Two among many

Today’s session was so full of great information and wonderful speakers it is impossible for me to choose just one. I’ll choose two. Sue Stock, retail reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., was engaging and encouraging. She provided a good list of practical tips to make our first day in the newsroom seem less frightening. She encouraged us to ask questions and ask for clarification if the first answer does not satisfy us. She also gave us two important questions to ask people when trying to get new story ideas: What are you mad about? What are you concerned about?


Sue Stock (Summer 2000) in front of the Newseum's Front Pages gallery.

Rion Sanders, a staff photographer with the Great Falls Tribune in Montana, made a big impression on me, not just because he was a fellow photographer, but also because he provided insight on what to expect as a photo intern. He shared his work, both professional and personal projects, and answered questions about how he made a particular shot. I also enjoyed the chance to show our work and receive feedback from the group.

Setting goals key to becoming an exceptional journalist

Career Coach Colleen Fitzpatrick during the small group session. (Photo by Sam Kittner)

Knowing your goals and having the motivation to pursue them is essential to journalism. That is what I learned today from Aissatou Sidime, a business writer with the San Antonio Express-News, and Colleen Fitzpatrick, a CQS career coach, when we split into small groups. Aissatou knew that she wanted to be a business writer and she actively pursued it until she succeeded. It’s all well and good to have a good work ethic and a passion for journalism, but it is only with goals that one can be truly outstanding. I have yet to figure out my career goals, but thanks to Aissatou and Colleen, I'm thinking about them and where I want to go in journalism.

Sharing a dream

From left: Rick Jervis (Summer 1993), reporter, USA TODAY; Aissatou Sidime (Summer 1991), business writer, San Antonio (Texas) Express-News; Sue Stock (Summer 2000), retail reporter, The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C.; and Jack Marsh, vice president, diversity programs, Freedom Forum. (Photo by Nate Rohnke)

All of the speakers taught me something, but the person who stuck in my mind was Rick Jervis, USA TODAY’s Gulf Coast correspondent. Mr. Jervis has done many things I would like to experience in the news business. His first job reporting overseas was in Prague, Czech Republic, where he freelanced. He gave advice on becoming a foreign correspondent. In Prague, he couldn’t speak the language and picked it up along the way. His courage in reporting in a country where he didn’t know the language is an inspiration for my future endeavors.

Pressing on

I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation by Jamesetta Walker, assistant features editor of The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va. Her advice was practical and relevant, and she delivered her message in an entertaining way. I appreciated her obvious enthusiasm about her job and the journalism industry in general. She helped to ease my mind about some of the issues I will probably run into during my time in Wilmington, Del.

I also loved the way she was so straightforward. It was refreshing to hear someone say that when you make a mistake or run into a problem, "you just press on." Her presentation encouraged me to simply do my best and recognize and learn from any mistake I might make. I will carry her words with me and "just press on."

Reaffirming the belief in oneself

After our Wolfgang Puck-catered lunch, a luxury all Chipsters have quickly gotten used to, John C. Quinn, co-founder of the Chips Quinn Scholars program, gave a short speech that filled the eyes of many of us with tears and relieved me of any personal insecurity regarding my pursuit of a career in journalism. His words of wisdom and encouragement were what really made this experience hit home for me. We are here to fulfill the dreams held not only by ourselves, but also by a group of people who are fed up with the way things have always been and who are ready for journalism to represent who we all are as a community, not just a selected few. It is John's dedication to us and to this cause, and his genuine belief that we all have what it takes to make it that reinforces and strengthens my belief in myself.

(Photo by Diego James Robles, Summer 2008)

Advice for photogs, too

I really liked hearing Sue Stock, retail reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., talk today. I was worried that I would nod off this morning since I was up late last night, but she had a lot to say that kept me wide awake. She talked specifically about reporting, but much of the same advice holds for photo stuff, too. It’s all storytelling, after all.

Ask, don’t assume

I enjoyed listening to the political editor of USA TODAY, Catalina Camia, explain accuracy in journalism. I now understand that professionals like Catalina have made mistakes at some point. In the future, I can learn from my mistakes just as she has done. I was also inspired by her advice not to underestimate statistics, numbers or reports. I learned that it is always better to ask others for help if I do not understand any information.

Scholar Jeannette Ceja. (Photo by Sam Kittner)

An on-point speaker

The presentation by Jamesetta Walker, assistant features editor of The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va., resonated with me. Besides her ebullience and enthusiasm, which she has an impossible amount of, Walker had the air of a woman who's never been off point in her life. I agree with her about the importance of being a concise writer. I have been trained as she preached – to hook readers in three paragraphs or risk losing them forever. I suppose this contradicts what I said in an earlier post, where I took a mighty stand against the tenets of the five W's. I never meant to betray being informative and efficient. There should just be more freedoms to write leads that are creative. Tell the reader what they need to know and why ASAP. Walker is right. But she knew that already.

(Photo by Nate Rohnke)

Gaining new energy

I was the only participant to hear CQS alumna and Baltimore Sun copy editor Faith Karimi and I enjoyed my time with her because it was unlike any previous conversation I've had with professional copy editors. Talking about copy editing can get dry at times, but Karimi kept our session fresh by offering a human element. Before we discussed ethics or pored over sample sentences, we touched on how easy it is for us editors to feel burned out on the day-to-day routine of reading copy and writing haiku-like headlines. I told her my level of concentration had been worn down to a nub after a year of copy editing three to four nights a week, and I was worried that my fatigue would carry over to the Poughkeepsie Journal. She shared that she had been in a similar situation a few months ago.

"What did you do to re-energize yourself?" I asked.

Karimi said she moved to the sports copy desk and immersed herself in the world of scores and game rules. Occasionally getting out of one's comfort zone and learning new things is key, she said.

We'll all be getting out of our comfort zone soon, and I think the work we'll do this summer will be far from fatiguing.

A model for success

Eddy Ramirez, national education reporter at U.S. News & World Report, gave an inspiring speech. He was a Chips Quinn Scholar in 2001 and now is working for one of the big three news magazines in the country. He mentioned his upbringing and struggle to get ahead, as well as how being a Chipster helped him personally and professionally. Making photographs for a news magazine is a dream of mine and he had me thinking that if he can do it, why can’t I?

Alum Eddy Ramirez. (Photo by Sam Kittner)

Concise advice engages

Jack Marsh, vice president/diversity programs for the Freedom Forum, has been one the most helpful speakers so far. Aside from his engaging “broadcast” voice, he has offered concise advice. Like him, I'm interested in the training and retention of young journalists and would love to be in charge of that type of work someday, as he is now. But for now, I'll settle for a gratifying job on a metro desk.

Jack Marsh. (Photo by Sam Kittner)

Keeping priorities straight

All of our speakers have given us information we'll be able to use this summer. But the most helpful and inspiring part of orientation so far has been John C. Quinn's talk about love and family at Friday's lunch. Mr. Quinn, co-founder of the Chips Quinn Scholars program, didn't dole out reporting tips, but he did remind us of something many of us probably know but often forget: Everyone, no matter how brilliant, needs love and support from someone who likes him for who he is. And we all need to give the love and support back. At the end of the day, we'll remember the good stories we wrote, but not without remembering the fun we had with the people we love. I'm glad Mr. Quinn reminded us of that.

A confidence-builder

Jamesetta Walker’s confidence was infectious. She is assistant features editor of The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va., and what I liked best as she talked about some important elements of good story-writing was her confidence. It was obvious that she is someone who has been around for some time, worked with all kinds of reporters and writers, and knows what differentiates good journalistic pieces from mediocre ones. She backed up everything she said with clear examples, which really helped us see what she meant by the various bullet points listed on her handout. Somehow, just listening to her speak made me feel more confident of my own abilities. It made me feel that I know more than I realize and that I'm actually prepared to tackle any assignment that comes my way in the next few months.

Getting it right

If I had to pick one speaker who really stood out, it would be Sue Stock, retail reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. She spoke about something I've become increasingly worried about these past few months: mistakes, big ones. Simply misspelling a name or changing an "avenue" to a "boulevard" could have a serious impact on the lives of countless citizens in my internship city, Salt Lake City. I've made a few mistakes in my years of news writing at my college paper and I never want to have that feeling again, especially at The Salt Lake Tribune. By "pencil checking" my stories, printing out the final draft, circling every fact and checking each one, I can avoid making simple mistakes that could end up being very costly. So thank you, Sue, for your great advice.

When hard work pays off

Since our arrival in D.C., CQS Program Co-founder John Quinn has reminded us to always work hard and play hard. Rick Jervis, a CQS program alumnus, is the poster child for Quinn’s beliefs. As an intern, Jervis established himself as a tireless worker. His early efforts became the foundation for years of success at newspapers whose names are familiar to journalists all over the nation, including USA TODAY, where Jervis currently is the Gulf Coast correspondent. Working hard and going above and beyond the call of duty is an attitude that will be essential to me as I venture into the wide world of journalism.

Alums stir new class

Eddy Ramirez looked just like one of us – lost, hungry and tired. When he was asked to welcome us new Chipsters at the opening reception, I was excited to hear from an alum of the CQS program. His journey through the news editorial world was filled with the unpredictable twists that I have been trying to prepare myself for. But it was his story of starting out at the Statesman Journal, where I will be this summer, that has got me even more hopeful and ambitious. As it turns out, many Chipsters have been through the Statesman, including the original, Chips Quinn.

Taking charge of a career

Listening to industry professionals as we did on Friday, I found it difficult to name a favorite, or one who stood out more than the others. Aissatou Sidime, business writer for the San Antonio Express-News, spoke about how she got what she wanted out of her career, which was important for me to hear. Her journey confirmed that in order to have a fulfilling experience, you have to be willing to insist that your needs be met. Also, her insights made me realize that in this career, you can't settle. This is a changing industry and in order to thrive you have to fight for what you want until you get it.

Call in the doctor!

If the best medicine is being blunt and hilarious, then Jamesetta Walker is the doctor. Walker is the assistant features editor at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, and she has been my favorite speaker during orientation. There is nothing I appreciate more than a strong woman who is a leader in the journalism community and can get through life with a wicked sense of humor.

Caught by her high heel

The speaker who influenced me most was John Quinn. Before I came to Washington, D.C, I was severely burned out. I completed four internships during my college years and had just finished two journalism finals before getting on the plane to Washington. The doom and gloom of the newspaper industry was heavy on my mind, and I had run into "swamp people" in the past whom I had allowed unknowingly to let me doubt this profession.

No more. When Mr. Quinn, co-founder of the CQS program, spoke of his son's dedication to diversity, his wife Loie's support and the fact that he believed in all of us, something welled up inside of me that I had been struggling to keep down. I had considered applying to grad school in a different subject, but I knew that I just couldn't quit journalism. I couldn't help but cry when Mr. Quinn said everyone in the program was here to "pull us over the wall." This program caught me by my high heel and brought me over to the other side.

Pencil-checking means sleeping easy

Sue Stock, retail reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., had a significant impact on me. Accuracy is a high priority with each story I write. I've lost sleep at night wondering if I've missed something in a story after I've turned it in. I can see how the “pencil-check” method she taught can be a lifesaver, and I plan to use it on every story. With this fact-checking method, I'm sure I'll get more sleep after turning in my stories.

Becoming tech-savvy

Being that I am not the most tech-savvy student journalist, I am enthusiastic about the preview Val Hoeppner, manager of multimedia education at the Diversity Institute, gave us of the skills we will be learning in August at the multimedia “boot camp.” I am particularly interested in the Audacity audio program since I also do radio. I plan to download the program and practice using it in advance of the workshop in Nashville.