Reflections on the semester

Newswriting has stretched me outside my comfort zone and has helped me gain experience covering city government.

By reporting at city council, I learned how to find newsworthy stories and conduct successful interviews. This blog has been different than other journalism assignments because it was writing on a deadline and incorporated hands-on experience by attending city council meetings.

I enjoyed blogging because it incorporated going and doing instead of just writing practice stories. At the same time, the most difficult part of the class was the deadline for blog posts. It was practically impossible to get interviews with people other than councilmembers because the meetings ended so late at night.

Learning to write about different topics in government is something I wish I would have learned more about. It was good experience going to council meetings, but I think this class should have also encompassed other topics besides council meetings.

For students taking this class in the future, my only advice is to be prepared and have confidence. A story can be written well from a good interview; this involves writing questions before talking to councilmembers. It’s also important not to be afraid of councilmembers; they are people too.

Besides the blog, this class has taught me that stories are everywhere; as a journalist, I just have to be alert to my surroundings to notice one.