Real-world Reporting
BY ASHLEY McGUIRE
My Reporting and Writing II class recently got the opportunity to interview a veteran newsmaker, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, while attending a preview of “Bellobration,’’ an event featuring high school musicians, cheerleaders and the Jesse White Tumblers.
Since its inception, the Jesse White Tumblers, which has helped more than 10,000 children and has performed on national television and at professional sporting events. After the event we observed, I spotted White, and my instructor, Noah Isackson, encouraged me to go up to him to try to get a good quote for my story. I introduced myself as a Journalism major at Columbia College and asked if he would answer a couple of questions.
White said he was thrilled that I was attending the event as a part of my course and extended an invitation for me and all my classmates to tour his office and ask as many questions as we liked.
In his office, I quickly learned that there was more to Jesse White than I ever could have imagined. Prior to his election to statewide office in 1998, the first African-American to hold that position, he was the Recorder of Deeds for Cook County and a state legislator. He has achieved so much throughout his life and everything in his office was a representation of the places he has been and the experiences he has had.
I thoroughly enjoyed the interview with White, because it showed me a peek of what it will be like to enter the real world of journalism after I graduate from college. It taught me that as a journalist, you can’t be afraid to approach people. You just have to go for it.
I learned so much from that one day of being an in-the-field journalist, and I can’t wait to see what else this class has to offer.
Editor’s note: The Journalism Faculty created a six-hour course called Reporting and Writing II that debuted this semester. The goal is to give students the chance to cover news alongside working professionals. During the 15-week class, students learn how to report, interview and use multimedia tools. Students research background information, go on assignment with their instructor and return to the classroom to discuss leads and approaches before writing their news stories. The students use digital audio recorders (paid for through course fees, so are theirs to keep) and learn how to post their stories online. This is a first-person account from a student taking this course, required of all journalism majors.
My Reporting and Writing II class recently got the opportunity to interview a veteran newsmaker, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, while attending a preview of “Bellobration,’’ an event featuring high school musicians, cheerleaders and the Jesse White Tumblers.
Since its inception, the Jesse White Tumblers, which has helped more than 10,000 children and has performed on national television and at professional sporting events. After the event we observed, I spotted White, and my instructor, Noah Isackson, encouraged me to go up to him to try to get a good quote for my story. I introduced myself as a Journalism major at Columbia College and asked if he would answer a couple of questions.
White said he was thrilled that I was attending the event as a part of my course and extended an invitation for me and all my classmates to tour his office and ask as many questions as we liked.
In his office, I quickly learned that there was more to Jesse White than I ever could have imagined. Prior to his election to statewide office in 1998, the first African-American to hold that position, he was the Recorder of Deeds for Cook County and a state legislator. He has achieved so much throughout his life and everything in his office was a representation of the places he has been and the experiences he has had.
I thoroughly enjoyed the interview with White, because it showed me a peek of what it will be like to enter the real world of journalism after I graduate from college. It taught me that as a journalist, you can’t be afraid to approach people. You just have to go for it.
I learned so much from that one day of being an in-the-field journalist, and I can’t wait to see what else this class has to offer.
Editor’s note: The Journalism Faculty created a six-hour course called Reporting and Writing II that debuted this semester. The goal is to give students the chance to cover news alongside working professionals. During the 15-week class, students learn how to report, interview and use multimedia tools. Students research background information, go on assignment with their instructor and return to the classroom to discuss leads and approaches before writing their news stories. The students use digital audio recorders (paid for through course fees, so are theirs to keep) and learn how to post their stories online. This is a first-person account from a student taking this course, required of all journalism majors.