An Experience in Journalism
As I begin to wrap up my senior year of high school, I think of where the interest for journalism began: fifth grade. The small elementary school I attended had morning announcements that were recorded the day before they were aired on the small tv’s that sat in the corner of the classrooms. It was my turn and I had the opportunity to tell everyone what was for lunch that day, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Despite that I thought nothing about it again until freshman year when creating my schedule for my first year of high school. The high school counselor who visited my biology classroom told us about the new TV production class that would be starting next year. I signed up for the class, and sure enough when schedules came out I saw it written on my schedule.
From my humble beginnings learning the basics of recording with a camera, I've been on a lengthy learning path in journalism, earning the role of executive producer of two shows and an associate of one. My scholastic media experience has been pivotal in shaping my current success and future goals, reflecting my unique voice as a writer.
My media journey has been marked by diverse experiences, including participation in SkillsUSA, Arkansas Scholastic Press Association, a summer internship at Arkansas PBS, contributions to a local online newspaper, My Saline, and creating a marketing video at a local physical therapy clinic that led to a sponsorship. These experiences helped pave the way for my current success, earning multi-state awards, winning a national award, and receiving nominations for Student Emmys. Even being considered by my advisor to enter the JEA Journalist of the Year is an honor due to the standards he holds us to.
One significant moment occurred this year when it came time to assign on air roles for the year. Since the Hornet Media Program first made its debut we have produced two separate shows continuously. When all of the anchor spots were filled, I worked as a reporter for both shows while simultaneously producing them as well. Attending a 7A school means that sports are a large part of student and community life. While our shows would occasionally feature score updates or inform people of the upcoming game, we had no in-depth stories about the athletes or coaches that made up those teams. Under the guidance of my advisor I created a show solely for the athletics at our high school. While producing this show I saw this as an opportunity to connect with more viewers and anchored the show on my own.
Looking ahead, my excitement during a department meeting during fall of last year has transformed into being accepted to the University of Central Arkansas for broadcast journalism. My future goals involve exploring roles as a news on-air talent and progressing to news production. While the dream of working on a platform like Good Morning America might seem ambitious, I will continue to work until I believe I have achieved something great.
As a writer, my voice is intentional and authentic. Crafting scripts and stories for various projects, I aim to be knowledgeable, intelligent, empathetic, and caring. My goal is to connect with the viewers by sharing untold stories and testimonies that might otherwise go unheard. However, the journey has not been without its obstacles. Balancing multiple overlapping deadlines and leading a team of fellow students present their own type of challenges. I've learned to navigate these hurdles by being a leader while in class or places where work is being done. I share my insights with future leaders, emphasizing the importance of embracing stress as motivation for success in media production, but not letting it ruin the passion held for journalism.
In conclusion, my growth as a journalist is a testament to my dedication and passion for storytelling. From capturing the basics with a camera to envisioning a future on national platforms, each moment has created my passion as a writer and leader as a journalist. I believe my accomplishments and experience as a journalist qualifies me as a more than adequate candidate for the JEA Journalist of the Year.
From my humble beginnings learning the basics of recording with a camera, I've been on a lengthy learning path in journalism, earning the role of executive producer of two shows and an associate of one. My scholastic media experience has been pivotal in shaping my current success and future goals, reflecting my unique voice as a writer.
My media journey has been marked by diverse experiences, including participation in SkillsUSA, Arkansas Scholastic Press Association, a summer internship at Arkansas PBS, contributions to a local online newspaper, My Saline, and creating a marketing video at a local physical therapy clinic that led to a sponsorship. These experiences helped pave the way for my current success, earning multi-state awards, winning a national award, and receiving nominations for Student Emmys. Even being considered by my advisor to enter the JEA Journalist of the Year is an honor due to the standards he holds us to.
One significant moment occurred this year when it came time to assign on air roles for the year. Since the Hornet Media Program first made its debut we have produced two separate shows continuously. When all of the anchor spots were filled, I worked as a reporter for both shows while simultaneously producing them as well. Attending a 7A school means that sports are a large part of student and community life. While our shows would occasionally feature score updates or inform people of the upcoming game, we had no in-depth stories about the athletes or coaches that made up those teams. Under the guidance of my advisor I created a show solely for the athletics at our high school. While producing this show I saw this as an opportunity to connect with more viewers and anchored the show on my own.
Looking ahead, my excitement during a department meeting during fall of last year has transformed into being accepted to the University of Central Arkansas for broadcast journalism. My future goals involve exploring roles as a news on-air talent and progressing to news production. While the dream of working on a platform like Good Morning America might seem ambitious, I will continue to work until I believe I have achieved something great.
As a writer, my voice is intentional and authentic. Crafting scripts and stories for various projects, I aim to be knowledgeable, intelligent, empathetic, and caring. My goal is to connect with the viewers by sharing untold stories and testimonies that might otherwise go unheard. However, the journey has not been without its obstacles. Balancing multiple overlapping deadlines and leading a team of fellow students present their own type of challenges. I've learned to navigate these hurdles by being a leader while in class or places where work is being done. I share my insights with future leaders, emphasizing the importance of embracing stress as motivation for success in media production, but not letting it ruin the passion held for journalism.
In conclusion, my growth as a journalist is a testament to my dedication and passion for storytelling. From capturing the basics with a camera to envisioning a future on national platforms, each moment has created my passion as a writer and leader as a journalist. I believe my accomplishments and experience as a journalist qualifies me as a more than adequate candidate for the JEA Journalist of the Year.