I recently committed to an editor position (the Opinions and Editorials section) of my campus' official newspaper. Eager and excited, I spent the days that followed with no less than two dozen tabs open simultaneously in my browser, each bearing journalism-themed terms in their search queries: general "editorials" and "journalism" followed by more specific "effective editing" and "science for students". Having bookmarked all I could for future reference, I begin this blog, Beat Biology, with professional initiative and personal accountability.
My original intention is to use this as a media reaction to respond to science stories in the news. As I hear of concepts and ideas I'm curious about or only partially familiar with, I feel a powerful urge to investigate the issue further, getting deeper into it until I am buried in dialogue, immersed in information. What is at the heart of seemingly unrelated issues is what interests me, and exploring this link, fleshing it out in writing for linear presentation is sometimes breathtaking, as it was hiding in there all along, albeit superficially invisible.
Applied, this helps better hone my professional self-expectations, while formatting my style in a way that provides better clips for my portfolio and inevitable future display. I'll be reading more news from science-specific sources, as well as providing analysis of primary literature (the technical papers published by academic researchers). My wikipedia segues can be better served in composition, as well, and are conversation worthy due to their far-reaching nature. It's difficult to use wikipedia without going on six click segues anyway, i just keep opening topics new tabs until they're all a quarter-inch in length, then I think, "this is probably a little excessive" and trim it down with my bookmarks bar.
I used to use facebook for link shares, and I still do, but there's so much media I want to revisit, using my profile to remember so many sites gets spammy, and I'll see a little "Heather Welborn has 14 recent updates from Wikipedia", and think,"man, they're gonna think I have no life or day job or hobbies". WIKIPEDIA IS MY HOBBY it's weird, and I'm okay with admitting that it's enjoyable. Research relaxes me, right clicking my way through news and info websites is the greatest way to wind down while keeping up to date on what's happening in the world.
I'm using this initial post as a sort of mission statement exposition, I suppose. This is a place where I can use my writing to address science-based publications, occurrences and current events, while improving my technical writing and research techniques. I need a spot to showcase my interest in science communication, a place where I can focus on journalism and research. I need to hone my networking skills by emailing professors and arranging meetings, a fact I acted on last week as a way to keep my contacts up and my sotry leads significant from a faculty perspective. My technical understanding of my equipment, my voice recorder, tablet, dslr and other devices, needs work, which comes through experience, which is as easy as having the hardware on me and charged up. I've even started presenting myself professionally, trading my college-kid wardrobe of jeans and band tees for a more mature, blouses and slacks look, very working-woman-looking. Not saying I judge by looks, I'm just saying plenty do, and I've had people tell me they wouldn't give me interviews because they didn't respect reporters from my campus paper, and i don't know if khakis could have had an influence on that, just saying it stings less when you're impressively dressed (plus he was an alumni volunteer and who knows? Maybe the last reporter was unprofessional).
There is no dream of writing for the Post Dispatch in my future without committing to a regular written routine right now. Citizen journalism is just as legitimate, student journalism is a great way to get my foot in, small publications enjoy fresh employees, public radio internships look great on a resume, etcetera. It's all about refuting personal and professional intimidation and pursuing my longstanding passion for investigative nonfiction and well-referenced editorial. Love me a good essay. Look forward to original written and photo content in the very near future, as well as podcasts with professional mic/video and guest opinion. Just for dialogue, like a short little science-based radio show, less formal than the blog, and much more collaborative and user-comment focused.
If you're reading this, thank you. I appreciate your attention and subscription, and by all means, please think of this place as interactive and leave a comment with ideas you want explored or articles you'd like responses on. If you don't want to read it, I don't want to write it, as all public speaking is audience-focused. My goal is not to use this blog to project intellectual authority for attention. This is my way of promoting awareness and understanding in a professional way while exploring the concept of universal unity in writing.
Signing off for now, I'll update later with a story response, maybe the test tube burger tasting? Also, the 2013 Editorial Pulitizer Prize was awarded to a couple Floridian journalists for--get this, Strangelove lovers--overturning a ban on water fluoridation. Exciting stuff, and as always, to be continued...
This is precisely where I am in my writing "career," as well. A research-obsessed science and news junkie looking for ways to make a legitimate career from interpreting the technical and chaotic and filtering it through the written word in an entertainingly informative way. It definitely helps that you're going to school for a science-based degree and that you're working as an editor for your school's paper.
ReplyDeleteIf you writing as a freelancer, though, I've always wondered how you present yourself to possible interviewees. For instance, journalists will introduce themselves by name and then say that they're representing their magazine or paper before inquiring if the subject is willing to submit to a formal, on-the-record interview. But if you're a freelancer or blogger, what do you do then? Do you admit that you're a freelance journalist/writer, or do you just say, "I'm interested in [whatever it is that you do]. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about [blah blah blah] for an article/essay I'm writing on the subject."
I can't wait to see what you have in store! And I'm thinking about shutting down my current blogs and opening another one that is more focused. Right now, they're pretty open. At the very least, I may go back to just doing the blogspot blog, CrossingTheLineblog.blogspot.com and paying the fee to remove "blogspot." Because the one for "CandiceTucker.squarespace.com" is $20 every month!
Fuck that.
Oh, and good on ya for investing in the slacks and blouses! Seems I should do the same. If we are to pretend to be adults, and all. ;)
i say i'm in media, and if they push it further, i tell them my credentials, but most people are more than willing to share a few words to a pretty girl, believe it or not. interviews are insanely fun to do, it can be as easy as hollering at a bartender and a few patrons at a show for a venue review, chatting up the owner of a coffee shop for a food critique, maybe some local employee's book and music recommendations? i talk to everyone i can find, and try to get them on the record when they're comfortable with it. god, all i talked to were rappers this summer, local acts will not shut the fuck up about themselves, they're like mini-PR machines, which is bearable and understandable, but it's gonna feel odd as hell being the one asking for interviews, as it is now i just get handed a cell phone and some dude says "okay, film this promo real quick." it's endearing, but it gets annoying after the dozenth time or so.
ReplyDeleteand yeah, looking like an adult fools them, but my little kid and fella both know, even the kids at school know I'm crazy as hell. But I'm funny, so it sort of evens out.
I appreciate you reading, I would definitely go with the cheaper route, plus blogger is super customizable with the layout and feeds and whatnot. Here's to written support groups, baby!