A Summer of Reporting

Tomorrow it will be a week since I started here at the Columbia Missourian. Six more weeks to go!

I feel like I am a total failure when it comes to this reporting stuff. This is disheartening because I do love to write and tell peoples' stories. However, I remind myself surely everyone feels like a failure when they just start out...

I can tell you this experience is going to add a whole new layer to my perspective. Already I feel a deep sense of compassion and sympathy for journalists. Before, I was always frustrated with those who write about agriculture not knowing what they talk about. Now I'm on the other side and realize it's tough! There's so many things to think about, so many aspects to include, so many people to talk to (if you can find them) and so many things can go wrong.

That to me doesn't excuse the problem, but it does make me realize it's incredibly important for farmers and people in ag to stand up and be willing to be sources.

Here at the Missourian we do accuracy checks with all our sources just to make sure everything we wrote down is accurate. I think it's incredibly smart, though at times I'll admit it's kind of a pain. For example, right now I'm entering my eleventh hour here in the newsroom because I'm waiting for a source to call me back. I hate bothering people, yet I also want to make sure it's right.

I now understand what my professors say about staying awake at night worrying over their stories.

To learn more about what I'm reporting on, you can visit the blog I'm writing for class. I'll probably keep it more updated on the day-to-day reporting than on here. It will also turn into my e-portfolio.