Yesterday wrapped up a four-day conference in Minneapolis, Minn. for several collegiate journalists, all aspiring to do three things: Make their college newspapers better, network and enjoy some days out the norm.
For me, I got a crash course in civil service and a nice reminder why I do what I do--because God enabled me to do it and it's one of the most important jobs a single person could hope to have.
Am I biased?
Absolutely.
Do I believe what I just typed?
Definitely.
Journalism--good journalism--is community service. It's working for the people. It's watching government who, believe it or not, don't always have everyone's best interest at heart and calling them on it when they're found out. It's getting the people's stories out there. It's even helping people find answers.
Sitting in two sessions taught by Mark Witherspoon, I felt the reinvigorating surge of service that comes with a career in public service.
What journalists do is not trivial in the slightest.
In fact, if there were no journalists, it's quite possible we'd be a generation of the uninformed walking around in blissful ignorance. Maybe this is my imagination getting the better of me, but ever see Pleasantville?
So, you get the picture.
I thank God for journalists. Now, I fully realize that less than 9 percent of journalists go to church or have a belief in God or any higher deity. But, in my view, what reporters do is a God-given, God-inspired gift that shouldn't be taken for granted.
This job is important.
So, I thank Minnesota and the Associated Collegiate Press 28th Annual Conference for reminding this aspiring community reporter why trekking to city council meetings, budget workshops, Board of Trustees meetings, special-called meetings, etc. is all worth the time and effort.
To all student journalists who are gearing for graduation and want to serve the people...I say kudos.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Forever & a day, but still standing
Well, as the title implies, it's been forever and a day since I posted something to this blog. So, practically five months later, here goes:
MANY things have occurred in the past five months, but one of the most pivotal would have to be me obtaining a S.C. Press Association-sponsored internship at The News & Reporter in Chester, S.C.
When I became introduced to the idea of a town called Chester, my opinion wasn't much. I heard it was small. I heard the people could be close-minded. I heard there was nothing to do. Obviously, my interest was minimal at best.
November 2010, I applied for the S.C. Press Association--praying and pleading to God that I would be one of the three collegiate journalists in all of South Carolina to be awarded the chance to hone my skills at a professional newspaper, and gain invaluable clips and contacts in the process.
Part of my desire was to remain in the York County area, partly because I love it--partly because my church and church family are here--partly because I live here off campus and was not fond of the idea of having to pay for housing in another part of the state while still paying for my rent in Rock Hill. So, I listed The Rock Hill Herald, The Fort Mill Times, The Lancaster News and The Chester News & Reporter as papers I would like to work at this summer.
Honestly, I prayed hard for The Herald.
By April, the S.C. Press Association Foundation--the lovely body of newspaper editors, reporters and veteran journalists--still had not made their decision as to what students would get the internship and the scholarship (which I also applied for).
Then, the day came.
I can't remember the exact date because it's been several months, but yes, I received the internship. PRAISE GOD. Let me tell you, the months of waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting all culminated into a severe test of faith. Here I had nowhere to go and nowhere to work this summer if I didn't get this internship. I balked at the idea of returning to a certain place of previous employment that had absolutely nothing to do with what I felt God wanted to do with my life. I wanted to do something in my field! More than that, I had a new apartment--so I needed to pay rent. I needed a car--so I needed to pay for gas and maintenance.
But let me tell you lady and gentlemen, God is faithful.
"Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart"~ Psalm 37:4.
That's no fable. It's absolutely true.
"God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man that he should repent"~ Numbers 23:19
Believe it.
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours"~ Mark 11:24.
That's the Gospel truth.
Not only did I meditate on these Scriptures practically everyday, my faith was exercised. I told God that even if He didn't give me this internship, I knew He would provide for me. After all, He's Jehovah Jireh--a Provider (Genesis 22:14)--and He can't contradict His Word; in fact, he watches over it so that he may perform it...it never returns to Him void (Isaiah 55:11). God is obligated to His Word. More than knowing I would be taken care of, I told the Lord that I would continue to love Him, continue to worship Him, love Him even more and, yes, I was sincere about it.
My faith was added unto (2 Peter 1:5-9); not by my own merit, but by through submission to Holy Spirit and allowing Him to work. Just surrending to Him.
It works.
So, I got the internship (PRAISE GOD) and I was placed at Chester.
I'll be honest, initially, I wasn't absolutely thrilled.
Then, I came to my first day of work and I realized this could positively be one of the greatest experiences of my young adult life. Thus far--two months in, probably close to 50 or more bylines later--I'm in love with this place. This is an awesome job. I'm doing something I love to do, and something I'm gifted at. I'm learning this community and the people. The people like me. I'm calling public officials practically every day. I'm cultivating a beat. I've worked on some pretty big stories, ranging from the demolition of a historic home inciting neighbors' furies to a handicapped resident's plans to sue the city and the county.
I've covered deaths. I've covered awards and art shows. I've covered upcoming renovations to buildings and I dominated city council's budget workshops.
I love the job and now I'm standing on faith again. Would I love to make this a full time job come May 2012?
Without a doubt, absolutely.
Newspapers are in a sour place right now, but I serve Jehovah Jireh--remember that.
I'm not worried. Sometimes I get a little shaken, but as I sang to myself this morning, I'm still standing on the Word of God.
That's my foundation. Christ is my cornerstone. My rock.
He can be yours too. Not just so you can receive endless blessings, but so you can receive an unimaginable, "inexpressible" joy (1 Peter 1:8-9).
All you have to do is confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Moreover, know that you can stand before God clean and unburdened from all your sins.
Just ask and accept.
MANY things have occurred in the past five months, but one of the most pivotal would have to be me obtaining a S.C. Press Association-sponsored internship at The News & Reporter in Chester, S.C.
When I became introduced to the idea of a town called Chester, my opinion wasn't much. I heard it was small. I heard the people could be close-minded. I heard there was nothing to do. Obviously, my interest was minimal at best.
November 2010, I applied for the S.C. Press Association--praying and pleading to God that I would be one of the three collegiate journalists in all of South Carolina to be awarded the chance to hone my skills at a professional newspaper, and gain invaluable clips and contacts in the process.
Part of my desire was to remain in the York County area, partly because I love it--partly because my church and church family are here--partly because I live here off campus and was not fond of the idea of having to pay for housing in another part of the state while still paying for my rent in Rock Hill. So, I listed The Rock Hill Herald, The Fort Mill Times, The Lancaster News and The Chester News & Reporter as papers I would like to work at this summer.
Honestly, I prayed hard for The Herald.
By April, the S.C. Press Association Foundation--the lovely body of newspaper editors, reporters and veteran journalists--still had not made their decision as to what students would get the internship and the scholarship (which I also applied for).
Then, the day came.
I can't remember the exact date because it's been several months, but yes, I received the internship. PRAISE GOD. Let me tell you, the months of waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting all culminated into a severe test of faith. Here I had nowhere to go and nowhere to work this summer if I didn't get this internship. I balked at the idea of returning to a certain place of previous employment that had absolutely nothing to do with what I felt God wanted to do with my life. I wanted to do something in my field! More than that, I had a new apartment--so I needed to pay rent. I needed a car--so I needed to pay for gas and maintenance.
But let me tell you lady and gentlemen, God is faithful.
"Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart"~ Psalm 37:4.
That's no fable. It's absolutely true.
"God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man that he should repent"~ Numbers 23:19
Believe it.
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours"~ Mark 11:24.
That's the Gospel truth.
Not only did I meditate on these Scriptures practically everyday, my faith was exercised. I told God that even if He didn't give me this internship, I knew He would provide for me. After all, He's Jehovah Jireh--a Provider (Genesis 22:14)--and He can't contradict His Word; in fact, he watches over it so that he may perform it...it never returns to Him void (Isaiah 55:11). God is obligated to His Word. More than knowing I would be taken care of, I told the Lord that I would continue to love Him, continue to worship Him, love Him even more and, yes, I was sincere about it.
My faith was added unto (2 Peter 1:5-9); not by my own merit, but by through submission to Holy Spirit and allowing Him to work. Just surrending to Him.
It works.
So, I got the internship (PRAISE GOD) and I was placed at Chester.
I'll be honest, initially, I wasn't absolutely thrilled.
Then, I came to my first day of work and I realized this could positively be one of the greatest experiences of my young adult life. Thus far--two months in, probably close to 50 or more bylines later--I'm in love with this place. This is an awesome job. I'm doing something I love to do, and something I'm gifted at. I'm learning this community and the people. The people like me. I'm calling public officials practically every day. I'm cultivating a beat. I've worked on some pretty big stories, ranging from the demolition of a historic home inciting neighbors' furies to a handicapped resident's plans to sue the city and the county.
I've covered deaths. I've covered awards and art shows. I've covered upcoming renovations to buildings and I dominated city council's budget workshops.
I love the job and now I'm standing on faith again. Would I love to make this a full time job come May 2012?
Without a doubt, absolutely.
Newspapers are in a sour place right now, but I serve Jehovah Jireh--remember that.
I'm not worried. Sometimes I get a little shaken, but as I sang to myself this morning, I'm still standing on the Word of God.
That's my foundation. Christ is my cornerstone. My rock.
He can be yours too. Not just so you can receive endless blessings, but so you can receive an unimaginable, "inexpressible" joy (1 Peter 1:8-9).
All you have to do is confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Moreover, know that you can stand before God clean and unburdened from all your sins.
Just ask and accept.
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