May. 21st, 2004 10:59 am
Lesson learned
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savvyliterateBleh.
For the first time in a long time, I got very critical feedback from a source regarding an inside article I did for yesterday's Empire. I've gotten so used to being told what a good job I'm doing that this was like a douse of cold water over my head.
I sure did need it.
Her e-mail, which pointed out everything that I had left out and should had included, made me realize that I allow myself to get in too much of a hurry. I didn't report the entire story. I was focusing on the bigger picture - the section front I was also writing for the same day - and let myself think, "Oh, this is a nothing piece. I can just churn it out and keep going."
Nothing that I reported was inaccurate, that was for sure. I just left out some information that would had made the story better and more complete.
Today marks two years and three days since I graduated college and, to be honest, I forget that I'm only 24-years-old and I still have a lot to learn about being a good journalist and professional. While it is too late to do anything for this one story, it will help me to make my future stories better. And I must always remember no matter how big or small the article I do, I need to give my 10-inchers the same attention I give to my huge section fronts.
And I still have a long way to go before I am truly an excellent journalist.
For the first time in a long time, I got very critical feedback from a source regarding an inside article I did for yesterday's Empire. I've gotten so used to being told what a good job I'm doing that this was like a douse of cold water over my head.
I sure did need it.
Her e-mail, which pointed out everything that I had left out and should had included, made me realize that I allow myself to get in too much of a hurry. I didn't report the entire story. I was focusing on the bigger picture - the section front I was also writing for the same day - and let myself think, "Oh, this is a nothing piece. I can just churn it out and keep going."
Nothing that I reported was inaccurate, that was for sure. I just left out some information that would had made the story better and more complete.
Today marks two years and three days since I graduated college and, to be honest, I forget that I'm only 24-years-old and I still have a lot to learn about being a good journalist and professional. While it is too late to do anything for this one story, it will help me to make my future stories better. And I must always remember no matter how big or small the article I do, I need to give my 10-inchers the same attention I give to my huge section fronts.
And I still have a long way to go before I am truly an excellent journalist.
