A couple weeks into Grade 9, I visited my high school’s club expo and signed up for the student-led newspaper.
I didn’t know anything about journalism at the time. I couldn’t tell you how to write a lede or how to find a story. All I knew then was that I loved to write. But as I scribbled my name down on the member sign-up sheet—to the enthusiastic cheers of the co-editors-in-chief at the time—I felt an overwhelming sense of nerves, curiosity and excitement.
That was my first introduction to student journalism. As I’ve ventured further into the world of reporting over the years, my love and appreciation for student newsrooms has only grown.
All throughout high school I wrote reviews for films, books and albums. I wrote about school faculty and student clubs. I even had the pleasure of writing a couple of satires for the newspaper’s April Fools edition.
I wasn’t conducting major investigations or reporting on hard-hitting, breaking news. However, the high school paper gave me a space to develop my love for writing, which turned into a love for hearing and reporting on people’s stories.
That love encouraged me to apply to Carleton University’s journalism program. When I got accepted and started telling people my chosen post-secondary path, I was met with a lot of comments and questions that I still hear to this day.
“Isn’t journalism a dying industry?”
“Good luck getting a job after graduation!”
“That’s cool, but what are you going to do to pay the bills?”
Maybe it was those nagging comments that pushed me to also pursue legal studies as a double major. Then, I was able to cushion people’s concerns with a quick, “Oh, but I might try and go to law school after undergrad!”
That was usually met with a sigh of relief.
But my on-and-off considerations of applying to law school started to dwindle the more invested I became in Carleton journalism. My reporting classes honed my skills and confidence to continue writing for student publications. When I got to cover local events, music festivals and pursue my love for arts and community reporting with student papers like the Charlatan, it quickly reignited the same spark I had found in high school.
In spite of all that, I haven’t always found student journalism to be an easy path.
Whenever I’m writing for a class assignment or student paper, it’s a toss-up whether sources won’t get back to me. I’m not always taken seriously with “I’m a student journalist” in the first paragraph of my email. Imposter syndrome runs rampant, both in the classroom and at school events—and it doesn’t help that student journalists are hardly ever represented in program-organized panels or conferences. There’s also a constant fear that people will one day stop caring about my perspective or the stories I tell.
These things tend to dampen my spirit and persistence, along with the never-ending talks about how the future of journalism is uncertain at best.
However, every published byline reminds me that all concerns and roadblocks are ultimately worth it. I can’t count the number of times a source has told me something along the lines of, “How did you find my story? I’m so glad someone is interested and willing to write about this.”
No matter the future of journalism, there are always stories waiting to be told. There’s something very fulfilling about sharing voices at a student level that would otherwise remain undiscovered. That knowledge continues to boost my confidence as a student journalist.
The only thing that equals that thrill is being around like-minded people in student newsrooms. From having someone who understands the struggle of finding the perfect source for a specific topic, to sharing excitement when one of my stories is published in print, it’s always very special to experience a niche interest with a tight-knit group of people. From foosball tournaments to writing silly satires, there’s so much joy to be had in goofing off together.
It’s also an immense privilege to witness the early beginnings of my friends’ careers. Whenever someone I know secures an internship, pens a front-page headline or gets a good grade on a feature they spent months working on, I’m reminded of the brilliant dedication student journalists maintain.
It’s encouraging to think about the work we will produce in later years, when we’re already creating amazing work now.
Sometimes I’m brought back to my initial insecurities about my reporting, particularly when someone questions the quality of my work, throwing in a back-handed compliment like, “this is really good for a student piece.” But if student journalism has taught me anything, it’s the power of ambition and perseverance.
And thanks to the ability of amplifying student stories, coupled with the pleasures of witnessing young journalists thrive with every passing day, I’m continuously reminded of the crucial perspective student journalism offers.
Those are the things that always remind me that despite what anyone says, the world is made a stronger place because of student journalism.
Featured image courtesy of Alexa MacKie.
