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20 years ago today I walked into the lobby of the @PittsburghPG and began my first day as a professional journalist.
There& #39;s a lot you can (and should) say about where the media falls short, and where we can improve. Here, I want to talk about my gratitude to journalism.
There& #39;s a lot you can (and should) say about where the media falls short, and where we can improve. Here, I want to talk about my gratitude to journalism.
I& #39;m most grateful for my wife @bennettphoto, a gifted photographer, and the three kids under our roof. Julie and I first met on different assignments for different newspapers.
Professionally: I& #39;ve met thousands of people from all walks of life, who have generously shared their stories, their struggles and their insights with me and those who read my work. I think (or I certainly hope) that& #39;s made me a more empathetic person.
I& #39;ve worked with dozens if not hundreds of people at five newspapers (and rival outlets) over the last two decades. They were and are some of the most dedicated people you& #39;ll meet, people who take pride in their work and believe in their mission, and have made me raise my game.
Journalism faces challenges because journalism has always faced challenges: no business model lasts longer than a generation. But I& #39;m hopeful for the future, in no small part because the young folks who& #39;ve entered this field in the last 5 years are doing work beyond their years.
If any journalism students or newly-minted journalists are reading this: Thank you. This field can be frustrating and stressful. You will face both active and passive discouragement, often from colleagues who should know better. But please: stick with it as long as you can.
You tell stories older folks like me miss. You tell stories in a way folks like me struggle with. Your perspectives and approaches keep our work relevant and connected to our audiences.
And beyond that, being a journalist is an incredible privilege: a job where, at its best, you connect with other people and can learn something new every single day, and share what you know to make things better. It& #39;s the kind of work you will be grateful to do. /Fin
