A summer of lessons
It’s my last day as a local desk intern at The Oklahoman. I’ve never been good with goodbyes, so I’m going to keep this short and sweet. Here are some things I’ve learned this summer.
Life lessons:
- Wherever I am in the world, there’s going to be someone kind enough to help me out.
- I can be miles and miles from home and actually survive.
- Singing in the car is a great stress reliever. Eric Church’s “Springsteen” was a summer favorite.
Journalism lessons:
- I’m leaving this summer with a more conversational style of writing.
- As a journalist, I might have to dig through someone’s trash to find the facts.
- The story isn’t in my notes, it’s in my head.
- Compassion is important in journalism.
Random facts:
- Blue-green algae is toxic, especially to children and animals.
- Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days for 911 calls.
- The scissor-tailed flycatcher is Oklahoma’s state bird.
This is only a taste of what I’ve learned. If I listed everything, I’d be writing forever. I’ve enjoyed my time in Oklahoma and at the paper. I’m excited about what my future holds. Soon, I’ll be “Back Home Again in Indiana.”
A line between compassion and journalism
While working on several stories this summer, I have had to pause and ask myself:
- What are my intentions in writing this story?
- Am I emotionally invested in this story?
- If so, is it hindering my storytelling?
- How can I tell this story the most objectively?
One such instance was while working on a veterans and PTSD project with health reporter Jaclyn Cosgrove and fellow intern Darryl Golden. We took an entire work day to travel to James Crabtree Correctional Center in Helena, where we interviewed incarcerated veterans about their mental health and experiences returning home from war.
I’m not going to lie. I was a little apprehensive about visiting the prison. I knew it would be a great experience and would expand my comfort zone as a reporter, but being in a room with 50 inmates who had committed violent crimes put me a little on edge. After sitting through the center’s veterans club meeting, I easily saw that the veterans were ordinary people, but had made poor life choices. They had experienced the horrors of war, they felt sorry for the crimes they committed and they missed their families. By the end of our interviews, I had forgotten that we were talking to inmates at a prison.
My part of the project was to write a story about a flag afghan project the veterans club started in 2007. The veterans crochet flag afghans for other veterans and families of fallen service members. I wanted my story to embody the caring nature of the veterans, which I had experienced during my visit. I had heard about their troubles and wanted to present their project in the best light possible. After I finished writing the story, I realized I never mentioned why the men were in prison. Without even thinking, I left out their charges. It was as if I was empathizing with the veterans. I saw that they were truly sorry for the crimes they committed and didn’t want the horrible nature of the crimes, many of them murder, to taint the story.
Eric Fowler, an inmate and member of the veteran's club at James Crabtree Correctional Center, holds up a gold star American flag afghan. -Photo by Darryl Golden
Here’s the final story: James Crabtree Correctional Center incarcerated veterans honor other veterans and families of fallen service members
This summer, I’ve learned that sometimes as a reporter, I’m going to feel for sources, situations and issues. It’s my duty to find the middle ground. Compassion can exist in journalism.
Nicholas Kristof is a prime example of a journalist who shows compassion through his work. Read or listen to Krista Tippett’s interview with Kristof as he talks about compassion and journalism on Tippett’s show On Being.
A different ballpark
ASA Hall of Fame Stadium view from my seat at the NCAA Women's College World Series on Monday, June 4, 2012.
My post is a continuation of Garett’s recent post about the NCAA Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
When I was first selected for an internship at The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City and the WCWS immediately popped into my head. I knew I would find a way to watch a few games at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
Although I no longer play softball, it was a part of my life for many years. I played T-ball and started playing softball more competitively at age 10. I played on various travel teams based out of Southern Indiana and pitched for my high school team. I toyed with the idea of playing in college, but wanted to put more focus on building a career.
I grew up watching series-greats, such as Jennie Finch with University of Arizona, Cat Osterman with University of Texas and University of Tennessee’s Monica Abbott. I made it a goal to play at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, or to at least visit the place where softball history is made.
This past week, I visited the stadium and it was an experience that was a long time in the making. It was great to see so many fans packed into a softball stadium, considering softball doesn’t get much recognition where I’m from. I soaked in the atmosphere and can’t wait to cheer on University of Oklahoma this evening as they battle University of Alabama in game 3 of the WCWS championship series.
Go OU!
