Blogging...This is something new

This is my first experience with blogging. As with all new endeavors, there is a certain amount of uncertainty. Blogging can be a great tool to develop skills as a writer by having people comment and criticize your work in a less formal forum than that of print. The purpose of this blog is to gain familiarity and experience with this form of new media and to use blogging as a tool become a better journalist.

I have several years of experience working as a student journalist. I started in high school, writing a few articles for The Warrior over the four years I was at Grand Junction Central. Although I enjoy writing, my main passion is photojournalism. As a sophomore at UNC, I started working as a staff photographer at The Mirror. I covered all kinds of events, including news and the arts, but I quickly developed a knack for sports photography. The following year I took over as the photo editor and continued to hone my skills as a photojournalist. Last year I had the opportunity to cover several big events, including campaign stops by president Barack Obama and Joe Biden. This year, I have returned to my position as a staff photographer. I have also started an internship with the UNC athletic department in media relations. This, along with opportunities in class, has allowed me to begin developing as a writer.

For my Advanced News and Feature Writing class, I am covering a beat on the University Program Council. By covering this beat I hope to develop my skills as a reporter by writing frequently and practicing my interviewing technique. I have never covered a beat before so it will be a new experience for me.

I have several strengths as a journalist. Working as a photographer and then moving in to writing has been an advantage for me. Many people might think they are two very different jobs, but they have much in common. As a photographer you have to tell a story with a picture and a caption. Clarity and conciseness are key elements of writing. Working as a photographer has afforded me the ability to be clear and concise in my writing. With strengths comes weakness as well. I am a terrible proofreader and no one in their right mind would hire me as a copy editor. Like photojournalism, I am developing a passion for writing as well. I like attending events and talking to people about what happened.