Last Thursday marked my first-month anniversary at work. Within those 30(ish) days, I've already come to learn several things:
*It is not okay to try and break the rules of journalism when you're just starting. Yes, you still need a hard news nut graf, and you still need to introduce a direct quote by the third or fourth graf. In general, the most basic rules of news writing still apply. Period.
*Every day is a roller coaster. Some days I'm riding high, others I'm well below the levels of the subterranean transit systems in Madrid and Chicago.
*I will be forever broke. It's bad enough when you are living paycheck to paycheck, but it's even worse when you are already spending the money for hours you haven't even worked yet.
*I should have gone into magazines. I'm not a hard-news person, I love writing long and colorful stories, and I can't write quickly.
That said, I am still basically liking my job a lot. Maybe not loving it just yet, but I'm hoping to stick it out for a bit and ride it out. Worst-case scenario: I get fired. While that would suck, life would go on.
Enjoy my latest story here
Sunday, October 25, 2009
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Marcy, yeah for having a month on the job. you may see yourself as a features writer or enjoy the longer stories but what is important is that you are a journalist at heart. News coverage takes practice, lots and lots of practice. But you have it in you, I know it.
ReplyDeletePlus, what they don't teach you in school is navigating a newsroom and its politics. And learning how to work with editors of all types. Some play it safe, others allow you and encourage you take risks with your writing. It just takes time and patience to learn the lay of the land. I am so proud of you.