Some of my fondest memories from growing up were when I would sit on my kitchen counter and have my father videotape me as I “reported the news.” It didn’t matter what I was talking about, I just wanted to be like the great news reporters of that time. My love for broadcasting only grew more as the years went by, and my goals are to achieve success within this field.
Broadcasting is only a small part of the sphere of media and the communications world today. But, it is a very important part that has changed shape rather drastically over the years. For instance, the way we now receive our news isn’t just on the television anymore. We can stream live on the Internet, or pull it up on an app with our smartphones. Studying communications at this time is also teaching me how to adapt to work within its many different forms. I am using my resources here at Ithaca College, soaking up knowledge that I know will be vital for success in a future of broadcasting. I currently work as an Assistant Producer for Newswatch16, which covers all of Ithaca and Tompkins County. The skills that I am learning at such a fast pace through my work there will give me the edge I need to be competitive in the field. I hope that this leads to an eventual anchor or reporter position. I also plan to use the expertise I gain there to get an internship for this summer at a news station.
While journalists break important information, the citizen journalists have also made a huge impact across the globe. It is important to remember that collaboration with these journalists can give even more authenticity to a story, and give it a personal angle. Events such as the protests in Libya and the violence in Egypt would have been looked at differently had the presence of citizen journalism not been there. Another vital aspect that a journalist must understand, is the relationship that we have with citizens that tell important stories.
Social media has had a large impact on the world of news and news broadcasts as well. It is important to stay connected at all times, and social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook are doing just that. In addition, they are breaking stories that news anchors normally would. To be competitive in this field, I know that there is no way not to stay connected and learn things from many angles and outlets. One other key player in the world of communications is language. This is a global digital age that we live in, and it is so important to be fluent in another language. I am declaring a French minor to continue on the path towards fluency. With all of these factors, the world of communications is fast-paced and ever-changing. It's my mission to stay on top of it, and use what I learn along the way to reach more people in various ways.
I am thrilled to have such great opportunities to learn and grow in the field of communications, and hope that one day I can deliver meaningful news to people all over the world.