As a journalist, you get the chance to get exposed to the world and the people in it.
You get the chance to report on crimes and literally “WRITE” wrongs in your local community, but most of all you bring daily, the written word, informing people about what’s important that they need to know. It’s our commitment and our sole reason for being.
I’ve learned from doing this job, that you have to be objective, you have to be driven to discover the truth. You must also, be willing to dig a little deeper, research a little longer and chase your lead, until you run out of ground to cover or your story is completed in it’s final Draft.
Doing what we do, as journalists, student journalists… you learn that this job isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s competitive, demanding and sometimes dangerous, but it’s all about serving the community and speaking out for those without a voice, which makes everyday a lot less stressful and a little more satisfying. Fulfilling to be exact.
These lessons that many reporters learn in the newsroom, can be applied to more than a single issue of a newspaper, but in every aspect of life.
We as students must learn the meaning of what it is to be a leader, how to give back to those who need a hand. Making someone’s day a little better by holding the door open or helping an elderly person out with their groceries in a busy parking lot.
It’s not always the big things that make a difference such as, shedding light on a recent sexual assault, but often the little things that you or anyone can do, that show you care.
Lastly, another great lesson I’ve learned is how hard work pays off in the end. There’s nothing better for a journalist then seeing their story, after sweat, blood and tears on the front page. The same can be true for a student after long hours of studying for a test. High achievement is crucial for my job as well as yours, which is going to college and making something out of yourself.
Don’t consider missing classes if you don’t have to, keep your assignments turned in on time and meet every deadline!!! That’s a must. It will all pay off after you’ve completed your field of study and your college career comes to an end. It will be one of the best decisions you ever made. So keep pushing though, the years will fly by before you know it.
Weather it be a degree and graduation for studying hard-core each semester, or a prestigious award for journalism excellence, it was all done with a single goal in mind. That is to reach success for a brighter tomorrow and I found that it’s worth all the effort. That’s just the way I see it, through, “the eyes of an Editor.”
