Defining my anxiety

"God help me accept the things I cannot change, have courage to change the things I can and have the wisdom to know the difference."

That quote was said during our breakout sessions with our career coach, Mary Ann Hogan, and it really helped me put a definition to the anxiety that I’ve been feeling about my internship.

Before, I was afraid that I would not meet the expectations of the newsroom, make mistakes often and overall be a bad intern.

But I realized that I am an intern. I was chosen by the newsroom because they saw something in me, something worth investing time in, and they already know that I won’t be perfect. I know I’ll make mistakes and I’m OK with that idea. I also know that I will strive hard to correct those mistakes and try not to repeat them.

-- Leah Caudle, Western Kentucky University, Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader

Signature words of inspiration

John Quinn quoted his late wife, Loie, saying: "If you don’t have confidence in yourself, then who will?"

And that’s got to be the most valuable thing I’ve heard this weekend at the Chips Quinn Scholars’ orientation.

I often find myself struggling with what others may perceive to be the simplest thing: Believing in myself.

My inner voice usually follows the thought with a question: Why?

I guess it’s because I am a self-proclaimed perfectionist and always looking for ways to make things better, including myself.

But I’m slowly learning that I’ve got to stop worrying about being good enough and learn to just accept me for me. Loie’s signature words of inspiration really hit home today.

Now, how am I going to apply this new rule at my internship?

I’m going to try not to be so critical of myself and to truly listen to and open-heartedly accept compliments. They’re free, right?

--Betsy Martinez, Florida International University, The News-Press, Fort Myers, Fla.

A promise to do my best

It is hard to believe that the weekend is almost over. I must admit that I have learned so much and met so many wonderful people in such a short time. It feels as if I know everyone well, when I actually have known them for only a couple days. I know I will miss everyone, and going home is going to be difficult. Fortunately, I feel as though I will be well prepared for my internship when I start May 29. Attending the Chips Quinn program has refreshed my memory on many topics; plus I have learned many new things.

Picking just one valuable lesson is almost impossible. Everything I have learned this weekend will contribute to my success at my summer internship. If anything, this program has inspired me to do the best I can. I want to do the best I can for myself and also for the newspaper, the Chips Quinn Scholars Program and everyone who has helped me get to this point.

Without the Chips Quinn program, I would not have this wonderful opportunity to go to California for a summer internship. I am truly grateful that John Quinn and the Freedom Forum gave me this opportunity. By doing my best in the newsroom, I will show how thankful I am that they believe in me and my journalism skills.

-- Jennifer Muhmel, University of South Dakota, Ventura County (Calif.) Star

Having fun along the way

Photo by Daniel Sato
Theresa Kasallis, Betsy Martinez and Daniel Davis have fun at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville.

There have been so many wonderful tidbits of information during this magnificent weekend. But one has stuck out: Chips rule No. 2 --always have fun.

I’m an outgoing, always-laughing and cracking-jokes type of guy. Sometimes it can be a little overwhelming to others, but that is just me. It makes me proud to hear someone within the Chips Quinn program say to have fun. When the time comes to get down to business, I know how to turn off the switch. Though I might make a comment here or there during work, I never allow myself to get stressed out because I don’t consider any of this work. This is my livelihood, this is what I have chosen to do. I always will be a firm believer in never doing a job or embarking on a career that I don’t love doing. If you can’t have fun or if work doesn't make you happy, then there is no point doing it. Then it becomes a job and not a career. I plan on having a career and I plan on adhering to the profound words of Chips in my journey through this profession. Hopefully, I can help someone else have fun along the way.

-- Ronald Clark, Hampton University, Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat

Good writer vs. good reporter

As Chipsters laugh heartily in the room next door -- I believe they’re playing a riotous game of charades (at least, the sign posted outside Ronald Clark’s door advertised Chipsters charades) -- I have returned to the question of whether it is better to be a good writer or a good reporter. It was only after I began my graduate studies that I came to appreciate the distinction. I wondered why the professional journalists whose counsel I sought during the application process neglected to mention it. Now, I worry. Writing, which was once so effortless, now feels forced. As I explained to (Diversity Institute Executive Director) Robbie Morganfield over dinner, I, the consummate perfectionist, consider (i.e., edit) each word – often at length – before it appears on the page, intent on composing the most intelligent, thoughtful “product” possible. Heaven forbid if what I do isn’t perfect, and I worry that I will carry that anxiety with me on my first day at the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, prompting my editor, Antoinette Taylor-Thomas, to regret taking a gamble on me.

-- Tierra L. Palmer, Ohio University, Lancaster (Ohio) Eagle-Gazette

Advice from an alum

Alum Adam Causey of The Times in Shreveport, La., picks himself out of the photo of the CQ class of 2006

Just three minutes of speaking one-on-one with Chips Quinn alums and guest speakers can yield great advice.

I approached Adam Causey, an alum reporting for The Times of Shreveport, La., because his introduction included a mention of "crime reporter." Causey works in a high-crime city. He described the relationship he inherited with local police and the strides he has made in communicating with his sources.

Causey also was honest about his career search, post-college job offers and Shreveport salary. He spoke frankly about the rough situations and sourcing challenges in crime reporting.

Causey reassured me that even if I do not encounter substantial crime reporting at my small-town college newspaper, I still can pursue that focus in journalism. I'll likely get a crack at crime reporting this summer with The Detroit News.

-- Tony Gonzalez, Hillsdale College, The Detroit News

Citizen journalism builds democracy

One of the things that I am most excited about -- briefly mentioned by speaker Rick Green (of The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, Calif., at left) --is the emergence of citizen journalism and its democratizing effects. Blogs, push-button publishing and community-journalism sites give anyone with access to a computer and the Internet, or the public library, a forum in which to tell stories.

I find this area of journalism exciting because it frees the media from corporate ties, allows for coverage of hyperlocal events that are important to the communities that they occur in and builds a stronger overall sense of community.

Many sites allow users to upload photos, form groups, write blogs, etc. They include gothamist.com, which also operates citizen-media sites for cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Shanghai; fotolog.com; flickr.com; and newsvine.com. Even traditional media sites such as savannahnow.com/share and Rick Green's Desert Sun have co-opted citizen journalism.

Often, these sites will scoop traditional media, as was the case with Cory Lidle's airplane crash in New York. Or traditional media will take news and information from these sites, as with the cell-phone picture taken during the London subway bombing or the flickr photo that simply stated "Im Okay" so that the user's friends and family would know that all was well.

Citizen journalism does leave a lot of questions to be asked. When does a citizen become a "journalist?" As in the case of videoblogger Josh Wolf, this is not always clear. Should a citizen journalist be awarded the same state shield law protections as a professional when practicing journalism? Where is the line between freelancer/activist/journalist? Is one required to be trained in ethics before being considered a journalist?

While these questions may take some time to answer, one thing is certain: The trend of citizen journalism will only continue to grow. More people will buy digital point-and-shoot cameras. More cell phones will come equipped with still-photo and video capabilities. And more people will be recording their day-to-day activities and be in the right place at the right time to record history.

-- Daniel Sato, San Jose State University, St. Cloud (Minn.) Times