This year I have been challenged - daily - to grow into the woman I know I am capable of being. In less than eight months, I went from birthing my baby at home during a pandemic lockdown, to speeding out the door (sometimes girls in tow) to get to campus. J-School is not how I envisioned maternity leave.
But, this journey is refining my storytelling abilities, equipping me with legal knowledge necessary to the field, and showing me paths to the future of journalism I never knew existed.
Image courtesy of R. Thomas Art Studios
Journalism no longer has a go to formula of what news delivery looks like. The impact technology has had on the field is vast. It’s changed the way we get and interact with our news. The speed at which we can find out what is happening in the world is phenomenally quick. Not to mention figuring out what is real and what is not is now a needed skill for news consumption.
What excites me right now is that journalism is kind of like the Wild West. I know, I know, but hear me out. The future of journalism is like channeling through the frontier. It is wide, rich with opportunities, and like Manifest Destiny if you get in where you fit in, you can flourish. There are so many opportunities to find your little corner and thrive in the field.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
Learning about the future of journalism has challenged my assumptions of how the news works and how I can work in the news. You can find innovative ways of reporting, like daily stories on Instagram, a podcast, or a YouTube series. Or build your own newsletter, grow your reputation and become your followers' trusted go to. My fear of journalism being a dying field has been conquered. I now realize, old ways are only passing so new ways can flourish.
Image courtesy of R. Thomas Art Studios
I am ready to now better equip myself in facing the challenges of the industry going forward. I am committed to refining my skills by getting back to regular social media content, learning better SEO skills, and sending out my newsletter again. I’m bringing back Momo’s Mama Monday in a new way to challenge myself to develop editorial skills in video. I am also finally going to take on podcasting (yup, in an already oversaturated market) to do the 12-part artist series I’ve been saying I’ve wanted to do for the past seven years and better my audio editing and interview skills. As for blogging, believe it or not, you really are going to see more of me.
In all, I want to be ready for when the field tries to throw a few punches so I can throw a few back. I’m committed to making decisions today my future self will be grateful for. Are you?