Practice makes perfect in field of journalism
Campus Times
May 15, 1998
When I was asked to become an assistant editor this semester I was worried.
With only one semester under my belt, I was not sure that I could handle
it, but after a pep talk from a few people, I decided to take the opportunity.
My biggest concern was not that I would edit a story and miss a mistake
that would go to print, although that was on my mind at the time. But what
was even more frightening to me was that I was going to have to write the
columns and editorials that the student body reads every week. I was horrified
and extremely nervous.
I had taken editorial writing and learned the techniques and rules to
opinion writing. I knew how to do it and knew I could do it, but I was still
horrified that not only would I have to write these opinion pieces on possible
uncomfortable subjects but more importantly that people I knew from my school
were going to read my opinions.
I was not worried that when people read my work that they might not
agree with what I was saying After all everyone is entitled to their opinion
and that does not mean it has to be mine. Beside that, in all honesty I
secretly hoped that one of my pieces would grab somebody's attention and
get them angry and heated. That did not happen, but I am over it. What I
was scared of most was that my writing was not going to be good enough,
that I did not have the skills to be an opinion writer.
Writing columns and editorials is tougher than it may seem and was an
area that I was not confident in. With news writing, it was easy, you gather
the information and state the facts.
With opinion writing, there is a little more to it. Come up with an
idea that is of worthy news value, gather the information, state the facts
and then throw in your opinion to spice things up. Not too overwhelmingly
difficult, as long as your facts support your opinions and your point is
clearly understood.
If the work is not clear and supported, then the writer comes across
looking like an incompetent fool who has no business writing for an esteemed
paper like the Campus Times.
I was afraid of looking like that incompetent fool and making Campus
Times look bad.
What I have learned from my experience this semester writing my columns
is this:
1. Practice makes perfect. You cannot improve your writing, or for those
of you who play sports or instruments or whatever, unless you practice.
2. Nobody is perfect and they do not expect me to be either. I no longer
fear that I am going to make Campus Times look bad. My work may not
be the best work that this paper has seen but it is good enough, and because
of that I have no more doubt.
3. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," in the
words of wise old Franklin Roosevelt. I came into this semester being afraid
to put my head on the chopping block and show this campus what was on my
mind, but I did it. And guess what? I still have my head and nobody called
me an incompetent fool so I guess that means I did alright.
I have learned that we should not be afraid of going out on a limb and
trying something new even if you are not that comfortable with it. Hey you
might actually like it.
I think the one thing that I have enjoyed the most out of my experience
as an editor for is now I can write columns and editorials, confidently.
Michelle Thornton, a sophomore journalism major, is assistant features
editor of the Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at mthornto@ulv.edu.
