Holly Pablo

mindypoowho:

The most striking aspect of today’s class discussion was the risk involved in being a journalist.  From interviewing a bombastic/hostile subject to walking around a dangerous neighborhood to acquire a scene, it seems that many risks can be encountered when putting together a piece.

But what about the other risks, the kind that don’t seem so obvious?  Risking your credibility by inadvertently making a politically charged assertion on a social media site; risking your reputation as a reporter if for reasons beyond your control the story you pitched suddenly falls apart; risking your moral integrity by associating your name with a story that doesn’t quite align itself with your values.  These are all dilemmas that as students we don’t really think about.  But being a student is temporary, and pretty soon, we’re going to be facing the strange new world of professionalism.

I like to think of myself as tactful and socially cognizant enough not to make such faux pas to damage my future credibility.  But it’s so easy to be overly judgmental and assertive of my opinions—which are many, and steadfast for the most part.

I guess the adage “no risk, no gain” applies here.  I feel that the best journalists take calculated risks, and I hope I learn to do the same.