Throughout my time studying journalism at DePaul University, my focus has always been on print writing as opposed to broadcast journalism. As exciting as it is to be one of the faces of a local news station, I have never quite imagined myself working in a newsroom. This quarter, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and enroll in a journalism class that was anything but similar to classes I've taken before - Writing for Broadcast. Though I was unaware at the time of enrollment, I was lucky enough to be put in a class taught by an extremely talented journalist and professor, Derrick Blakley. Blakley worked as a reporter for 41 years, with 32 of those years working as a reporter in Chicago. As someone who worked for CBS News for a significant portion of his career, Blakley was able to arrange a tour of the CBS studio for my broadcast class. After visiting the studio and participating in the tour, I have an even greater respect for broadcast journalism.

As Writing for Broadcast was the first broadcast class I have ever taken, it is safe to say that I knew little about what exactly it means to work in a newsroom. Yet, after only one day of visiting CBS, I can easily say that I was both impressed and overwhelmed by the amount of work everyone in this production does. From newsroom meetings and pitching ideas, to 3 a.m. workdays and even longer nights, having the opportunity to speak to various CBS reporters, producers and directors has redefined what it means to be a broadcast journalist in my eyes. As a class, we were reminded by CBS employees that journalistic passion is what motivates one to take on new challenges everyday. We were told that there is always a sense of excitement surrounding this occupation, because you never know what will happen each day - you just know that something will happen, and it is your responsibility as a journalist to report on these events with accuracy and integrity. Reporters shared with us aspiring journalists that we should never be afraid of a challenge. In fact, we were encouraged to always say "yes" to any opportunity that presents itself to us, if we are truly passionate about it, so that we may further our careers and vary our experiences. There will be moments where we sacrifice weekends, holidays and other important events, but it is all a part of what we sign up for. In actuality, it is a small price to pay for something you are passionate about and work hard for.

Visiting CBS provided me with a very real understanding of what it means to work in broadcast journalism. I have realized that, sometimes, you have to take risks in order to welcome new experiences. You make sacrifices that can benefit the greater good, and your pursuit of knowledge and fact-based reporting are things that the public rely on. Journalists work incredibly hard everyday to relay the news to us, and there is so much more happening behind the scenes that most people are not even aware of. I have always had a love and passion for my chosen major, but I have a newfound respect for journalism overall.