Since I started minoring in journalism, I've felt confident it's what I want to do with my life. I've loved writing since I was old enough to string words together somewhat coherently,so I know a journalism minor is a good fit for me; however, though writing brings satisfaction, everyone studying journalism knows it comes with its own unique set of struggles.
1. You're frequently asked, "But don't you know the media is biased and corrupt?"
Yes, yes, I know. But did it occur to anyone that maybe I want to be a journalist to provide news that isn't biased or corrupt? Isn't everyone's chosen career field-- whether its politics, education, business, or law-- also rife with corruption? And didn't everyone also choose that major anyway because they wanted to make it better?
2. You know all the craziest gossip from around campus.
Even if you aren't covering someone's shenanigans for an assignment, you're talking to each other about it.
3. You cringe when you hear someone refer to opinions as journalism.
I can't be the only person who considers this mislabeling a pet peeve. Odyssey writers, comedians and cable "news" personalities are not journalists.
4. You have a love/hate relationship with Buzzfeed.
Buzzfeed is 100 percent utter garbage. It should never be referred to as journalism, even when it's trying to provide relevant coverage on current events. But it's really good for mindless entertainment. And you know if someone offered you money just to make a list of Ron Swanson gifs, you wouldn't say no.
5. You have mixed feelings about the oxford comma.
On the one hand, you know oxford commas are important for clarity and conciseness. But on the other hand, the AP style book is your Bible, and they insist you cannot use the oxford comma. Sad!
6. You know you should learn about video and photography, but you'd honestly rather just not.
I came here to WRITE, dangit, not to make a fool of myself in front of a camera. I don't care if "the journalism landscape is changing."
7. Everyone tells you your job will be so easy and you just...
Journalism isn't hard, true. But people forget the sheer number of things we have to do, which can pile up on us. Besides, some of these students who gloat about being doctors and senators are barely going to make it out of undergrad alive. So maybe think about that before ridiculing "easy jobs".
8. If you were afraid of talking to people before, you had to get over it.
You had to learn how to make phone calls without crying and how to march into people's offices all fearlessly and start firing rapid questions at them, without embarrassing yourself too badly.
9. You know how stressful editing can be.
How many times do you have to tell someone to cite their sources and stop writing their ledes in essay format? Apparently those instructions are pretty difficult to follow.
