I was in Fairfax, Va. last week at Robinson Secondary School when Barack Obama held a quaint, little town hall meeting of about 2,200 people during a campaign stop. Armed with my press badge from my current internship, I had a clear view of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee as he worked the stage, pointing to various people and giving them an opportunity to ask questions.
About four questions in, Obama whirled around to face the excited, smiley-faced supporters behind him and called on a young woman who said she was a teacher who had brought her students from a summer writing camp to hear his speech. Rather than ask about his plan for education, healthcare, or help for working women (which he was there to tout), this woman instead said something like this: “How did you become a better writer and how has writing helped you in your career?”
I was all business – being a lovely little intern with a press badge, after all – but I perked up considerably in expectation of his answer. See, my passion is really for writing. I just got my B.A. in Journalism from the University of Mississippi. I lived and breathed our college daily – editors tend to do that – and snagged internships at newspapers and magazines, where I revel in the opportunity to write and see my byline in print or on the Web. I wrote a 75-page thesis on the future of newspapers. And now, I’m trying to make journalism-reporting-writing my career.
Obama paused for a moment, probably a little amused and surprised by the out-of-the-norm question. His answer, predictably, was brilliant. He got good at writing by being an avid reader and by journaling during his early adult years. Being good at writing has helped him pen two successful books, draft laws and communicate with people of all different backgrounds and walks of life.
So if we follow the Obama example – which I, as a young, black, female am frequently urged by friends, family and colleagues to do – I need to read like a maniac and make friends with a journal. The reading part will be fairly easy, but the journaling will take work, discipline really. So this blog is my attempt at journaling. And what better thing to journal than my struggles, news and views on trying to make it in the world as a journalist?
My goal is to write as often as possible about all things media-related – and wherever possible, put my own personal recollections and Marti-related spin on things. I’ll keep the gossipy, unprofessional, Washingtonienne-style content off the blog, but I’m 21 so things are bound to get a little spicy every now and then. And at the end of this process, I will hopefully have learned more about the inner-workings of my own mind and the media world, made a few journalism-loving friends, polished my AP style and gotten a job in the field.
Let’s get to work.
Posted by journofile 