Always do more

In our journalism class the past few weeks, we've had presentations from various health professionals on how they want journalists should report on things like suicide, viruses and pandemics and evidence-based health studies.

I've enjoyed each presentation because I've learned about who I can contact and partner with to gain good information for health stories.




But I've also found myself frustrated. I want to be a responsible reporter who does lots of research and thinks about all of my audiences and how to write/produce a thoughtful, interesting and timely story benefits my reader.

But will I always be able to do that by my five o'clock deadline?

I've barely started my journalism career - I've barely got my toes wet - but already I'm feeling pressure. Some external, but mostly internal.

I like longer-form, research-based journalism. But with Twitter, Facebook and blogs, journalism seems to be getting shorter, punchier and quicker - and, I'm editorialising here, worse.



I don't think I'm one who thrives on hard, breaking news, so I hope with a few years of general reporting under my belt, I can find my niche somewhere where can take my time and feel like my work is quality, useful, fair and substantive. And hopefully someday, I'll end up somewhere producing documentaries or writing longer pieces for Macleans or the Globe and Mail.

Or I'll be left always wanting to do more.


(Images from feld.com, domorefasterbook.com, amazon.com)

Lessons from the Intern Queen

Earlier this week, I read an article (tweeted by Duncan) about the Intern Queen, Laura Berger.



Laura had 15 internships during her 4 years of college. The highlights? Internships at MTV, FOX, BWR Public Relations, and NBC.

Now, she's the CEO of her own online company, Intern Queen Inc., that "helps students find and apply for internships while also educating them on how to make the most of their experiences". She also goes around and speaks to students on campuses across the US. (I think we should bring her to RRC).

The site has been so successful, she was recently listed number 5 on Business Week's Young Entrepreneurs 25 under 25.


She's got some great blog posts about how to get internships, but since our class will be coordinated with our final internships, I decided to share her post on how to behave on your internship. Enjoy!



What To Do and What NOT To Do During Your Internship

During the first week of an internship, you should arrive on time. An email should be sent to your hiring manager asking about parking, food, dress, etc one week prior to your first day at the job.

If you are sitting at your desk with nothing to do you should approach your employer and ask if there is anything you can do to help. If they don’t need help ask if there is anyone else in the office you can help.

Whenever you meet someone in passing, you should introduce yourself. If you are in the breakroom with others don’t be afraid to extend your hand and meet everyone around you. When you go back to your desk write down their name. If you aren’t sure of their last name try to look on your company directory and figure it out. Once you know the person’s first and last name, try to get their email address. Keep this information stored so that at the end of your internship or job you have all of your contacts properly stored .

Whenever your boss calls you into their office, go in with a pen and paper. NEVER go in their office without a pen and paper. This shows that you take your job seriously and that you begin each task with a sense of urgency and importance.

Don’t sit on Myspace, Facebook, or LinkedIN while on the job. Make it a point to keep your personal social activities separate from work.

Don’t give close friends your work email account. Have them email your personal account. This will help you to separate your work from your play.

(Photo from mixergy.com)

News Cafe: Great idea, but more work for busy journalists?

Last week, the Winnipeg Free Press announced it will be opening Canada's first "News Cafe" in Winnipeg's downtown Exchange District.

First off, I'd like to say I think it's a great idea. It will make journalists more accessible to the public and get them back out "on the street", so to speak, and interacting with people. Not only will it generate more news, but new news that perhaps wouldn't have reached the news agency otherwise.

But it's also got me thinking. If I were a journalist, I'd like to sit in the cafe and talk with people. I like to listen to people's stories, and I like to find news. But in my few brief work experiences, I also understand how busy journalists are. Trying to get stories filed by deadline while tweeting, blogging and writing webbies means journalists are busier than ever.

And now asking them to work in a public space where someone can sit down and start up a conversation while they are in the middle of working on an important story?

Journalists expect to be busy, but it seems like more and more is being piled on their plates. Is there going to be some compensation for asking them to work in a cafe? Fewer stories or something? Somehow I doubt it.

But I do think it's a good step and I applaud the Freep for being so bold as to try it.

And I'm very interested to hear the reporters's thoughts about it.