My Time With The Honors Mentorship Program

Throughout this amazing process, the Honors Mentorship Program has helped me to grow in more ways than I thought possible. Because of my time with Cumming Local, paralleled with my other responsibilities within the Program, I was able to not only pursue an intense passion of mine every week, but I was also able to develop more practical skills in the process. I've seen, for instance, the areas in which I lacked a certain amount of experience or skill (like effectively scheduling out my plans, proper communication, and time management), and refined them over time. To do this, I had to actively write down and check on events and due dates in my calendar, while also making sure that I had my days planned out by the hours. In doing this, I found myself free to not only write the articles I had needed to finish, but to have enough time to be as creative as I desired during the process.

Even though this experience has most certainly been one of the highlights of my life, as with every good thing, I knew that there would be certain drawbacks. In this instance, they merely were setbacks that I alone was accountable for. Because of my lack of planning (and my occasional inability to understand the concept of due dates from time to time), I was forced to develop a more responsible sense-of-self. I had to not only hold myself accountable for any mishaps that occurred on my end of the bargain, but to also be proactive in finding ways in which I could ensure that it wouldn't ever happen again. Even though I may have fallen short at the beginning of my internship, with the grace and guidance of my both my mentor and my teacher, I was able to grow into a confident and authentic employee, writer, and businesswoman.

Because I had never before put myself in a position to write in such a manner, the journalistic opportunities that I had received this year helped me to grow in my ventures. It was, of course, a challenging ordeal, but overall, the maturity in my writing tended to develop positively during this adventure of mine. Even though I was exposed to this new form of writing without any prior experience, I found myself enjoying it more than I ever thought I would. While I'm still not certain about which career I will end up pursuing, the Honors Mentorship Program, in all of its wonders, has given me the opportunity to realize that journalism is not only a sensible route to take, but it is an interesting one as well. Because of this realization (along with all of the amazing other attributes of the Program), I would encourage any students that are interested in applying to give it everything they've got. Don't falter on your invigoration for the internship, and keep up with all of your assignments. Be ready to learn something around every corner, and stay humble throughout the process's entirety.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140704164020-103239692-the-case-for-why-journalism-is-not-dead

Confidence in my Presentation

Because the end of the year is rapidly approaching, I've begun to understand exactly what I need to do to end my time with the Honors Mentorship Program with as much success as possible. One task, for example, is the relevant presentation that I must complete so as to include it in my Capstone project. And, quite honestly, I thought that I had this part of the project in the bag; all that I really had to do was speak... right? Well, after finding the video "Be a More Confident Public Speaker" (link found below), I began to realize the extent to which I was under-preparing myself; I had much more to do than I had originally anticipated! In the video, it speaks about being able to know the content of your speech or presentation backwards and forwards, making sure that you've not only integrated the best content possible, but that you can also adapt to each audience and know exactly how to get your point across. For my relevant presentation, I now know that I must, at the very least, write out a specific way in which I can truly and accurately reach my audience, and I must practice as much as I am able. Because of this video's method, I am now not only able to aptly present the information I wish to convey within my project, but I am also able to expand upon my accumulated set of skills, allowing my to become more successful in my future regarding public speaking and all that it entails.


 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tShavGuo0_E

Annotated Bibliography Summary: The Sociology of the Professions and the Problem of Journalism Education

   Anderson, C.w. “The Sociology of the Professions and the Problem of Journalism Education.”       Radical Teacher 99 (2014): 62-68. Web. 26 Feb. 2017

Professor C.W. Anderson, in his article "The Sociology of the Professions and the Problem of Journalism Education", showcased in depth the extent to which his university, the College of Staten Island, is not only taking precautionary steps to unravel the reasoning behind the crash of available jobs in the journalistic market, but is also taking into account all of the possible ways in which students with a heart for journalism can succeed in this new world. As show on page 63 of his article, saying, "As documented by the Pew Research Center’s State of the News Media 2013, ‘estimates for newspaper newsroom cutbacks in 2012 put the industry down 30% since 2000 and below 40,000 full time professional employees for the first time since 1978…" this article constantly reviews the proven struggles graduates have faced for decades, highlighting the exact ways in which the job market has both fallen through larger corporations and risen with private businesses. Anderson's purpose in writing this article was to educate possible journalists regarding the tangible likelihood of difficulty they may face, while also accentuating the accuracy of alternative journalistic careers.

There were several quotes within this article that I found would not only help me with my research, but would also provide me with a perspective that differed my mentor: journalism's popularity, along with its relevancy, is in a rapid state of decline. In saying, "And then, at some point, comes the class I dread. The baldest version of the title is 'How to Get a Job.' Because the problem is, I don’t actually have an answer." (Page 63), Anderson brings the real issue to light; he proves that even he, a professor of journalism, cannot provide a way in which stability is ensured. This is further expanded upon of page 66, when he states that many professional writers, and scholars alike, did not even consider journalism to be a viable and stable career choice any more. He goes on to say, “What is worse, neither entrepreneurial journalism nor the teaching hospital model really addresses the professionalization challenge—the fact that the value of journalistic professionalism is ever more in doubt as technologies democratize access to media production.” (Page 66), which only further proves his point of view to be even more bleak than originally anticipated, forcing the reader to truly ponder upon how this crisis came to be, as well as the ways in which society as a whole can mend the bridge.

Because this article was written by a professor of journalism at the College of Staten Island, indicating Anderson's professionalism and experience, it represents a true, first-hand account of how the job climate is affecting graduate students. It is also a featured, reliable source on the Galileo webpages.

Through my current Essential Question, "What realistically profound challenges could I possibly face in the future through entrepreneurial journalism, and in what ways am I able to better prepare myself for a successful journalistic career in this job climate?", I've constantly pondered the issues that face the world of journalism today, and contemplated the ways in which I, as an individual writer, could leave my own impact in this realm. Because this article showcases a more negative side to the equation, focusing on the lack of jobs and experience within this profession, it has broadened my perception on the matter. Now, I am able to take this source and compare it with the more optimistic side of the entrepreneurial journalism career choice; this will allow me to more accurately and effectively shape my research with little to no personal bias, while also expanding my understanding of a possible profession!

My Plan for The Program

Throughout my time in the Honors Mentorship Program, I've not only deepened my understanding of the ever-evolving world of entrepreneurial journalism through my internship with Cumming Local, but I've also broadened the depth of my entire perception regarding the very essence of the career. While I've always considered journalism to be the perfect combination of writing and employment, through some of my research, I found that some people involved in this career don't always feel the same way; sometimes, journalism is depicted as an occupation filled with loose ends rather than one of fulfillment. In my effort to truly understand this profession, and the roll I may have in its societal standard, I've come to the conclusion that I need to not only research the applicability of entrepreneurial journalism for college students through basic research (highlighting both sides of the equation), but I also need to create visuals that emphasize the information and summaries I have found. In doing this, I will create both a Prezi presentation, to summarize my findings, as well as a survey, in which I can evaluate the point of view of my fellow peers.

Annotated Bibliography Summary: Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism Among University Students

Rojano, Fj Paniagua, M. Gómez Aguilar, and Me González Cortés. "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students." Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students (2014): 548-70. Web. 29 Jan. 2017.

The researcher featured in the article, "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism Among University Students", examined a Spanish, university-level journalism class and recorded the information regarding the students' opinions, concerns, and comments about entrepreneurial journalism, leading to a further examination of the results. This article constantly reflects the obstacles that many aspiring journalists face, delves deeper into the reasoning behind why the issues have occurred, and showcases the exact journalistic departments in which these challenges have  most commonly arisen throughout recent years. The purpose of the research depicted in the article is to establish the efficiency of the new implementations to the journalism programs, and to determine their worth. It constantly refers back to the students and their judgement, seeking their opinions regarding not only the challenges they fear to face in this career realm, but also how effective the course was in preparing them for these challenges. The article also highlights the possible benefits of becoming an employer, rather than an employee, through the eyes of the students and professors involved.

Throughout the article, there were several quotes that I knew would help my research and push along the findings of my essential question. In saying, "[Farias] describes how in recent years journalism went from being a profession characterized by professional intrusion to a profession characterized by job insecurity, then by unemployment, and later by the current situation, in which job insecurity and independence issues are the major concerns of journalists. As a result, the credibility of the information and the professional activity of journalism have been deteriorated in the last five years", found on page 549, the article accurately portrayed the real, traumatic issue plaguing the world of journalism that ultimately deters students from pursuing this long lasting opportunity. This point of view is also supported by several line on page  554, all showcasing the difficulties that come along with the job. The researcher, however, goes on to state the multitude of reasons in which students are captivated with this career option, constantly highlighting the efforts that the class took to help them realize how amazing entrepreneurial journalism can actually be in this day and age (found on pages 553, 557, 559, 561, and 564-567). This is largely supported by the quote, "At the end of the course, most students recognized that it was helpful, to such an extent that, before taking the course only 39% had ever consider the possibility of launching a journalistic enterprise and the rest (61%) never thought about it; while now, after completing the course, 91% of them does consider this option as a career opportunity” found on page 559.

Because this article was a research document written by a professor and an associate professor of the School of Communication Sciences at the University of Málaga in Spain, it represents both a first-hand account of the ongoing interactions within the classes, as well as an accurate depiction of the world of journalism and its complications as told by those with the correct qualifications. It is also featured as a reliable source in the Galileo folders.

While this article reflects the challenges and situations that many Spanish students fear, it represents a true depiction of the effects journalism and its challenges have worldwide (as is evident by the reference to the economic crisis that occurred in 2008). It also parallels much of what the article, "Entrepreneurial Journalism and the Precarious State of Media Work", highlights. Both articles establish the limitations and challenges that aspiring journalists continue to face, and provide reasons as to why this may be. "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students", however, includes a more optimistic mindset regarding the entrepreneurial approach to journalism. This coincides more with my new essential question, "What realistically profound challenges could I possibly face in the future through entrepreneurial journalism, and in what ways am I able to better prepare myself for a successful journalistic career in this job climate?". This article will allow me to further my knowledge of entrepreneurial journalism, and expand my understanding of its realistic mechanics; all while seeing another side to the same story.

Annotated Bibliography: Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism Among University Students

Source / Bibliography (MLA format)	Rojano, Fj Paniagua, M. Gómez Aguilar, and Me González Cortés. "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students." Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students (2014): 548-70. Web. 29 Jan. 2017.
Summary/Annotation	The researcher examined a Spanish, university-level journalism class and recorded the information regarding the students' opinions, concerns, and comments about entrepreneurial journalism, leading to a further examination of the results. This article constantly reflects the obstacles that many aspiring journalists face, delves deeper into the reasoning behind why the issues have occurred, and showcases the exact journalistic departments in which these challenges have  most commonly arisen throughout recent years. The purpose of the research depicted in the article is to establish the efficiency of the new implementations to the journalism programs, and to determine their worth. It constantly refers back to the students and their judgement, seeking their opinions regarding not only the challenges they fear to face in this career realm, but also how effective the course was in preparing them for these challenges. The article also highlights the possible benefits of becoming an employer, rather than an employee, through the eyes of the students and professors involved.
Potential Quotes	"[Farias] describes how in recent years journalism went from being a profession characterised by professional intrusion to a profession characterised by job insecurity, then by unemployment, and later by the current situation, in which job insecurity and independence issues are the major concerns of journalists. As a result, the credibility of the information and the professional activity of journalism have been deteriorated in the last five years." (page 549) "The important growth in journalism students can be explained, in part, by the seduction that this type of studies generates among young people." (page 552) "... the educational system must provide citizens with a number of basic skills… interpersonal, intercultural and social and civic competences, sense of initiative and entrepreneurship…” (page 553) "The economic crisis of the news companies makes it harder for recent journalism graduates to access decent jobs in the traditional media. Therefore, a professional employment alternative is self-employment." (page 554) “…several participants stated that after having completed this course they have considered the idea of creating their own journalistic enterprise, although some confessed that they had already thought about it before taking the course.” (page 557) “At the end of the course, most students recognised that it was helpful, to such an extent that, before taking the course only 39% had ever consider the possibility of launching a journalistic enterprise and the rest (61%) never thought about it; while now, after completing the course, 91% of them does consider this option as a career opportunity.” (page 559) “The previous information confirms the first two hypotheses of the study: that before taking the course journalism students did not consider self-employment as a career option, probably because they chose this degree influenced by the mythification of the journalistic profession; and that if students were encouraged during their studies, through a specific course focused on providing business and entrepreneurship-related content, many students could change their mind and consider starting a news media company as career option.” (page 561) “The sections of the project proposal that students found the most difficult to complete were the budgeting and viability plan as well as the analysis of the context and the competition. These findings confirm our third hypothesis: there is a need to improve the economy and business knowledge among journalism students…” (page 564) “This idea reinforces the second hypothesis of this research study: if students are encouraged with contents and courses that are related to the creation and management of news media companies and offer alternative career opportunities, it is likely that many of these students will consider the option of creating a journalistic enterprise.” (page 565) “This is recognized by 91% of the surveyed students, who admit that after completing the course they have considered starting their own journalistic enterprise. Before taking the course only 39% of the students had considered this career option.” (page 567)
Assessment	Because this article was a research document written by a professor and an associate professor of the School of Communication Sciences at the University of Málaga in Spain, it represents both a first-hand account of the ongoing interactions within the classes, as well as an accurate depiction of the world of journalism and its complications as told by those with the correct qualifications.
Reflection	While this article reflects the challenges and situations that many Spanish students fear, it represents a true depiction of the effects journalism and its challenges have worldwide (as is evident by the reference to the economic crisis that occurred in 2008). It also parallels much of what the article, "Entrepreneurial Journalism and the Precarious State of Media Work", highlights. Both articles establish the limitations and challenges that aspiring journalists continue to face, and provide reasons as to why this may be. "Encouraging Entrepreneurial Journalism among University Students", however, includes a more optimistic mindset regarding the entrepreneurial approach to journalism. This coincides more with my new essential question, "What realistically profound challenges could I possibly face in the future through entrepreneurial journalism, and in what ways am I able to better prepare myself for a successful journalistic career in this job climate?". This article will allow me to further my knowledge of entrepreneurial journalism, and expand my understanding of its realistic mechanics; all while seeing another side to the same story.

Moving Forward Through The Program

Ever since I was a little girl, I always found myself eagerly gravitating towards any sort of activity that involved any form of writing. I would write letters, stories, and (just recently) articles through Cumming Local. I've always known that this was the area in which I coveted an intense passion, and through my recent research, I've found that I am able to figure out ways in which I could not only actively involve myself in some sort of writing, but I could also be able to form a potential career. This research, through the Honors Mentorship Program, has given me the opportunity to hope and dream, while also finding ways in which I can express my passion in a plausible, influential way.

From the start of my research, I decided to further investigate the question, "how can the interpretation of modern journalism corroborate its stature as a plausible, exciting career, and in what ways am I able to defend its validity?". At the beginning of my experience with the Honors Mentorship Program, I read the article, "Entrepreneurial Journalism and the Precarious State of Media Work", of which its sole intent was to investigate the job security many prospective journalists face upon graduating. And after reading this article, I got the impression that any job security availability was wiped away, and graduates were left in the dust, After speaking one on one with my mentor, and current owner of a professional blog, however, I began to understand the flip side of this perspective. While the article had a tone of objective negativity, my mentor constantly (and naturally) beamed about all of the amazing attributes of her job. She had tips and tricks that helped quell any of my fears and objections; I noticed later, even, that some of these ideas were represented in the article as well. This caused me to take a few steps backward and rethink my understanding of the situation. In doing so, I came up with a new essential question that will help further my understanding of this career: "What realistically profound challenges could I possibly face in the future through entrepreneurial journalism, and in what ways am I able to better prepare myself for a successful journalistic career in this job climate?"

As I continue my research this semester, I plan on creating both an informative website and a brochure directed at my target audience so as to better articulate my findings.

For my real inquiry, I will research relevant and academic article relating to my essential question, focusing on different perspectives regarding the matter. This will allow me to see all sides of the equation, and will hopefully trigger more of an intense questioning on my part. This will lead to more extensive research, and guide me to question everything to a much greater extent, lending my conclusion to be one of value, strength, and quality.

A Look Through The Lens Of A Professional

As I've gone through this incredible journey with the Honors Mentorship Program, I've learned so many things through my internship with Cumming Local. I haven't however, gotten every answer to all of my questions simply by experiencing life as a journalist; I still was curious about certain aspects of this profession. Because of this, I sat down with my mentor, Rachael Walkup (owner of Cumming Local), and asked her a few questions.

Note: Bolded questions are those that I have written (C for Christina), regular font words are Mrs. Walkup's responses (RW for Rachael Walkup), and anything written in italics are my responses to ideas and answers Mrs. Walkup has provided me.




C: Who was your inspiration when you decided to pursue this career, and in what ways did they help you get on your feet?

RW: Oh man, that's a tough question! Well, I started realizing that I started considering to even consider writing on my own time probably back in 2007; about ten years ago. I was being mentored by a woman that was older than me, and would always talk with her about how, when I would pray, I would always get lost in my prayers. I'd be in the middle of praying, and then all of a sudden, I would be thinking about something I was doing that evening; the next thing I knew, I wasn't praying anymore! She had suggested that I start writing down my prayers, and so, I did. As I started writing, I started figuring out that I love the voice that I had when I took the pen to paper. I was amazed at my ability to really articulate my words in such a way that was so much more than simply externally processing everything. What I was doing had much more of an effect on me than talking ever did; it was a way to internally process the world around me. It all started with journaling, and from there it spun into my career. I then decided to try marketing and marketing copy. Andy Stanley, even, had helped me a lot with trying to figure out how to write things in such a way so that people wanted to read more. I think that would be how I kind of got started!


The way in which she began her love for writing amazes me; who would have ever thought that simply writing in a journal could eventually lead to a fulfilling and exciting career? While I always thought that it would be so difficult to jump-start a career in this field, it seemed like such a simple process for her. This keep me optimistic in regards to my future in journalism.




C: What type of climate was the world of journalism in when you first started your career, and how is it different than that of today's?

RW: About four years ago, I first started writing for Cumming Local. At that time, even though it was so recent, people were still subscribed to  printed newspapers. Over the four years, I've seen that change from paper to browsing. Everything now is on your phone; if you look at any website, even Cumming Local, you've got 80% of people reading from their mobile device. People don't read paper anymore. Things certainly have turned a lot more towards the electronics side of it.

Payment, too, has seen an extreme change throughout the years. I know back when I was doing marketing copy, the going rate was somewhere around $100 an hour for someone involved with the marketing side of the business. I know today that's probably doubled, since inflation is now more of an issue. But I think that the way journalism is today is better than it was before, because, even though you still have people subscribed to newspapers, you have the opportunity to reach more people. Having a digital footprint nowadays makes a much greater impact; if you post something on the internet, someone across the world has the ability to read it.

It's amazing to me that, while journalism has faced many changes and challenges throughout the years, it seems to have come back more solid and stronger than ever. People are not only paid more for doing what they love, but they are also able to reach a wider audience, allowing for much more of a digital footprint (which is a very valuable asset in this profession).




C: What challenges did you face in your own, journalistic-based company at the start of your career?

RW: I think the biggest challenge that I faced was my inherit desire to not only try and do everything, but to also do it perfectly. I've quickly found out that it's impossible! That was the big challenge: realizing that I am one person. The people reading my articles are not looking at them the way that I do, so I can allow myself to take a step back. In doing this, I created processes to help me to help me  keep things a little more streamlined. This helped me feel like I didn't have to write fifteen articles a week; I could work at my own, more realistic pace. I could simply write five to seven; I could even find it within myself to be understanding with myself if I only wrote two or three. All that mattered was whether or not my company stayed up-to-date and relevant.

The other thing that probably was a challenge for me was the issue of trying to find information for the articles, while also keeping my followers and subscribers connected through outlets like social media. I had to figure out how I was going to keep up with the maintenance of a website. So my beginning experience turned out to be a mesh of all of those problems together.

Through working with Mrs. Walkup, I have found that her and I are a lot alike. In this instance, I find that I, too, always strive for unreachable perfection, which inevitably results in my torturous insanity; I can't do everything at the same time while also expecting for my writing to end up perfect. During my time at Cumming Local, I've found ways to push though this challenge, but it is still a work in progress! 




C: What challenges do you continue to face to this day/ what new challenges have arisen?

RW: Technology has always been kind of a challenge for me, simply because I know that I will always need help in areas of my website that I don't completely understand. I think that the biggest challenge that I will face this year, though, will be the issue of trying to keep traffic alive on the website and to post articles that will continually engage my audience. This makes people want to share them more often, which brings new followers in. The last year that I was "new" to Cumming Local, I brought in a huge following. All of my friends and family members came and continually followed the website. Now the question is, how do I grow it? That's going to be the true challenge; how am I going to get to that next level?

Because I am interested in possibly creating a company like this in the future, this issue is one that I have truly struggled with: once you have a following, how do you grow? I'm very excited to see how Mrs. Walkupcan continually grow her following, so that I can take her tips and tricks into account in the future.





C: As this company has progressed, what tips and tricks have you learned that have helped you face some of these challenges?

RW: Well, I learned a long time ago that it's really important to pull people in who are experts in fields that you are not. You find out what your strengths are, and then you pull other people in to help with your weaknesses. I, for instance, quickly figured out that I could not take complete care of the technical aspects of my website alone, so I hired a tech company who handles all of the support. And, like I said before, creating processes to keep things organized, was definitely something that has helped me on my journey.

One key concept that I have learned from Mrs. Walkup is how to effectively manage my time through careful and meticulous organization. She's graciously shown me different tips and tricks to help me with these matters, and I use them on a daily basis! 





C: In what ways would you encourage young, aspiring journalists to take the leap of faith and to start pursuing journalism to its fullest extent?

RW: I think that the real key here is to start small while you are in college. You can pick up little contract jobs: ghost writing, contract writing. Even if you could write for your college newspaper, that would help develop a trail and get your name out there. Taking the leap starts with small jumps. As the years go through, you could hopefully gain bigger and bigger jobs each time. You could even start a blog! Whether it be about recipes, or even devotionals, anything that sparks your interest helps you start a small blog. This helps with your digital footprint too; that way, you have little publishing jobs on the side as well as an established brand. With this experience, you could more easily take that big jump right out of college.

Because I've never truly been exposed to the world of journalism, I've always wondered how successful writers first started; I always imagined aspiring journalists to simply jump right into an internship with a big newspaper corporation. I never even thought of immediately starting my own business! And while that may still be a viable option for a select few of the immense crowd eagerly anticipating their "big break" in the business, Mrs. Walkup highlights several important steps that can help those big dreamers out along the way.





C: Would you encourage future journalists to start working with a larger company, and work their way up, or to start as entrepreneurs and create a website like this?

RW: I think it depends on your personality. Some people, like myself, may have always known that they wanted to be entrepreneurs; even when I worked for someone, I was always writing something on the side. I knew I wanted to be my own boss and create something that was all mine. While there's definitely job security available through working for a large firm, I'd always recommend the consideration of going down the path of an entrepreneur. To me, it's one of the best of life's joys. It has caused me to trust The Lord so much more. Every paycheck I get makes me think, "this was literally provided for me; all of my hard work has paid off." I know it sounds weird, but I guess it really kind of depends on whether or not you have that entrepreneur spirit, or if you'd rather play things safe. Maybe, in the beginning, it's better to play things safe and simply experiment on the side. It all depends on your personality.

Even though she's a true entrepreneur at heart, Mrs. Walkup speaks with a certain clarity, making sure that she highlights the pros and cons of both pathways. In the previous question, she even spoke of a path where both sides met in the middle. The most poignant thing she says, though, is how everything in journalism depends on who each person is individually. She truly exemplifies the essence of  a writer, in that whatever she does is for the sole purpose of helping others achieve their true potential. Here, for instance, she specifically mentions that she doesn't want to discount any pathway to a career; if it works for you, then go for it!





C: What future challenges do you think aspiring journalists will have to face as the world changes around them?

RW: Obviously, everyone thinks that they can be a writer. But you have to find where your niche is and where your market is. I, for instance, always knew that marketing writing was my thing. I couldn't write a book, because I don't think that it would be interesting. I want to sell my audience more with what I write, rather than have them fascinated with a book I create. You have to find your own voice and figure out which direction you are supposed to go. Once you figure that out, the only trick is to stay true to who you are! I would never try to be anything other than a marketing writer, because I wouldn't be very good at it. That's a hard lesson to learn, because I think that most journalists think that they can do all types of writing. I think it's important to stay in your lane. The challenge is, while you want to accept all jobs and find your true voice, you need to find the best path for you.

Another challenge is that the job market may be flooded with other writers, and there will always be people that have more experience than you do. But you can always find a way to learn from these people, so this will eventually help you in the long run.

I came into this interview with the perception that most freelance, independent writers and journalists find a hard time gaining traction in this career, especially when they first start. While Mrs. Walkup agrees with parts of that conclusion, she always chooses to see the best in her job. Even the most challenging aspects that she thinks aspiring journalists will have to face are really about being yourself and remembering to dive in with an open mind. This made me stop and think; maybe journalism isn't as full of disappointing end results as I thought...





C: Do you believe that journalism is a viable, valid career choice for aspiring writers.

RW: It's one of those jobs that can be so rewarding, especially for someone who's naturally very good at writing. It a form of expression. Just as people love to listen to music, they love to read articles. Regardless of whether or not it's printed or digital, people are captivated when they read. I, for instance, always find myself thinking about this blog that a man wrote about his struggle of being homosexual while raised in a Christian home in a normal, Suburban area. His whole blog was about his story of how he kept himself from actually being gay. It was fascinating. He's had millions of views on his blog. People just love to read stories, no matter the type. So when I think of this as being a viable career, I think of the multitude of directions it could go; whether it be through a news channel or a blog, people are just waiting for something to read. That's how people get information today: through these types of articles.

Because of the multitude of articles I found prior to this meeting (all pointing me in the direction to expect a negative response to this question), I found myself surprised at her answer. She had nothing but wonderful things to say about the world of journalism, and was dumbfounded herself when I shared with her some of my concerns. Because of I discovered these two differing perspectives, I now find myself curious about the obstacles facing aspiring writers on a large scale, and why these challenges may arise.





C: What are some of the negative aspects about your career?

RW: Just like any kind of art, the creative mind of a writer is always running. Sometimes I will be in bed, and then an idea for an article will make its way into my mind. It's like I can see all of the words in my head, so I then have to hop out of bed and type up an outline. For me, writing is not a nine-to-five job. I don't get to leave work; my brain is always on. I've just had to learn some techniques to help me work through that. You know, I have a notebook by my bed so that whenever an idea comes to me, I can just jot down some notes, that way I can release it from my brain.

Another thing is that, with my blog, the cyber world around me is constantly changing. I publish all of these articles every week, and sometimes I have to remind people that these articles are there to use as a resource. I guess the monetary piece of the work was also a challenge to figure out. When I first started at Cumming Local, I had to figure out what to charge advertisers; it's still is a work in progress.

Because of her radiating positivity throughout the interview, I knew that this would be the hardest question for her to answer. And even though she did list several negatives that come with the job, even these seemed harmless for the most part. While Mrs. Walkup only represents one part to an entire equation, I've found that listening to her perspective has caused many gears in my head to turn. Maybe my original perception was wrong; maybe journalism is just a world full of endless opportunities, with only a few casualties here and there. Thankfully, this article, full of wonderful tips and firsthand experiences, certainly will be a valuable source for me to look back on while continuing through the Honors Mentorship Program.