i think he means that he better prepare himself to call her and tell her about the accident. I am not entirely sure about the use of the word in this paragraph.

in this sentence i think he means should get all his information, facts and be prepared to discuss the incident.

It appears that “buildup” is referring to preparing all facts and statements prior to presenting the story.

The buildup is based on putting together all of the data before submitting the story. This is an important part to the process.

He is referring to gathering the relevant information, sources, and facts leading up to the story. To set it up.

The buildup is the accumulation of all the facts and information for the story.

The buildup here means that the reporter isn’t just letting out all the information, he keeps stalling with phrases like “let me explain” instead of just explaining.

Or could mean buildup to the peak. Like the information that leads you the climax of the story. The path to the spot marked X.

Buildup is like obtaining information to essentially “build” the story

The reporter is essentially being reminded that he should distance himself from the people he’s reporting on. “He aint our brother” could be interpreted to mean that he’s not one of us, but rather, just the subject of your story.

I feel like he is being told that he was never really close to them. He might have felt the opposite but they were never “brothers”

I think the reporter is being told that he shouldn’t involve too deep within this relationship. Although he wants to be part of the story, he fails to complete his goal.

The reporter is not supposed to build relationships with his subjects like he would with colleagues. He is reminded of the line that exists between the journalist and the story.

I may be overthinking this but I’ve read over the surrounding context quite a few times and I think what the reporter is being told about his relationship to the story is that although he’s an outsider, when a subject is open about sharing their story given that the reporter is not directly related to it, its fair game. Hence, there is no protection or “disclaimer” needed for either the reporter or the storyteller.

The reporters relationship with the story has grown to personal and the journalists are advising him that he’s playing a dangerous role by doing so and needs to maintain his professionalism and can still get the story this way.

the reporter is crossing boundaries in which he should not, he needs to keep it very strict and simple

The reporter is being told that he should distance themselves from the subjects, because he appears to be under the false belief that him and his subjects are “brothers” when in fact only the two subjects are.

The reporter is trying to distance himself from any personal relations. Finding more information about the story is the main objective. He couldn’t get emotionally attached. as a true professional reporter.

The reporter is being told to remember that he is not to get too close to those he is writing on. He is getting in too deep, building too much of a relationship with the story.

The reporter is being told that he needs to stop being so connected to the subject he’s writing on and that he’s gone into unethical territory by doing so.

That line, “he aint our brother” is letting the reporter know he is to close to the story. He is acting as if is relationship is one of blood, therefore containing a conflict of interest.

It’s kind of a wake up call to distance himself.

The reporter is too close and needs to keep the story at arms length to write about, while simply watching how it unfolds

The unconventional and strange relationship among the characters

Need to understand reporter’s role in this story and the relationships among the three people.

He needs to understand the peril of over-involvement in the characters of the story he’s attempting to retrieve. Just because you empathize with them doesn’t mean you have to become immersed in their lives.

the reporter must understand his character and position in this story. At the same time acknowledging the other subjects and understanding their associations

The reporter must understand the distinct roles of the subjects in the story, while also realizing his differentiating role to the story.

The reporter’s stance needs to be distinguished. Realize the entire context of each story, along with removing all emotional feelings towards covering it.

The reporter needs to understand his place in the story. He needs to be able too see and recognize the entire story and not involve himself because of his personal emotions. He needs to stay subjective.

He needs to understand the relationships between these people, but without becoming involved in their lives.

The complex intertwining between the characters thats been fostered by the reporter.

Spare cigarette

because if her husband leaves her she’ll just call the next one. signifying that she has an open book kind of life

A spare partner or lover.

A spare companion appears to be what the statement means. It was a very awkward joke about living an open-minded lifestyle

A spare lover. She clearly has a history of being involved with a number of different individuals.

She’s carrying a spare husband/man. They’re making a joke about his wife’s supposed promiscuity.

A spare match, card, or spare husband?

A man on the side

The reporter is not really listening to them. He is not really interested about what they have to say about Shumann or Laverne.

The reporter doesn’t get that she made a joke and maintains the sense of seriousness and the smoke in the room emphasizes the obscurity of the situation and story.

The reporter didn’t find the joke humorous and perhaps wasn’t even paying much attention to the joke in the first place. The smoke relates to the emptiness of laughter, which vanishes in the air — and the fact that the joke, just like smoke went “over their heads.”

The reporter has other matters on his mind. That was evident by sitting immobile. Usually a joke will lead to some type of physical reaction. That never occurred with him. When it comes to smoke and voices, it reveals the lack of hilarity. The smoke showcases hollowness within the room. He may feel light-headed from the alcohol and cigarette smoke.

The reporter didn’t laugh at the joke because he completely missed it. He was too distracted. It is clear that he is paying attention to what is going on but he is not completely “present”.

He was too involved in his own thoughts to be really paying attention. The smoke and the voices can be seen as a metaphor for where his mind was at the time – everything was in a bit of a haze and he could hear the voices, but he wasn’t really listening to them.

I agree with Rand and I think the reporter isn’t present in this moment, he could be watching leaves blow by. So he didn’t get the joke. Also, the smoke represents the foggniess in the reporters mind.

The reporter’s don’t laugh because the joke was probably as stale as the air they were inhaling. The “brisk dead slap-slap-slap” spoke to the repetitive nature of these interactions which causes the reporter to be in this catatonic state.

The reporter doesn’t laugh because it’s not funny to him since he’s too preoccupied

This could be interpreted to mean that it’s not news in the sense that it’s nothing new or in the journalistic sense that it’s not something to report on.

This could be interpreted as according to the folks currently speaking, its not surprising to them that the woman is sleeping around or more specifically, between those two men. We can infer that this woman is perhaps known for being promiscuous thus its not news to them but could be new news to others.

He meant that everyone knew about the ongoing relationship between them and the kid.

Everyone would assume so anyway, because of the past she has.

It’s interesting how the third man said “Do you suppose it’s a fact,” just before the first says “That’s not news.” News are supposed to be based on facts, rather than gossip, but the group here is indeed badmouthing a subject’s love life. Her affairs have spread through the community through hearsay and gossiping, acts which contradict a reporter’s job.

When she says “that’s not news” there is a sarcastic tone implying that it’s been an already publicly known fact that she has been sleeping with both men for a long time.

It is news-worthy because it is something which already depicts her lifestyle, sleeping around with many men. It’s also something that is widely-known by the public.

If reporters know about her actions, it can’t be classified as news. Her open lifestyle is well documented. Why would they bother reporting on something that wouldn’t generate much of a reaction?

It isn’t news because this woman apparently has a history of sleeping with different partners. Thus, it is not surprising at all.

Based on the context surrounding it, it must be that everyone already knew she was sleeping around, or that she at least already had a reputation for it. So even if it was technically new information, no one was particularly surprised.

It is not news because either 1. everyone already knows so theres nothing new/groundbreaking to report. Or 2. its not news because there isn’t any news value in the personal life a woman. When monogamy is rarely clung to in any species.