What I learned: A runner’s manual on journalism

This blog encompasses the most important lessons I learned during my visits and meanderings in New York and Washington D.C. over the course of Jan term. As a runner and journalist, I wanted to apply what I learned to more than just my academic career. These blog entries explain what I learned in terms of journalistic principles, while also connecting each idea to a memory or experience I have had while running.

Small beginnings can lead to a big future

Whenever I tell a person that I am a journalism major, I often receive the same reply.

“Oh. I hear journalism is a drying profession. Well, good luck with that.”

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mr. Pessimistic. Although, before today, I would have said the same thing.

Journalism, in itself, is an art form that is slowing burning out. Even as new media technologies are emerging, the modern media have downsized in terms of resources and employees. In a way, journalism has lost its spark.

However, this trip to New York is changing my entire perception of communication. Yesterday we had the opportunity to meet with John Wiley and Sons, the second-oldest global publishing firm in the United States. After taking the train and subway to reach their corporate offices in Hoboken, New Jersey, we met with several top directors within the company who reinforced Wiley’s belief that their commitment to integrity and excellence as a publishing firm began with the foundation created by Charles Wiley in 1807. What started as a small print shop in New York has grown two billion dollar company through Wiley’s rich history and ongoing mission to provide the customer with the best possible product. Charles Wiley may have come from humble beginnings, but John Wiley and Sons is a fine example of what it means to dream big and see your dreams become reality.

In fact, after speaking with Susan Spilk, Vice President of Corporate Communication, I feel that there is hope for me as a young, aspiring journalist. (I was starting to worry I would have to move to plan B and work at Wal-mart my entire life. Not good.) Spilk, although a native New Yorker, went to college in Portland, Ore., my hometown. She started low in the chain of command and has risen up in corporate management at Wiley through hard work, excellent reading and writing skills and an undying passion for her work in publishing. This fact alone gives me reason to believe that my education will help me reach my goals in life.

Similarly, my running career started from the ground up. When I first started running, I couldn’t hold a pace faster than a walk for ten minutes before I was huffing and puffing and out of breath. Yet over time, running became easier as I continued to go out and slowly go for longer runs. It took a lot of time and patience, but I can say from experience that the journey from running my first mile to completing my first marathon has been well worth the time and energy.

In summary, I have a lot of work ahead of me to achieve my goals. I may have to serve coffee and make copies as an intern. Heck, I may need to work at Wal-Mart just to make ends meets in college. But it will be worth it. I have the passion for journalism, and this trip is helping me realize that passion is essential to love the vocation you chose. So New York, I’ll start small, but I’m dreaming big. I’ll take the low-income, high-stress jobs, because I know it’s going to pay off in the end.

 

And that is a comforting thought.

PRACTICE YOUR TRADE: The Smoking Gun

Each day I’m here traveling through the fast-paced, not-so-cleanly streets of New York, I learn something new about running, about journalism and about life. Somehow, these life lessons all seem to mesh together.

On our second full day in the Big Apple, we met with the four writers of The Smoking Gun, including founder and editor-in-chief, Bill Bastone. After being in production for more than 14 years as one of the most prominent investigative periodicals online, Bastone and his team have learned the tricks of the trade for staying sharp and finding the stories mainstream media tend to overlook, misinterpret or ignore all together.

“We break more stories than [mainstream media] do,” Bastone said. “The heart of what we do is finding news; the angle.”

The Smoking Gun, unlike other start-up periodicals, thrives on digging up the stories within specific documents. It is a practice; a lifelong commitment to themselves and to their audience that their content is always accurate, researched and often, in the words of Bastone, “newsy, racy all balled up into one.”

The career of investigative journalism can easily be tied to one of my life passions: running. It is my firm belief that anyone, no matter age, gender or physical fitness, can go out and run. But what distinguishes an occasional runner from a distance runner is practice.

Like journalists, runners must practice their trade. I’ve found that the only way to improve is to do what you love, and do it often. This amazing experience is teaching me that each day is a new day to practice, improve and perform to the best of my abilities as a runner, as a journalist and as a human being.

Like the old saying goes, “practice makes perfect.”

 

PREPARING FOR RACE DAY: Ketchum Public Relations

A theme that has consistently been reiterated over the course of this trip is the importance of gaining hands-on experience in the field of journalism through internships. As directors at Ketchum Public Relations emphasized, having a strong resume and being well prepared for your interview will set you apart from the rest of your competition. Hundreds of applicants apply every year, each with excellent credentials, GPAs and majors. To really stick out from the crowd, you have to prepare for “race day.” (In other words, the infamous interview.)

Like each interview you undergo, each race is different. Whether you are training for a 5k relay or an ultra marathon (50 + miles), preparation is key and specified to the distance and elements you will face in a given environment.

For example, when I trained for my first marathon, I followed a specific training schedule. I put in the miles consisting of long runs, tempo and speed work along with cross training, core strengthening, stretching and lifting. I did my own research on the marathon route, race day weather conditions and other runner’s reviews on the race. The week before the big day, I tapered, amped up my carbohydrate intake, picked up my number and laid out my marathon outfit so I would be ready for my starting time. With all of my preparation done beforehand, I stepped on the starting line with hundreds of other racers focused, relaxed and ready for run my first 26.2 miles.

Preparing for an interview is much the same. The Ketchum team made an excellent point that your resume, like race training, must be adapted to a specific position (or race) you are applying to. Make it clear, concise and include the experience that is relevant to the company.

Do your research about the company: Know their ethos, mission and recent work. These topics can serve as talking point during the interview. It also shows an interest in the company and the work, product or service they create.

Before the starting gun sounded for the beginning of the Spokane Marathon, I met a marine who decided the day before the race to run a full 26.2 miles, a feat he had never come close to completing. However, even without training, he did, quite amazingly, finish the entire distance.

Here is the real kicker: I passed him around mile 20 and finished a good 20 minutes before him.

Between the two of us, the marine had more strength and brawn, but I had more experience and preparation.

Thanks Ketchum (and Mr. Marine) for the excellent wisdom.

 

TRAIN TOGETHER AND SEE RESULTS: BLOOMBERG NEWS AND NEW YORK TIMES

Two of the most influential and inspiring role models in my life are Molly Cooke and Carla Pletcsh, my running partners that I have trained with for six months, but have known as friends for a majority of my life. This past July, Molly and Carla had the experience of a lifetime competing in the Cascade Lakes Relay, also known as CLR, a challenging, 216.6 relay race that runs its course from Diamond Lake Resort to Bend, Oregon.

On top of running an amazing distance, Molly and Carla were part of an ultra running team, meaning all the members of their team were over a certain age and the team consisted of only six runners, compared to the regular 12 in most teams.

The thought of running 3 legs consisting of 3-8 miles is daunting. Multiply that number by two, and the idea becomes borderline insane. Yet through their collaboration and hard efforts, each member of the team brought something to the table, helping the team to finish this amazing challenge.

Molly had the ability and strong legs to fly down hills. Their team captain had the relay experience and stamina. And Carla, with her strong determination, flew up hills like they were non-existent.

In a relay like CLR, it is the team that crosses the finish line. The group itself creates the results.

The sites we visited today run on a very similar system.

The first location was Bloomberg news, a globally syndicated online news source that provides the most accurate and timely facts, statistics and analytics for the financial and business realms within the United States as well as around the globe. With more than 11,000 employees in 72 countries, Bloomberg never sleeps. Between the New York, Tokyo and London Bureaus, the terminal signal is always updating information live. Valuing transparency, as seen through their building structure and employee dynamic, the work Bloomberg produces is more important (and valued) than the work of any individual.

The New York Times graphics department held a similar belief. Although interactive maps, graphs and charts are creating a more straightforward method of informing and engaging the Times print and online audiences, it is through the group efforts of connecting the images to a story that have allowed this newspaper to succeed in a financial decline.

Again, I have found that running and journalism connect: Sometimes it is better being a team player than working alone, because joint efforts often yield more rewarding results.

 

PURPOSE-DRIVEN RUNNING; PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE: ProPublica

In my opinion, ProPublica was one of the most interesting and inspiring sites we have visited on this trip. Even before we visited this location, I was intrigued by what they do and how they serve the national community through their service.

From previous research, I learned this non-profit newsroom specializes in conducting investigative journalism that will benefit the public and their various partnerships within the media realm, including CNN and PBS.

According to their website, ProPublica’s research “shines a light on the exploitation of the weak by the strong and one the failures of those in power to vindicate the trust placed in them.”

This fact alone amazed me. Providing their stories and research free of charge, newspapers, radio/TV broadcasters and periodical websites can include in-depth content in their publications without sacrificing the time of their limited staffs.

Yet my amazement didn’t end there. After talking with Mike Web, director of communications at ProPublica, I learned that this organization not only seeks stories to investigate untapped reservoirs of content, objectively seek to change the world one story at a time.

“We want our stories to fix the problems we are writing about,” Web said.

Unlike other publications, ProPublica does not have a hidden agenda. They want to make a difference thorough each story they publish, and have succeeded in doing just that from their founding in 2007.

“Politics are irrelevant,” Web said. “We are passionate about getting our stories right.”

This idea of writing for a purpose reminds me of why I run.

The medals and free gear are fun to receive, not to mention the awesome food and bragging rights you have after completing a marathon.

But once I put those physical memorandums aside, I remember that running is more than a prize at the finish line.

Ever race I register for costs money. Although the price is often steep, the money raised not only covers the event, it raises awareness (and often funds) for a given organization.

In fact, my church organized a Reindeer Run this December where the funds raised were donated to a local Toy-N-Joy, which collects and distributes toys to young boys and girls in our local community.

With this reminder, I now know why I run. I run not only because I love it. I have a purpose when I run. All the training, sweat and tears lead to a race that not only benefits me, but changes the lives of others.

And this is where ProPublica excels, and this is where I want to excel also.

Have a purpose; have a goal. Be passionate towards a cause. And work not out of selfish ambition, but with others in mind.

Have a digital voice

Yesterday marked one of the major turning points in my life. For starters, it was my birthday. My twenty-first, in fact. Along with my general excitement for this special day, many of my fellow New York travelers, as well as family and friends from home sent their congrats and well wishes throughout the day. On a negative note, other loved ones did not. But what really surprised me is that most of my birthday wishes did not come from word of mouth. Rather, they came from text messages, Facebook comments and phone calls.

This small observation made me realize that in order to be heard or recognized in today’s world, you have to have a digital print in society; one that allows you to reach others and brand yourself outside of your immediate social circle.

As these questions of cyberspace began to whirl in my head, our class had the privilege to meet with Columbia University new media expert Sree Sreenivasan, one of the leading technological experts in today’s digital media-driven culture. Out of the many topics discussed during our time together, Sreenivasan brought up a key point: The world is changing, and so is the way people collect and synthesize information.

News is distributed not only through print mediums, but around the clock through publications available online as well as via smart phones. Music and movies can be streamed, rather than purchased. People can be connected nationally and internationally through social networking. Media is changing how we view the world; they are changing how I even view myself.

After talking with Sree Sreenivasan, I’m realizing that in order to be hire-able, I have to be more than just resume and cover letter. Heck, I have to be more than just a great office personality and team player. I have to be heard as an authoritative figure, both in my personal relationships and digital ones. Journalism is multifaceted. Expertise in a variety of forums is not suggested, it’s required.

Runners can often get “stuck in a rut” if they limited themselves to one distance. In order to keep things lively and new for each run, I find myself trying new distances and routes so each day I venture out, something new and exciting occurs. One day may be a tempo run, where another day I may work on speed work. All in all, it’s the variety that keeps me motivated to keep running and improving on my form and pace.

Although I do not consider myself a digital expert, I’ve dabbled in a few media realms (and running distances). However, after talking to Sree and my fellow Whitworthians, I have a stronger drive to be seen and heard. I’m going to put myself out there and go beyond my immediate, localized comfort zone (also known as the “Pine cone curtain”). So watch out world: I’m taking names, and emails.

Do what you love: TV Guide vs. SAATCHI & SAATCHI:

It’s funny how a negative experience can turn into a positive one. This phrase my need a little explanation.

On Wednesday, we had the opportunity to visit with two very different companies, TV Guide Online and Saatchi & Saatchi. The first location is a national online publication that provides their audience with the latest interviews, features and information on their favorite TV shows, while the second company is an advertising agency that creates “Lovemarks” for their clients through brand recognition. Both are excellent, profitable companies. However, there is a defining factor that makes them remarkably different.

TV Guide Online does their work because they HAVE to. Saatchi & Saatchi works because they WANT to. They love what they do.

It’s a simple fact that makes all the difference in the world.

When we met with the TV Guide Online staff, you could tell after only a few minutes of conversation that the employees didn’t enjoy a large majority of the projects they have to do. Even though each writer gets to cover shows they enjoy and interview famous celebrities and actors, they also face all the negatives that come with the media industry. Their work may seem glamorous, but in reality, it seems to me to me more of a frustration and monotonous type of work than a rewarding one.

Saatchi & Saatchi, on the other hand, was an inspiring place to visit. We were greeted by Erin Lyons, communications team leader at Saatchi & Saatchi, who has such a passion for what she does and what she represents as a key member of this prestigious advertising agency. Through the “Lovemarks” system, Saatchi & Saatchi not only makes a given company’s brand recognizable; the brands become trustworthy and reliable, creating loyal customers that will last a lifetime. This type of work builds up brands by building strong relationships between the creator and consumer.

This stark contrast between these two locations made me realize that whatever I do in life, I have to have a passion for. Without that drive and love behind it, everything suffers.

When I first started running I had this same realization. Whenever I was forced to run, I hated it. When I saw other, faster runners pass me by I could not understand where the enjoyment was. In all honesty, I thought runners were crazy.

Then one day, something clicked. I tried running with friends at a slower pace, rather than running full throttle on my own. It was then that I realized I loved how I felt when running. There was an enjoyment there I had never had before. And once I had that reverence for this activity, I found that my running form and pace improved.

In essence, you have to love what you do. It doesn’t matter what you do in life, as long as you have a passion for it. Once you have that excitement in life, nothing can hold you back.

Two Sides of the Same Coin: FAIRNESS AND ACCURACY IN REPORTING (FAIR) and Eagle Publishing ( Regnery Press and Human Events magazine)

When shopping for your first pair of running shoes, it can be one of the most exciting and nerve-racking experiences at the same time. As a beginning runner, I went to Portland Running Company to buy my first pair of legitimate running shoes, but found myself lost in a sea of brands, colors, and sizes. I had no idea where to start, let alone what shoes would best help my running form.

I was then approached by one of the employees at PRC, who had an amazing knowledge and background in running. He first watched me run on a treadmill, where he recorded my running form with a small camera. With the footage, he was able to discover what shoes would help correct my overpronation, a common running error where your feet roll in too much mid-motion. After bringing out some types of shoes that would correct this issue, the employee had me try on each pair to test them out and get a feel of each fit. Without his help, I would have been completely lost. His familiarity with all brands and types of shoes help him give an unbiased opinion.

In media, this idea of “objectively” and “unbiased reporting” is often spoken of, but not always enforced. As a producer and viewer of media, I have found that journalists, whether consciously or unconsciously done, have a preference for a given political party or social agenda.

Over the course of this media impact experience we were able to visit two locations that differed in their political affiliation by being openly liberal or conservative, those being Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting and Eagle Publishing, an umbrella company containing Regnery Press and Human Events.

Although each location was open about their slanted agenda, they each held the belief that providing the most accurate and timely news.

“We believe news should not be defined by the powerful,” said Janine Jackson, program director at FAIR magazine. “Media have a role to play to educate and inform.”

Harry Crocker, editorial director of Regnery Press held a similar belief that the truth should be put before support of a given party, not the other way around.

“The better way [to publish as a journalist] is to not have a party line,” Crocker said. “That parry and thrust of ideas is a good idea.”

Jackson and Crocker work for contradictory publications, but this doesn’t prevent them from understanding each other’s point of view. In fact, having a well-rounded understanding of their opposition has helped each of them remain informed on a variety of subjects.

I have a party I would consider myself affiliated with. But I’ve learned there are things more important than being a party member. It is better to see both sides of the coin than to be so pig-headed as to not understand all the possibilities.

 

‘JUST DO IT’: C-SPAN AND PBS

That iconic swoosh, seen on running shoes, hats, sports equipment and athletic attire has spurred athletes around the world to “Just Do It.” When the going gets tough, you push through, no matter what.

From my own personal experience with running, I have found that an athlete, regardless of their sport, needs more than talent and raw skill to be successful. What sets a true athlete apart from the competition is their unswerving determination. It’s the heart within an athlete that creates a true champion.

I know that I am not the strongest, fastest or victorious runner in the collegial level, but I am determined to be the best I can be.

Yet this trip has taught me more than to believe in myself as a runner. From the examples given to me by our visits today at C-SPAN and PBS, I have learned that the concept “Just Do It” transcends beyond the track field.

Our day began with a collaborative conversation with Brian Lamb, president and CEO of C-SPAN, a private, non-profit cable television program that focuses on different areas in politics. As founder and creator of C-SPAN, Lamb never stopped pursuing his dream. As such, Lamb has conducted more than 1,000 interviews over the course of his career while directing a news source that continually provides the public with specialized coverage of our countries current political topics. Even when ratings drop and viewer interest declines, it is times like these that journalists, like Lamb, strive to encourage other journalists in producing the most accurate and objective material as possible.

Lamb said, “Just do it, and do it, and find your own way of doing it.”

This same philosophy can also be applied to Paula Kerger, standing President of the Public Broadcasting Service. During her eighteen years working in public television, Kerger has continually endeavored to give “viewers like you” programs that are uplifting, educational and engaging to audiences around the nation.  In part, this goal has been achieved through PBS’s work to reach audiences in the digital realm, making a variety of games, programs and content available online through mobile devices. According to Kerger, this transition to online media has allowed PBS to gain momentum in difficult times, reaching a wider fan base than in previous years.

“[it is important] to have content that reaches beyond physical borders … and lives forever.”

Kerger has also proven her determination by competing in triathlons. Her will to reach amazing goals both in athletes as well as in her professional career has encouraged me that running, similar to journalism, takes more than skill; it takes spirit and gusto.

I believe it is through Lamb and Kerger’s faithful commitment to their company’s missions that allows C-SPAN and PBS to flourish. With their hard work, dedication, and unyielding loyalty, I believe that these organizations, despite economic hardships, will carry on and endure in their future enterprises.

With these excellent examples before me, I feel that I too, can be a champion. Or at least finish a few more marathons in the meantime.

From Brooks to barefoot running: STUDENT PRESS LAW CENTER/REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

With every technological advancement that is been made in terms of media, journalists are faced with new ways in which to research and produce their work. Although journalism is still viewed as the art of storytelling, the ways in which to tell a given story are growing with each new media tool.

From print to radio, radio to television and television to the Internet, journalists can either adapt to the transition to digital media, or they can try to combat the changes occurring to this art form.

Yet with the recent fiasco of WikiLeaks, it makes one wonder: Is there such a thing as too much media consumption? According to executive director Lucy Lalglish of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, media has to be used with some leniency.

“Technology is not always your friend,” Lalglish said. “Sometimes the good old fashioned methods of reporting are better.”

Although media technology has helped reporters exponentially in gaining more information quickly, it seems that media and legal experts alike are finding that a balance between new and old media must be met. Digitally savvy journalists will not be born overnight. A transition period must occur first.

In running terms, this age of technological advancement is happening as we speak. Instead of the shift involving an emphasis on digital, runners and athletes alike are transfixed by a new trend that is circulating around the world: barefoot running.

According to the latest research, runners were born to run barefoot. The feet are designed to run across given surfaces without extra cushioning from chunky running shoes. The common errors in running form actually occur because of the shoes you where, not because of how the feet hit the ground.

Due to this new revelation, runners want to ditch the shoes (and keep their cash) and run barefoot for good. Sounds like a great idea, right?

Wrong. Although this new phenomenon is in fact appealing, runners are learning that transitioning to barefoot running cannot happen overnight. Therefore, the minimalist shoe was born.

With a design more like a rubber sock than a shoe, the minimalist shoe allows runners to have a lighter, less cushioned shoe to wear as they prepare to throw out their old Brooks and move towards going barefoot on all their runs.

In both the journalism and running realms, I’ve come to the conclusion that every good thing must be taken in moderation. These strides we are making in terms of technology are amazing and I am ecstatic that I get to be a part of this age of change. However, I’ve learned to not forget that this is a transition period. I have to walk before I can leap; jump before I can run. I’m looking forward to trying new digital media methods, but first I’ll start small.

Maybe one day I’ll even make it going barefoot.

CONCLUSION: Lessons learned. Skills developed. Running improved.

Over the course of this amazing trip, I have learned so much in terms of journalism that it’s hard to even scratch the surface of all that I gained from touring New York and Washington D.C.

But most of all, I love the fact that the gleaning process didn’t end when we left our meetings. In fact, I felt like each tourist stop, museum visit and run I learned something about myself as a journalist and a runner.

On our last Saturday in Washington D.C., I had the opportunity to run 18 miles with my friend Amy, a fellow traveler who was also staying at the International Hostel. It was her first  18-miler, and I was so excited I was going to be able to be a part of this amazing milestone in her life.

We started off from the Hostel, ran along M Street into Georgetown until we saw the Capital Crescent Trail, a beautiful paved route that travels through picturesque forest scenery of rivers, streams, full-bodied trees and amazing wildlife.

It was on this trail that I had an epiphany: Anything you do in life that is worthwhile doesn’t come easy. It takes hard work and determination, but when you face a challenge head on a complete a task to its completion, the feeling of accomplishment is unlike anything else in the world.

That is what it feels like every time I finish a run. It doesn’t matter how many long runs or races I complete. Each day I wake up humbled by the fact that each day is a new challenge; one that is well worth the effort.

Completing this trip was an experience of a lifetime. The lessons I learned are not only applicable to my future career; they are life lessons I can apply to almost any aspect of my life.

I’ve learned that through hard work, determination and a positive attitude, I can accomplish my career goals and running aspirations. I just have to remain humble and look at each day as a new opportunity to practice and improve.

Finishing a marathon is more than just crossing a finish line. The best part, in my opinion, is the journey you undertake over those 26.2 miles.

So even though my time in New York and Washington D.C. has ended, I’m still running through life, learning more about journalism each day and the endless possibilities that are in this field that I love. And this journey in life is only just beginning.

‘Just Do It’

That iconic swoosh, seen on running shoes, hats, sports equipment and athletic attire has spurred athletes around the world to “Just Do It.” When the going gets tough, you push through, no matter what.

From my own personal experience with running, I have found that an athlete, regardless of their sport, needs more than talent and raw skill to be successful. What sets a true athlete apart from the competition is their unswerving determination. It’s the heart within an athlete that creates a true champion.

I know that I am not the strongest, fastest or victorious runner in the collegial level, but I am determined to be the best I can be.

Yet this trip has taught me more than to believe in myself as a runner. From the examples given to me by our visits today at C-SPAN and PBS, I have learned that the concept “Just Do It” transcends beyond the track field.

Our day began with a collaborative conversation with Brian Lamb, president and CEO of C-SPAN, a private, non-profit cable television program that focuses on different areas in politics. As founder and creator of C-SPAN, Lamb never stopped pursuing his dream. As such, Lamb has conducted more than 1,000 interviews over the course of his career while directing a news source that continually provides the public with specialized coverage of our countries current political topics. Even when ratings drop and viewer interest declines, it is times like these that journalists, like Lamb, strive to encourage other journalists in producing the most accurate and objective material as possible.

Lamb said, “Just do it, and do it, and find your own way of doing it.”

This same philosophy can also be applied to Paula Kerger, standing President of the Public Broadcasting Service. During her eighteen years working in public television, Kerger has continually endeavored to give “viewers like you” programs that are uplifting, educational and engaging to audiences around the nation.  In part, this goal has been achieved through PBS’s work to reach audiences in the digital realm, making a variety of games, programs and content available online through mobile devices. According to Kerger, this transition to online media has allowed PBS to gain momentum in difficult times, reaching a wider fan base than in previous years.

“[it is important] to have content that reaches beyond physical borders … and lives forever.”

Kerger has also proven her determination by competing in triathlons. Her will to reach amazing goals both in athletes as well as in her professional career has encouraged me that running, similar to journalism, takes more than skill; it takes spirit and gusto.

I believe it is through Lamb and Kerger’s faithful commitment to their company’s missions that allows C-SPAN and PBS to flourish. With their hard work, dedication, and unyielding loyalty, I believe that these organizations, despite economic hardships, will carry on and endure in their future enterprises.

With these excellent examples before me, I feel that I too, can be a champion. Or at least finish a few more marathons in the meantime.

Have a digital voice

Yesterday marked one of the major turning points in my life. For starters, it was my birthday. My twenty-first, in fact. Along with my general excitement for this special day, many of my fellow New York travelers, as well as family and friends from home sent their congrats and well wishes throughout the day. On a negative note, other loved ones did not. But what really surprised me is that most of my birthday wishes did not come from word of mouth. rather, they came from text messages, Facebook comments and phone calls.

This small observation made me realize that in order to be heard or recognized in today’s world, you have to have a digital print in society; one that allows you to reach others and brand yourself outside of your immediate social circle.

As these questions of cyberspace began to whirl in my head, our class had the privilege to meet with Columbia University new media expert Sree Sreenivasan, one of the leading technological experts in today’s digital media-driven culture. Out of the many topics discussed during our time together, Sreenivasan brought up a key point: The world is changing, and so is the way people collect and synthesize information.

News is distributed not only through print mediums, but around the clock through publications available online as well as via smart phones. Music and movies can be streamed, rather than purchased. People can be connected nationally and internationally through social networking. Media is changing how we view the world; they are changing how I even view myself.

After talking with Sree Sreenivasan, I’m realizing that in order to be hire-able, I have to be more than just resume and cover letter. Heck, I have to be more than just a great office personality and team player. I have to be heard as an authoritative figure, both in my personal relationships and digital ones. Journalism is multifaceted. Expertise in a variety of forums is not suggested, it’s required.

Although I do not consider myself a digital expert, I’ve dabbled in a few media realms. However, after talking to Sree and my fellow Whitworthians, I have a stronger drive to be seen and heard. I’m going to put myself out there and go beyond my immediate, localized comfort zone (also known as the “Pine cone curtain”). So watch out world: I’m taking names, and emails.

 

Small beginnings can lead to a big future

Whenever I tell a person that I am a journalism major, I often receive the same reply.

“Oh. I hear journalism is a drying profession. Well, good luck with that.”

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mr. Pessimistic. Although, before today, I would have said the same thing.

Journalism, in itself, is an art form that is slowing burning out. Even as new media technologies are emerging, the modern media have downsized in terms of resources and employees. In a way, journalism has lost its spark.

However, this trip to New York is changing my entire perception of communication. Yesterday we had the opportunity to meet with John Wiley and Sons, the second-oldest global publishing firm in the United States. After taking the train and subway to reach their corporate offices in Hoboken, New Jersey, we met with several top directors within the company who reinforced Wiley’s belief that their commitment to integrity and excellence as a publishing firm began with the foundations created by Charles Wiley in 1807. What started as a small print shop in New York has grown two billion dollar company through Wiley’s rich history and ongoing mission  provide the customer with the best possible product. Charles Wiley may have come from humble beginnings, but John Wiley and Sons is a fine example of what it means to dream big and see your dreams become reality.

In fact, after speaking with Susan Spilkk, Vice President of Corporate Communication, I feel that there is hope for me as a young, aspiring journalist. (I was starting to worry I would have to move to plan B and work at Walmart my entire life. Not good.) Spilkk, although a native New Yorker, went to college in Portland, Ore., my hometown. She started low in the chain of command and has risen up in corporate management at Wiley through hard work, excellent reading and writing skills and a undying passion for her work in publishing. This fact alone gives me reason to believe that my education will help me reach my goals in life.

In summary, I have a lot of work ahead of me to achieve my goals. I may have to serve coffee and make copies as an intern. Heck, I may need to work at Walmart just to make ends meets in college. But it will be worth it. I have the passion for journalism, and this trip is helping me realize that passion is essential to love the vocation you chose. So New York, I’ll start small, but I’m dreaming big. I’ll take the low-income, high-stress jobs, because I know its going to pay off in the end.

 

And that is a comforting thought.