At the beginning of the school year when I have orientation for my new staff, I usually tell the students that if they don't like going out and talking to people they don't know, then maybe the newspaper isn't for them.Two things happened this week that have made me re-think the idea that journalism is only for the social butterflies.
One experience occurred during the tour of The Arizona Republic. Part of the tour involved speaking with Eric Johnson from the breaking news desk. About working with interns he said, "You can be shy and ask good questions. You can be really vivacious and ask crappy questions." It was an epiphany! Being a good journalist is not solely a function of temperament.
The second experience that gave me a new insight about journalism and personality was gathering footage for the video assignment about beating the heat in Phoenix. I'm not gonna lie. I was kind of dreading this assignment, and not just because it was during the hottest time of day. The reason is because it was definitely out of my comfort zone.
In short, I'm an introvert, so going out and talking to people on the street made me a little bit apprehensive. Yes, I've been advising the school newspaper for a while, but have never been out there actually gathering the news. I leave that to the kids. I've been a coach on the sidelines, but never a player on the field.
But then something happened. Once I had that microphone in my hand and the camera was all set up, it was easy, even FUN.
I often have students on the quiet side who are interested in working on the newspaper, and my new advice is going to be that journalism skills can be developed and honed, and that being an official, notebook-carrying representative of a newspaper staff can actually give a boost of confidence to go beyond the dreaded comfort zone.
Liz Dixon
West Lafayette High School
West Lafayette, Ind.
Interestingly, Liz, one of my Journalism 1 students realized late in the year that print journalism was not the career for her. She called it her "mid-life crisis," (although we hope she lives well beyond her early thirties).
ReplyDeleteWhat influenced this decision?
She said she always dreamed of glamor, and chasing people for quotes or staying up all hours to write a story was not for her. She doesn't like to be pushy , she admitted.
My advice to her?
Don't do any journalism. It is hard work. There's not much glamor, and you have to "hunt down sources."
She's thinking public relations now.
Lucinda Hogentogler
Central York High School
York, Pa.
I stood outside the office of an Arizona Republic staffer debating whether to interrupt her or not. I had a lot of good quotes already from people out on the floor, but this person had an office! My inner shy person prevailed. I didn't talk to her. It turns out I really hate to be "pushy." Good thing I'm not trying to make a buck being a reporter.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100 percent! I am changing what I say to my students as well. They can do it no matter what their personality! I too had a hard time with the video assignment - I actually didn't step outside my comfort zone; I instead choose to stay behind the camera. Sorry partners, you had to do the hard work for me. Maybe next time.
ReplyDeleteAngela Carter
Winfield High School
Winfield, Kan.
JoAnn,
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this same person that you did not talk to had been in your home community if you would have changed your mind.
I, too, have been having a difficult time with the personal interviews. I liken it to taking one of my students, dumping him/her into the middle of Africa and saying get interviews to back up this story.
While I may teach journalism, I'm not a journalist. I do think there is a difference--HUGE.
Furthermore, my students are going out in their own communities to get stories. They are not flying across the country to interview unknown people. Yes, I know journalists do this; however, those journalists have a lot of experience in the field. They are not interviewing people outside their community for their very first article.
Thus, I think that just like anything else, building confidence by gradually pushing limits, not by jumping into the fire works better for a lot of people.
Karla Erdman
Freedom High School
Bethlehem, PA
Liz your first experience and Arich's comment also made me stop and think. I've got two girls on my newspaper staff who always go out together to interview because they are quiet and shy and being together gives them confidence. It drove me crazy because I wanted them to be able to do it by themselves but you know, at least they are out there. Maybe like Karla said, building confidence by gradually pushing limits works fine. This will be there second year on staff and they'll be juniors so maybe this year we can work on sending them out separately, of course since they get good quotes and write good stories maybe I shouldn't screw it up.
ReplyDeleteEmily Miller
Arlington High School
Arlington, Texas
You had the same feelings I had. I am somewhat of an introvert, and I do not like approaching strangers with random questions and what not. But, like you, I had a lot of fun out on the streets in the Phoenix heat, and I enjoyed talking to everyone about my topics. This Institute has been remarkable in more ways than one!
ReplyDelete