What Journalism Means to Me
When the word “journalism” comes to mind my first thought is expression.
Journalism has allowed me to express myself in ways that I never knew were possible such as growing a bigger sense of confidence within myself. My journey with journalism has been going for about five years now. When I first joined journalism I was not sure what exactly my angle was with journalism.
When I joined my high school newspaper it was a fun experience that helped me branch out. Using journalism as a way to interact with others was an easier way for me to feel included with other classmates, as I always felt like an outcast. While joining the high school newspaper dipped my toes into experiencing journalism, it all started when my interest was sparked by a show called "Beverly Hills 90210."
The first time I saw the show, I knew that one day I would be a journalist. As a young kid I would watch "Beverly Hills 90210." I always related to Andrea Zuckerman, the Editor-in-Chief of her high school paper, and because her charm and social awkwardness was something that I related to at a young age. A fictional character drew me into the subject of journalism at a young age and exposed me to an inside look of what journalism was. Zuckerman showed me an introduction to journalism that essentially drew me in.
When asking people what journalism means to them, you may get different answers. Journalism to me means my ability to come out of my shell and interact. I get to show my voice on any type of platform. Most of the time I feel that I may not fit the typical definition of “journalist.” After 20 years, I have realized that I have a Type B personality. That may be ironic considering journalism is about meeting deadlines and deadlines do matter with journalism, but I definitely consider myself a more laid back person compared to ones that are considered Type A.
A Type A person is a fast-paced environment and does not want to slow down. A Type B personality is more laid back and prefers a slower work environment. Journalism allows self expression and shows off what makes one unique. I love that in Journalism no one is the same and there are many platforms such as podcasting, youtube videos, blogging and broadcasting. Even some films fit under the umbrella of journalism.
This field has transformed into many things, such as digital media and podcasts becoming a main source of journalism. The field is evolving well with being able to change along with technology while maintaining its tradition. To me, that means being able to stay on my toes in the field. Journalism has showed me how to express myself while helping others. It has showed me to help others is by learning other people's stories and being able to get a story from all angles.