In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I pursued a summer 2020 journalism internship at The Jewish Link. I have written articles focused on global politics, mental health initiatives, local events and community services, connecting readers to the facts. While writing these articles, I engaged in the process used by the press to fulfill its duties to the public. That process involves identifying, researching, following and confirming the facts. I learned that it is only with loyalty to this process that the press can authentically fulfill its obligations, and wield its power to communicate the news. I have thus grown personally and professionally, and most of all, have come to understand that the process of the press is integral to its final product.
The goal of virtually every reporter is to provide an integrative experience such that readers do not focus on the reporter as an intermediary between themselves and the facts. Great reporters appear, from their neatly formatted final product, to provide this experience seamlessly. Through my exposure to the business of news reporting, I have come to appreciate that seamless delivery of the news requires tremendous skill and experience. Capturing, processing and delivering the news well also requires communication, accuracy, style, flexibility, curiosity, dedication and a strong dose of teamwork.
Communication is a fundamental pillar of journalism. As a journalist, I conducted interviews with a variety of outside sources, researching their work beforehand in order to ask informed questions. After processing the information these resources conveyed, I updated my team on my progress and received valuable guidance before following up with original sources. These efforts require a great deal of organization, as well as respect for the time of both the sources and my team.
I have also learned the importance of each word in the service of accuracy and style. No one needs to know what you “think” the facts are. Readers only need to know what the facts actually are.
The beauty in journalism involves not only voicing excitement over the discovery of something new, but also imbuing the familiar with a sense of discovery. Thus, writing style is integral to reporting the news. Facts must be contextualized in a fascinating way. Reporters frame ideas and information in ways that connect most with their audience. To that end, the news-writing format is very different from other forms of writing. As a marketing and psychology double major, I have seen how intertwined these fields are with information delivery. As a reporter, I am thus driven to be just as clear and concise in my delivery, while capturing the point.
Processing emerging facts requires flexibility. When interviewing sources, for example, I have learned to incorporate spontaneous information into deeper questioning, the answers to which improve the quality of my fact finding, as well as the direction and scope of my reporting.
Curiosity is the driving inspiration behind the final result. News relies on the constant stream of ideas and the curiosity and drive to find them. Over the summer, I drew from my own circle, interviewing friends, proactively researching potential stories and staying engaged in my community. Seemingly small personal ideas can evolve into full-blown stories.
Dedication is most important. I define dedication as follows: When an emerging story captures your interest, jump at the chance to chase it. When sources are hard to reach, doggedly pursue them. When something seems off, keep asking questions until you are crystal clear on the facts. Ask for help if you need it. Support your colleagues. It’s not only the right thing to do, but you will always learn something from them. Finally, accept criticism: It’s not about you, or them; it’s about the news.
Olivia Butler is a student at Washington University in St. Louis and a staff writer at the Jewish Link.
