Journalism is hard. There is no debating it. With a notepad, a recorder, and a pen in hand, you as a journalist must seek and find a story, choose an angle, create something from nothing then find a medium to get your masterpiece read, seen or heard. It is like being a magician and your black hat and rabbit is your keyboard and camera/phone.

There is nothing predictable about journalism either. Stories happen all the time, everywhere around us. A journalist always needs to keep his/her eyes open. Stories just don’t appear out of thin air and land in our laps. Journalists must discover, mold, shape and fine-tune all at the same time. You might be finishing one story when another one appears. A good journalist is a multitasker.

As a journalist you are always on the clock. Deadlines and timelines are real. Journalism is not a career or profession that stops at a certain predictable time. Journalism happens when you make it happen. That’s pretty cool. That is also a lot of pressure.

There is influence in journalism, too. A journalist has the unique power to reach a reader one on one and share a message, a thought, an idea or a viewpoint. Through our words, we are teachers, entertainers, artists and leaders whether we know it or not. Words can be beautiful because they can spark emotion and feeling like almost nothing else. Used the wrong way, words can be hurtful and harmful, too, so it is up to a journalist to be ethical and moral.

And journalism is beautiful. A photojournalist, for example, can tell an entire story in one picture. Images from community and global events, even far away, can make us feel as if we were there. Powerful images can get burned into our minds and stay there for a long time. Pictures capture the emotions of victory and defeat, happiness and sadness, hope, plus loss and grief. Journalism is a visual medium as much as it is anything else. 

As I see it, what makes journalism even more incredible is that we can take it in so many different directions. Through writing, broadcasting, reportinging, photojournalism and podcasting, just to name a few, we can approach a story and select the best tool to create, construct and deliver our work. We can choose to create a feature or share an opinion. We can write a profile. We can spin towards fiction. We are writers, yes, but we are also artists, sculptors, painters, singers, songwriters, etc. Through our work, we can be an explorers, adventurers and even scientists all at the same time. 

My hope is that our study of journalism will bring joy to your day and it will fill your buckets with energy and hope. My hope is that you will write because you want to do it not because it has been assigned to you. Take  your stories home with you, write when you have free time.

Journalism can give you self-confidence and self-awareness. 

I hope our study plants a seed for continued growth as you move through high school and beyond into your next levels of learning. Being a good writer and a good storyteller can open so many doors.

I was introduced to journalism many years ago because I was not happy with the way people were telling the stories I was reading, hearing and watching. I felt I could make a change and a difference so I gave it a shot. I felt like I wanted to share my perspective, and if I did that, I would shift thinking in a better direction.

As a journalist, don’t expect a lot of feedback but when it comes, especially positive comments, it is validating and reaffirming.

Learning journalism is like learning a sport or a profession. I found that being a good journalist takes a combination of being disciplined yet being open to taking chances. It is about writing what you think and how you feel and balancing it with supporting information. The best writers are those who practice and practice and practice some more, the ones who develop a voice all their own, the ones who bring purpose to their efforts.

So, have fun, take chances and open yourselves up to being great. Be creative. Be inquisitive. Ask for help when you need it and give help when and where you see it is needed.

I hope our class becomes a family, a team like no other. Our team needs you no matter your class year, background or experience. You are valuable, you are loved, you are welcomed, you are needed. 

You CAN do this!

Be great.

Mr. Savicki