JRN 200 triumphs and trials

JRN 200 has, as I had hoped, contained both a lot of positive achievements, and a lot of challenges. I hoped there would be challenges as journalism is a very competitive field, and you can't become well-prepared for it without being challenged. Of course it would also be no fun if it was all challenge and nothing that came easily.

My favorite story to work on was the one I did on the Wheatfield Valley Golf Course, which had been hit by a tornado. I documented its recovery process and think I did a good job of covering the scope of the event and the feelings expressed by the owner and some of its members. I am very proud of that story as I think it helped me discover what journalism is all about. It isn't just about stating facts. It's about telling a story. I think with that story I was able to craft a narrative. The story had destruction and doom, but also overcoming odds and being triumphant over adversity. Journalism isn't merely about telling how bleak things are in the world, as it often appears. Sometimes it can tell stories of hope that inspire people.

My biggest challenge was with sources. I found that it is rarely easy to find a credible source that is willing to talk to you. People don't enjoy talking to reporters. They also don't trust them. I think people are leery about being misrepresented. I also think they don't feel it is necessary to talk to student reporters. Other students and the people at Wheatfield were very easy to contact and interview. But people who work for MSU, MDOT, CATA, and other companies were very difficult to attempt to contact. I was constantly given someone else's number, who gave me someone else's number, etc. That was the most frustrating and discouraging part of the whole class.

I would say overall the class has been a positive experience. I've learned a lot about the proper way to write stories, the structure, and how to try and find a unique angle to add interest. I've learned that writing stories isn't as easy as it sounds, and being a journalist requires hard work, patience, and resilience. Journalists are truly the chosen few. Not everyone can be a journalist. I like to think after taking this class I'm closer to becoming one of those few.