My second year as a staff-writer on The Roar allowed me to not only find my voice, but also portray it in a very egotistical way. This year I was able to embrace a lot of writing styles that I hadn't been able to the previous year. Writing for the paper not only allowed me to find my own writing abilities, but it also allowed me to find my way in the school. To know all the gossip, and to talk about it in a journalistic way.
The stories that stood out to me are the ones that made an impact. While entertainment stories can be entertaining to read -- they don't necessarily hold the same impact that a news story would. I've loved reading about things that go on in the community that had an impact on people. Stories that bring in actual, real reporting. Those stories go from Meg's "Matt Lauzon" story, to Taylor's story about The Compass Project. Stories that showed actual reporting are what journalism is all about.
This year, I think my best pieces have to be my columns. I've loved writing my columns. They're fun, they're funny, and they allow me to make all the egocentric jokes I can think of. On the other end of the spectrum, my least favorite would have to be either the New Emoji story or the story about people spending money on apps. These are my least favorite stories because I don't really care about those topics. They're entertainment, yes, but who really benefits from hearing Jim Bob's opinion on the new Unicorn emoji.
Even though the Unicorn emoji isn't important, what I've learned to be important is the determination it takes to be a journalist. To get the interviews that are necessary for an amazing story. To show the readers what about their community they don't know, or elaborate on what they do know. This year, I wish I had done more of that. I wish I had been able to write stories that mattered more. That had more of an impact on people. I know there are topics that are important, and I want to be able to write about them in the fresh fabulous way I write my columns -- except in a more professional way.
The stories that stood out to me are the ones that made an impact. While entertainment stories can be entertaining to read -- they don't necessarily hold the same impact that a news story would. I've loved reading about things that go on in the community that had an impact on people. Stories that bring in actual, real reporting. Those stories go from Meg's "Matt Lauzon" story, to Taylor's story about The Compass Project. Stories that showed actual reporting are what journalism is all about.
This year, I think my best pieces have to be my columns. I've loved writing my columns. They're fun, they're funny, and they allow me to make all the egocentric jokes I can think of. On the other end of the spectrum, my least favorite would have to be either the New Emoji story or the story about people spending money on apps. These are my least favorite stories because I don't really care about those topics. They're entertainment, yes, but who really benefits from hearing Jim Bob's opinion on the new Unicorn emoji.
Even though the Unicorn emoji isn't important, what I've learned to be important is the determination it takes to be a journalist. To get the interviews that are necessary for an amazing story. To show the readers what about their community they don't know, or elaborate on what they do know. This year, I wish I had done more of that. I wish I had been able to write stories that mattered more. That had more of an impact on people. I know there are topics that are important, and I want to be able to write about them in the fresh fabulous way I write my columns -- except in a more professional way.