Three Ideas

I was nervous at the start of Reporting II. I began to question the work load, but I also worried that I would be doing the same assignments as I did in Reporting I. I was wrong.

Reporting II has challenged me to focus intently and diligently on one particular topic. I’ve practiced realistic journalism skills that will follow me through my professional career, regardless of subject. I have also learned a great deal about interviewing, something that I felt fairly confident about before this course, but then realized I had much to learn.

I have listed my three takeaways below.

1. Training my focus

I am always bouncing around from one thing to the other or one topic to another. Class to class makes it hard to endure any type of academic consistency. When in Reporting II, I learned to focus intently on one clear subject. I was able to channel my energy into something that was of interest. Caffeine addiction proved to be a great topic, but I was also eager to learn more.

Focusing on one main writing project helped me to really strengthen my skills as a journalist. I feel as though I have just caught a glimpse of what it means to be an “expert” in a particular field, but I love the authority. Knowing that I can really focus on one topic is exciting and beneficial– not only do I have more knowledge of caffeine addiction, but I also learned a lot of scientific facts regarding addiction.

From calculating exactly how to tackle my subject to then compiling all of the info, I really enjoyed the overall research assignment.

2. Practicing professional skills for life after college

Throughout the term, I was challenged to seek communication with people somehow involved with my topic. I was forced to practice my networking and outreach skills. These skills will always be useful, regardless of my future profession. When class discussions were focused around outreach, I picked up several tips and tricks for reaching out to professionals and people I don’t know.

Writing practice letters to professionals and practicing asking for interviews was helpful. I am now able to think a little bit more about how to approach someone I don’t know, as well as ask for an interview in an appropriate manner. For instance, when e-mailing someone to ask for an interview, always give the person a rough outline of availability. Being a strong communicator is key to working in journalism.

3. Interview skills 

I love to meet new people and conduct interviews, but sometimes I am not the best interviewer. During the term, I was asked several times to interview fellow students as well as subjects for my topic. The student exercises proved to be very helpful, as I had to use responses to lead to other questions during the interview.

Also, class discussion and some of the assigned readings gave valuable insight into interviewing. If I can make someone comfortable while interviewing, there is a good chance that the subject will be more comfortable speaking to me about the most intimate details of the topic. I want to create great work, and the content I find from my interviews can make or a break the research and quality of my final product.