This week has been special. Being around talented journalists from across the country has changed the way I think about storytelling and cemented my passion for the craft.
It was touching to be able to lean on an experienced mentor for guidance and field knowledge. I feel extremely fortunate to have a mentor with a similar background and career trajectory. One of the program’s strengths is the mentorship fellows receive. I felt intimidated trying to find a story in another city, but having someone watch my back from the start made a daunting task achievable.
Working on a non-narrated story is something that I’ve never done before. The entire process pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to approach the interview in a different way. Comprising a story with only one character made me flex my brain in a way that I didn’t know was possible. It was nerve-wracking trying something new, but that’s what this experience was all about.
I appreciated having access to reporters who shared insights about their workflow and tips on their how they organize stories (all valuable information that may shape how I approach reporting and producing). That’s what drew me to apply to the program. I’ve had an opportunity to talk about how to pitch ideas, plan stories and execute them.
From the moment I was paired with my mentor, she invited me to ask any questions I wanted and asked me to think about my goals for this project and beyond. I wasn’t expecting to hear that we shared similar goals. I told her that I’d like to freelance more, which is something she’d like to do more, too. She’s done a little bit of freelancing, so she shared some examples of stories she’s pitched with advice on how to craft pitches. My mentor was also open about how she’d like to improve as a journalist. It’s nice knowing that you never stop learning.
I don’t always feel like other professionals share honest career advice with me. There’s a lot of competition among young journalists who may be looking out for themselves (nothing wrong with that). But that wasn’t the case this week. Everyone was supportive. It wasn’t just about producing my story or the other stories in this week’s project. Once this “newsroom” packs up, the project doesn’t end. I know I can reach out to anyone I’ve met this week to ask for help, share ideas, and talk shop.
I feel fortunate for this fellowship and the new friends I’ve made.