Every morning I followed the same routine. I walked the four blocks from my apartment to Howard University’s campus, eyes glancing back-and-forth between my BlackBerry and the pavement below my feet. On the small screen of my phone, I read news alerts from the Associated Press, Washington Post, Detroit Free Press and ESPN. About halfway into my trek I would stop and pick up a copy of The Express, a free commuter paper from the Washington Post. I would slide my phone into my pocket and begin flipping through the tabloid-format newspaper. Occasionally, I would stop and consider the fact that my lifestyle contributed to the struggles of an industry that I have been working toward becoming a part of since high school.
I initially decided to pursue a career in journalism because I wanted to tell people’s stories. I chose newspapers as my medium because I felt the stories were more in-depth and informational. Having spent nearly my entire collegiate career working toward a career in print journalism, it took me some time to accept the fact that things were changing and that my carefully-planned career map may need some slight tinkering. But I eventually came to the realization that an industry shift toward multimedia journalism had its perks. Disseminating news on multiple platforms is not only convenient for audiences in today’s fast-paced culture, but simply put, some stories are more effectively told through pictures and sound, while others through graphics and viewer interaction.
I concluded that at the end of the day, no matter the medium, the news must be delivered in a way that people can understand. I learned how to take basic journalistic skills from my print experience and use it in different mediums, and I am excited to continue working toward becoming a versatile multimedia journalist. The more ways a story can be told, the greater the number of people that can be reached, and thus, the greater the impact.
