The journalist’s responsibility

The most important lesson I learned this weekend was about the responsibility of a journalist, as described by Keith Woods, dean of faculty at The Poynter Institute. Our purpose is to inform the public of an issue while excluding any reasonable way that information can be misinterpreted. Although misinterpreting information may not be the journalist's fault entirely, it is our responsibility, totally, to make sure that we include details and are specific enough to eliminate errors that are misleading.

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.

Already on a roll

What do you expect to get out of a place you’ve never been to, among people from different walks of life that now converge with your own? That’s what I asked myself as I left Louisville, headed to D.C. Only eight hours later, I had my answer. It was not until CQS Program Co-founder John Quinn walked up to me not a full five minutes into being at the Newseum. He said, “You’ve always had something to offer, even writing headlines.” He was referring to what I wrote in my Web profile in answer to a question about how I got started in journalism. After the Scholars’ first meal together, my path crossed with Quinn’s again. He said “J.D. you’re on a roll.” That’s when I fully knew why I was at Chips Quinn: to continue the roll that I’m on and take it to the next level.