Blogging is only a quick fix.
I miss reporting. Blogging can only help me so much in my need for news spreading. I have noticed that I am finding all these ideas for articles. I am writing lists of people to interview, questions to ask, angles, etc. Then I remember that I don't exactly have a publication to publish to. My sources might accept that I am a student at New England School of Communications, and possibly saying I was a former freelancer for Fosters Daily Democrat may help, but when asking where the article will be published my answer would be, "uh...." Exactly.
Where would I be publishing this?
This is why I miss school, because I could write for the campus paper and I was around many other outlets where I could have my work published. Just posting the articles to this blog or to the other blog would not do much. Anything that I am going to report about is not something that I can pass off on a blog.
Blogging has really taught me the difference between BLOGGING and REPORTING. I am a journalist who blogs, but these blogs are not articles. I need that fix. I need to go out and interview, I need to do the research, I need to get that rush of meeting that deadline, or editing another article.
Blogging is a quick fix. Blogging is something that I can do while I wait to get that opportunity. I am looking for opportunities, but I am also well aware that I need my degree in order to get the job that I am most looking forward to.
I feel like I have all this experience and all this talent as well as all this built up yearning to report, interview, educate, edit, write, fact-check, publish, etc. I just want to go to school and keep learning. I love blogging, don't get me wrong.
But the feeling I get from posting a good blog entry cannot compare to the feeling I get when one of my articles is published. The work that goes into a blog entry and the work that goes into an article cannot even be compared.
I want to go out there with my digital voice recorder and get interviews. I want to be right there at the scene. The future of journalism is where you will find me, and I can assure you that this future is bright.
Blogging is a great past time. I enjoy blogging, but if I could pick between getting paid to sit at a computer and blog vs. going out to get interviews, uncovering scandals, meeting harsh deadlines, and having to copy-edit and fact-check 30 other stories: I will always pick the latter.
I am excited for the future.
I am excited for the experience I am going to gain.
I am excited for all the interviews, all the editing, all the reporting that is in my future.
I turn 20 in 18 days, and I am at such a high point right now.
I feel like I am in charge of my destiny and I can see success in my future.
And blogging is going to become a big part of the future of journalism,
but nothing can ever replace going out, getting the interview, writing the story, meeting that deadline, and having the information reach everyone.
Blogging will never replace reporting.
Bloggers will never replace reporters.
Blogging and Journalism (after contributing to both and experiencing both) seem so different to me. I have no doubt in my mind that the two can co-exist, and the future will be bright.
Look forward to my first WORD OF THE WEEK this weekend.
If you have any ideas that I should blog about or concerns please e-mail me
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
