The Raving Lecturer

It seems that my most successful strategy in chasing stories this semester seems to have been showing up at meetings consistently. After a while, people start recognizing my face, inviting me to other meetings, speaking freely around me. Some people hear the word “journalist” and they clam up, which is why I often preface it with the fact that I am a graduate student (though I won’t be able to use this forever). Other times, I mention that I’m a journalist and people start listing off stories they want me to write. This always makes me smile, and reminds me of my big picture, which I need to remind myself frequently during the end-of-the-semester stress party:

I want to tell the stories that matter.
The stories that others aren’t always telling.
The stories that create conversation.
The stories that force people to act.

So, I’m always grateful for those who hear the word journalist and go into full-on raving, lecture mode. And I’m saddened by those who hear it and run from me, as if journalists are the new-age lepers.

Yes please, I’ll take a 20-minute lecture any day-– if it means you get what I’m doing.