Reporter’s Notebook | Journalism has changed my viewpoint dramatically
The first journalism class I attended was in 2021 at Arizona State University. It was a history of journalism class. I learned the importance of famous journalists like Nellie Bly and Upton Sinclair. I explored the themes of class and racism in this class.
As my journalism career began to grow, my impatience grew as well. I anxiously wanted to write something, a column, or a small cutline. The spring of 2022 came with many opportunities, and I finally got a chance to write.
I took a news reporting and writing class and learned the basics of journalism writing. The professor, an old white man from the San Fernando Valley in California, taught concepts such as the inverted pyramid and the urgency of telling a story. We practiced writing news stories in each class period. During the class, I began to worry about whether or not I belonged in the news-gathering business because my grades on these writing exercises were abysmal.
Three months passed, and I celebrated my 19th birthday. The next class period after spring break, my professor informed the class that we needed ideas for an original 500-word news story. My mind began to ache and throb after I heard the news, and I panicked for a week straight. I desperately searched for a topic to cover, and eventually, I landed on writing a story about the dramatic rise in gas prices.
I spent many sleepless nights slaving over that draft. Eventually, the second week of April came, and my professor read my first draft. He gave me constructive criticism, which ranged from my opening sentence, called a lede, which was too long and wordy. However, he praised my reporting of the story and requested that I add another source. So, when the final draft was due at the end of April, my stress level rose.
On April 30th, when I turned in the draft a minute before midnight, I realized that I learned one thing. I was no longer someone trying to be a journalist because I was a journalist. I was a journalist from the moment I typed that first word. I was proud of myself. So, that summer, I emailed the editor of my hometown’s paper, the Navajo Times, requesting an internship position. I waited for a response for two months.
Finally, at the start of June, I received an email from the head of HR at the paper telling me to come in for an interview. So, I put on a suit and tie and answered the questions of a tall Navajo woman to the best of my ability. I started my internship at the Navajo Times on June 20th. Under the guidance of Duane Beyal, the editor at the time, I wrote brief stories about Navajo people’s educational accomplishments.
After I wrote the first ed brief, Beyal praised my reporting and my writing. This immediately raised my spirits and my doubts about being a journalist. Since that June, I have returned to the Navajo Times three times, including this winter.
During my time as a journalist, I have learned that you are a storyteller and a caretaker of people’s stories and can build up or break down someone’s reputation. Additionally, it is your job to tell people why they should care that the gas prices have risen or why the Navajo Nation Council approved a new project. As a journalist, you represent people’s stories and how they get told.
I believe my abilities as a journalist have improved since that first day at the Navajo Times. My interview skills have strengthened. Before, I could not hold a conversation for more than 15 minutes, but the intricacy of people’s stories has helped me to interview a person better. In addition, my writing skills have gotten better as well, and I can paint a picture for my audience.
In all, I am a journalist, and I believe that.
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