Charlotte --
    As someone how travels the world for work frequently, but only for short stints and generally NOT with a goal of understanding the geopolitical issues deeply, I am interested in a journalist's perspective on trying to do just that. How long does it take for you to "get a feel" for the location you are reporting on? Is understanding the issues on a personal level the goal or do you prefer to keep a distance? And regardless which approach you use, do you find that an assignment trails after you for a period of time?

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    Dave K

    Being a classic rock (and general music) fan, have you watched the documentary "The Wrecking Crew" produced by Denny Tedesco? If so, are you looking forward to the next one "The Immediate Family"? Do you care who the actual musicians are of the music you listen to, or do you just enjoy listening?

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    MattA

    Hey Charlotte, I hope you have a great time in Turkey. I'm interested in your perspective/insights on the July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. I was in Ankara and Izmir just a couple weeks before it happened visiting a friend, so I was following it quite closely when the news broke. My friend had to evacuate as soon as he could get a plane out. It immediately seemed very strange to me how quickly Erdogan both crushed the uprising with no losses to speak of, and whipped up rhetoric about an "assault on Turkish democracy". It also served as very convenient pretense for his subsequent consolidation of power and purge of political enemies- textbook rise of a dictator. Bottom line, I was very suspicious that Erdogan had staged the coup attempt. Though there were some early reports discussing evidence for that possiblility, I haven't seen very much investigation since. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, so if the credible conclusion based on the evidence is that the official Turkish narrative is true, I'd be open to that. Do you have any journalistic insight into the issue? Thanks!

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  8. Lynne

    Is Turkish Delight actually popular in Turkey or would the average citizen roll their eyes if you asked where to find it?

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  9. Nikki H.

    If a person were only in Istanbul for a day or two, what would you recommend they see, do or eat?

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  10. John Matthew IV

    Charlotte: Is the influence of Thomas Jefferson still felt on the UVA campus?

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