What Do You Stand For?

I enjoyed Steve Smith's presentation to our class on Wednesday of last week for several reasons, mostly because I was not completely sure I was doing the right thing going into journalism with the fall of newspapers and other forms of "old" news. . . but he convinced me. He convinced me by saying these words (not all in order so please don't get mad at me!),

"Journalism begins with a set of values, What do you stand for? Understanding those values gives us a framework for the decisions we are going to make. We defend the defenseless and give voices to the voiceless. We filter the news and information based on the values we have created for ourselves, we believe we can make those powerful judgments"

These words really hit home for me. Posted on the wall of my room at home, as well as my dorm room here is a poster. You can see it at the top of this page. I love it, I have always had it in my room. I was always the "helper" the "giver" the "listener" in high school and whenever I got overwhelmed with all of those actions and other people's problems and emotional breakdowns I looked at that poster and realized it is part of who I am. I stand for many things...

I also was on the "Astor Post" which is my high school paper, and I always stood by my values when I wrote the articles. It made me realize that just like he said he felt he had to do this because it was what he (Mr. Smith, and no I don't mean brad pitt) was made to do, it was his purpose here, I feel like I have the same purpose.

I cannot wait to get out in the world and do good, to put the news out there and make an informed citizenry possible. "Journalists are outsiders. Paid to be observers, more than to actually be involved". I have always been that type of person anyways... I don't mind. I want to do something positive with my life.