Scholarly advice

Alums share lessons learned on the job

Posted: June 27, 2003

Milagros Lujan-Delgado

In Summer 2002, Scholar Milagros ("Mel") Lujan-Delgado sent a questionnaire to alums from 1991-98, asking questions on topics from job hunting to convergence to career building. She shares some of the answers she received.

Lujan-Delgado’s question: How did you get your job?

ArLuther Lee, copy editor/page designer at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale and 1996 Scholar at the Ventura County (Calif.) Star:

“I majored in reporting at the University of Florida, and during my Chips Quinn internship, I was a general-assignment reporter covering everything from high school graduations to crime to plane crashes to public meetings. But just to show you how diverse you can be: After graduation, I took a copy-editing position at The News-Press in Fort Myers, Fla., my hometown.

“My only copy-editing experience had been one semester with my college newspaper. But I realized that the journalistic principles of accuracy, fairness and good writing could be employed anywhere in the newsroom, and I took the job. All I had to learn on the job was how to design pages. I started out really slow. But very soon, I found I was good at designing.”

La Shinda Clark

La Shinda Clark, suburban staff photographer at The Philadelphia Inquirer and 1995 Scholar at the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer:

”As a Chipster, I was an intern at the Ledger-Enquirer, and after graduation, June of 1996, I was hired on there. I worked at the Ledger-Enquirer for almost four years. Then one day I saw a job posting for a suburban photographer at The Inquirer, which -- like the Ledger-Enquirer -- is a Knight Ridder paper. The fact that they are sister papers is the only way I would have known about the job posting.”

Getahn Ward

Getahn Ward, business writer, The Tennessean in Nashville and 1994 Scholar at The Tennessean and 1995 Scholar at The Commercial Appeal in Memphis:

“In 1998, the afternoon daily I worked for, the Nashville Banner, folded. The Tennessean was well acquainted with my work since I competed against them. They were looking to expand their business news staff.”

Alicia Gooden, reporter, The Galveston County (Texas) Daily News and 1997 Scholar at The Oakland (Calif.) Tribune:

”After my CQ internship in Oakland, I was offered a job, to start right after graduation, with the suburban chain that owns The Trib. But the week I was set to leave for California, my father was admitted to the hospital. A week later, he died. The death was sudden and a shock to my family. I decided to stay close to home at that important point in the life of my family. It just so happened that a professor of mine told me about the position in Galveston. To be honest with you, I never had heard of the Galveston Daily News. Galveston is about an hour from Houston, where I lived. … It has worked out well.”

Question: What lessons have you learned on the job?

Nia Meeks, free-lance reporter and 1993 Scholar at the Detroit Free Press:

“The power of my words. The price of a mistake on my psyche, but not losing sight of its impact in the bigger scheme of things. Finding my own voice. Knowing that being right doesn't always mean being supported and following your instincts is the best thing. Sometimes, it may be the only thing.”

Raven Hill, municipal reporter and ASNE/APME Fellow, Home News Tribune in East Brunswick, N.J., and 1997 Scholar at The Plain Dealer, Cleveland:

“Bloom where you are planted. In this business as in life, you must make the most of any situation.”

Alicia Gooden, reporter, The Galveston County Daily News:

“To be honest with myself. I have learned to ask for help. I don't know everything. I have learned to accept criticism. You can't always see your faults because you're too personally involved.

“I have learned that sometimes you will be the only minority in every situation. That's life. It only means that you have to forge a path for others to follow.”

Shemika Britt, advertising project manager for Wadsworth Group/Thompson Learning in Atlanta and 1997 Scholar at The Times in Shreveport, La., and 1998 Scholar at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky.:

“My title is very misleading because … I spend hours each day writing and editing. ... The only way to be successful as a journalist is to keep practicing your craft. Write everyday, read everyday, listen and learn everyday. Ask questions. Push the envelope and do the jobs you don't want to do.”

Michelle Mizal-Archer, student and part-time reporter for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk and 1999 Scholar at The Roanoke (Va.) Times:

“Pick your battles. Be fair both in work ethic and in writing. Try not to say anything bad about anybody else because it will go around.”

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