End of the semester musings…
An old post of mine seems to have caused a stir around my campus.
Reminder to self: Do not post when feeling overwhelmed, or after reading depressing articles about the state of newspapers.
Last week, I got to school and received some pep talks from my instructors. Which just reminds me how happy I am with Centennial College. My professors understand the fears many of us j-students have, and they are doing their best to address those fears in our classes, through conferences and through one-on-one interaction.
Do I feel there is no hope for print journalism? No, not really. I don’t think newspapers are on the verge of death just yet. I love print and I know I’m not the only one. There is something very satisfying about holding a newspaper, seeing words on paper. Yes, the advertising model has to change, and it’s true that today’s print reporters need to have skills that go beyond writing. But, I feel lucky because the program I’m in is well aware of that, and I’m gathering skills that go beyond good writing.
This semester has been a challenge for me. It’s been intense and has been quite hard on my family. And I know next semester is only going to be more intense. (Sorry, family!) But I can’t even begin to express how much I have gained in this semester alone. I’ve put everything I learned in my classes so far into use. I’ve taken photographs, laid out newspaper and magazine pages, reviewed a play, covered community events, tracked down sources on deadline, worked as a copy editor, covered a Maple Leafs event, interviewed city councillors, talked to Catholic school board trustees, been in a scrum, written for the web, talked to important newsmakers in broadcast-style interviews and even figured out how to write for radio. And that’s just the beginning.
Maybe it’s just the end of the semester euphoria, but I’m feeling good about all things journalism right now.
