Lecture 1: A Review in Hindsight part 1

So, it has been a while since those very first weeks of university hasn’t it? It seems like only yesterday we were all just star eyed youngsters walking into our first University lecture (not me specifically, I tried my hand at psychology first, but I have memories too damnit), gawking at the size of the projector and the impersonality of it all, the lecturer didn’t know my name, and he wasn’t waiting for anyone. Yet as I entered with trepidation into Jour1111 for that first time, the atmosphere was rather peaceful, like some sort of zen experience. The lecturer, Dr. Bruce Redman was very enthusiastic about what he was saying and there was a genuine aura of excitement radiating from him, like the very presence of so many students was just the most glorious thing to behold.

Now as first lectures go, there wasn’t much in the way of content here, but that isn’t something completely unusual with regards to first times, overloading such young supple minds is hardly the way to make friends and the vibe I got for Dr. Redman was very much, your here and I’m going to tell you why you should stay. Throughout the lecture, the impression that I felt, was really along the lines of respect and admiration, from my peers and Dr. Redman, a sort of mutual trust that by participating and really putting ourselves out there, we were going to learn something truly beneficial. 

While light on content, one thing was said during this lecture that did stick with me, a rarity to be sure, That I am the Journalist (I apologize for the possible paraphrasing) one of the very first things Dr. Redman said. On its own, the statement is fairly unassuming, but when viewed after a bit of time and with a bit of hindsight, the comment is far more apt. 

For you see, the idea, the very essence of the course, is that we are coming to learn what it takes to be a Journalist. While that statement sounds redundant, the point it’s trying to make, is that Journalism is not like science or psychology, it is an art form, something that needs to be worked on, refined and in time, perfected. Being a Journalist is more than just taking the various pieces of  daily information and regurgitating them on your preferred medium, it’s about molding those bits and pieces of the day and turning them into something worth reading, watching or hearing, it’s about making stories, not stories you find in a book, or stories you find in a video game, but stories endemic to journalism, news stories! 

By being the Journalist, we are taking on this responsibility of writing or recording these pieces of art and it is up to us how they will be seen by the world. Whether we end up in sports, investigative, gardening or science, it is up to us to make the best of these environments and be the Journalist.