There has been a lot of change and adjustments in the past several months. However, I can’t help but think we have continued to adjust and grow as a
Even through the change, the support of our readers and customers has continued as we
Instead of running with the punches and trying to make sure we got the job done in a decent enough fashion, we are finally putting together what we envision when we think about the News-
Our main goal has been to produce a quality bi-weekly publication that has maintained the same standard for decades.
I can whole-heartedly say I think we have been able to uphold that standard. The process has required us as a staff to learn, grow and adapt as changes have
Yet, I know each one of us has been confident our roles would be filled to the best of our abilities. It feels easier putting this publication together compared to the beginning of August. The lessons learned and advice given to us has allowed us to work quicker and become more efficient. Forming game plans and understanding what needs to be done for each issue has become less daunting as time has progressed and as we have put more issues under our belt. For me, I put myself under unneeded stress trying to figure out what was appropriate and what I should be looking for story wise in each issue. I think it was unavoidable to feel that way as being a news writer was something I was not familiar with. It was just something that would take time to become more comfortable. There are still a few situations or things that I am not familiar with when it comes to doing this job, but I know I have amazing people guiding me in the right direction. As a staff, the amount of helping hands that have taken their time to offer advice and constructive criticism has been greatly appreciated. I’ve learned in this position that failure is possible if I cannot plan when it comes to future
That is something I have been able to slowly incorporate as I have gotten a little more time in this role. During the first couple of weeks, I was solely focused on the edition that was in front of me. So when I made deadline, I already felt behind and stressed before I could even start planning for the following issue. I’ve noticed that my planning and strategizing has become easier as I have established relationships with sources and people willing to lend a hand or to be a source for a story. This has definitely eased my process of getting things planned out and getting everything done.
At the same time, while I do get a bit stressed out looking for stories or trying to make deadline, I love it. There is a thrill from facing off against time. Our submission deadlines are the same for each Wednesday and Sunday issue.
Once one issue is submitted, the clock for the next issue begins. It’s a race I love to go through no matter how tired I say
Iam. I guess that is one reason that insured me I could do this job and know I would like it. I don’t shy away from deadlines and once I figure out what I need to get done, I have no problem finishing it. Deadlines aren’t flexible in the profession. It’s not like an overdue assignment or a late bill; deadlines mean deadlines and that affects multiple entities if they are not met. During my time at Texas Tech, I enjoyed my journalism professors who treated the class as a newsroom. Stories had deadlines and if they were not met, then you dug yourself into a deep hole.
My professors preached that journalist live and breathe deadlines. I had the opportunity to take a senior level class that focused on broadcast journalism. If you watch Good Morning Lubbock, the news anchor James Eppler did the show in the mornings and would come into class and teach after.
I was lucky enough to have him in two classes before I graduated. Mr. Eppler was honest about the broadcast part of journalism.
There are many jobs and opportunities within broadcast journalism, but the deadlines are essentially daily.
Eppler was honest about the deadlines and hours that needed to be worked when starting out in the industry. He painted it as a get skinny quick program without having to try to diet.
There wouldn’t be a lot of time for being lazy or squeezing in meals when working as a newbie in that profession.
I enjoyed the projects in that class. I did a lot of camera work projects in that class, and I was told I had a good eye for doing it fromhim.
At the time, we had just returned to classrooms after restrictions with Covid 19 had begun to relax.
As a Media Communications major at Texas Tech, students are required to complete an internship before graduation.
For me, I had waited until I had finished all my regular in class credits that I needed before doing my internship.
I was to the point where I needed to begin my search for internships and apply to the news station was my number one choice.
At first, news stations were hardly taking any if at all interns after Covid 19 because their health policies were not in place at the time.
After hearing that, I finished all the classes I needed to graduate that next semester in hopes of hearing from the news station again but it didn’t happen.
For my college in particular, my normal advisor was the person who handled internships for the college as well and she decided to pursue a new career path midway through the semester prior. I was naturally in the wind trying to figure out the final steps I needed to take to graduate.
Fortunately, I was paired with a great advisor I knew from when I transferred from South Plains College to Texas Tech. He oversaw the digital side of our college, so I never really got to interact with him very much.
However, he explained to me that I didn’t necessarily have to choose someone to intern with on the list that was given to me. I got an immediate light bulb. The News-Press back home!
If a student was to choose a place to intern with other than one of their common suggestions, we would have to submit it for review.
Thankfully, I was given the green light to intern here at the News-Press for my final semester as a Tech student.
It’s amazing to think about certain decisions made in life and wonder what would have happened if I had chosen another option.
Staying with the News-Press and being placed in this position has been nothing short of a blessing.
Even with the deadlines, long hours and stories that feel like they take hours to produce on some days, I wouldn’t trade it for a quick news story that had to be flipped every day.
I respect those journalists for the continuous grind they go through. I know they enjoy it, but this newspaper has that certain appeal that makes me proud to be a part of it.
I know the staff feels the same way. Despite the work that goes into it each issue every week, it’s something we hang our hats on and say we are proud to do.