I aspire to be a journalist because I am fascinated by the everyday events that continue to shape the world. I hope to become a well rounded story teller by double majoring in Broadcast and Digital Journalism and Narrative Studies.
My previous experiences with journalism have motivated me to keep working on my skills in order to succeed in the field. My first journalism internship was with the Los Angeles Business Journal. It was very inspiring to see how much labor goes into the print journalism industry. This past summer, I interned at NBC Nightly News in Universal City. I logged tapes and helped producers research for and fact check their stories and scripts. I also gathered user generated content for breaking news such as fires or other natural disasters. Through this work, I realized that I enjoy the fast paced environment in which journalists work and also recognized the great responsibility they have in not only delivering the truth, but in presenting it in a way that engages their audience.
I find the ways in which the media is changing as exciting. I respect the large amounts of work that goes into print copies as well as nightly newscasts, but the fact that we can be involved in what is happening in the world around us with something as simple as a Snapchat story or a Facebook video intrigues me. Part of this curiosity is why I am so excited to learn new skills in this class.
There are so many things I hope to get out of the Introduction to Online Media during this fall semester. I am eager to learn how to code. I have very basic HTML experience from way back when in the Myspace days and I know that it is extremely rewarding to watch your own personal work come to life before you. I cannot wait to see how much I improve throughout the semester.
I realize that photography and design are essential to journalists, but I have very little experience with them as well. It may be a difficult journey to start from scratch, but I am prepared to take on the challenge to absorb new information and retain it through practice.
At USC, I am involved in many different aspects of journalism. I am the secretary of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists' chapter at school. I believe that the media should represent its highly diverse audience. I also write entertainment articles for Annenberg Media and have been a part of Annenberg Television News for the past two semesters. This semester, I am excited to join the JEDI team, which is going to allow me to create social media native news stories.
Aside from journalism, I have many interests. My hobbies include traveling the world on a budget, making things I see on Pinterest and exploring different narrative forms like literature and film.
In conclusion, I am still trying to find my niche in journalism, but I know it will come through trial and error. If I had to choose now, I would work for National Geographic, Buzzfeed or Fusion. I strongly believe the skills I learn in this class will be ultimately beneficial to my future career and I am thrilled to continue on this journey in media.