Measuring up amid the changes

By Theresa Kasallis
Special to chipsquinn.org

Posted: March 19, 2008

Theresa Kasallis

My first day on the copy desk at The Salt Lake Tribune was overwhelming to say the least.

As I learned the page-design and layout software programs, I struggled to keep up with my more seasoned coworkers. I was given copy to edit and critique and tried my best to marshal my skills to do the job. I was concerned about my ability to measure up in this new news world.

By mid-summer, I felt more comfortable with the work load. I was getting faster and more accurate. To my surprise, I was still learning new things.

I learned that the Tribune would be incorporating new software for page designers and launching new features on the paper’s Web site. At every daily meeting, we discussed how we could improve the paper and how we copy and design editors could contribute to the expanding online project.

People told me that newspapers were changing and that in a matter of years they would no longer exist. I disagreed. I believe there will always be a need for news, a hunger for content. The Salt Lake Tribune was not changing as much as it was evolving and adapting to a newer generation of technology.

People also told me that layoffs were inevitable and that hiring would be at a minimum. True, there was some consolidation, with employees taking on greater responsibility. But I saw that many people were leaving voluntarily, and the newspaper was constantly trying to keep up with filling positions.

The evolution meant that I, too, had more responsibility. In addition to editing copy on the general news desk, I also worked several shifts on the sports desk. I finally felt as if my hard work had paid off. Not only could my copy chief trust me with general news assignments, he also had confidence in my ability to edit copy in departments that were unfamiliar to me.

Above all, my internship gave me a sense of hope. It helped me to understand that as newspapers across the country evolve, there will always be a demand for people who work hard and have talent and the skills for the job.

At the Tribune, employees and interns shifted gears and adapted quickly to the changes. It was as if the paper never skipped a beat through them.

What makes The Salt Lake Tribune so successful is the ability of its newsroom employees to maintain their standards of quality despite the upheaval in journalism. The newsroom operation reflects order, efficiency and teamwork.

Being part of that team and seeing the transformations firsthand made me a stronger journalist.

My efforts did not go unnoticed. After my internship ended, I was called back to work for four to six additional weeks.

Grateful for my summer internship, I can say that no other experience has taught me nearly as much. It taught me that no matter what profession you’re in, you are always learning and having to adapt to changes in the world or environment around you.

I still have room to grow. But as I embark on a new career after graduation, I am excited to see what challenges are ahead.

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