Narrative Journalism
One pillar that has become important in my thought process about journalism is narrative journalism. Narrative journalism is a style of journalism that seeks to tell stories that emphasize the human experiences behind events that occur. It is important to me because it is a style that ensures that journalism connects with the audience and that they are able to empathize with the people involved in a particular issue.
One way in which this pillar has impacted my thought process is that throughout my academic journey at USD, I have been able to engage in this style of journalism by undertaking various writing assignments that have emphasized it. In my journalism classes with Professor Thomas Herman, for instance, I have been able to undertake various interview writing assignments that have emphasized this style of journalism. In my media criticism classes, I have also been able to undertake a research paper that emphasized how stories are told in media texts and how stories impact the understanding of social issues by the audience.
Critical Media Analysis
The second pillar that has impacted my thought process about journalism is my development as a student into a responsible journalist by being able to critically analyze media and understand how media texts are constructed. It is important to me because it ensures that I become a responsible journalist by being able to critically evaluate media and understand how it shapes society’s understanding of various issues.
One of these projects, completed while taking my Media Criticism class at USD, was writing a research paper about Barry Jenkins’s Moonlight that focused on themes of intersectionality and ideology, using various academic and journalistic sources. I have also had the opportunity to think about how media narratives affect perceptions of reality, such as when discussing artificial intelligence ethics in journalism. While these experiences have allowed me to further develop my ability to think about media analytically, rather than superficially, I believe that I have benefited greatly from these experiences.
Interviewing and Communication
Good interviewing skills are essential to journalism, and I have found that this is another pillar of academic growth that I have had the opportunity to develop. Good journalism is not simply about asking questions, but about asking meaningful questions, listening to answers, and communicating information effectively to a reader. This is because journalism is not simply about communicating information, but about communicating information that is meaningful, interesting, and insightful, which requires strong interviewing skills.
I have had the opportunity to interview many professionals, such as John Jenks, Thomas Herman, and Liz Vaccariello, all of whom have backgrounds in journalism or media, while taking my interviewing and negotiating class. I have had the opportunity to discuss their career paths, their daily responsibilities, and changes in their industry, such as the role of artificial intelligence in journalism. While taking these classes, I have learned how to effectively ask meaningful questions, how to navigate a conversation, and how to synthesize information effectively.