All work and no play?
It isn't exactly a journalist's credo.
Last year the producers implemented an "About Us" page to put the faces to the hard work that goes into creating the news each week; the reporters and producers alike undoubtedly deserved that recognition and the recognition that giving you news that is timely, important, local, and accurate is a pretty daunting task.
But what they failed to mention was how much fun it can be. I think sometimes we forget that, too. So before the madness of today's 4:30 p.m. deadline hits home I took some time to reflect on why the heck I find this so enjoyable.
The people in news are terrific. I literally spend entire days in the journalism lab, but they're days filled with laughter and thought-provoking discussion. I sometimes wonder if I would spend less time working if I could isolate myself from the newsroom, but then I realize what a disservice that would be to the news; sharing perspectives both goofy and serious help balance the news and give it a fairness one person can't alone create.
The product we finally produce every Thursday at 4:30 is usually worth the hard work, too. There's nothing like the feeling of seeing a great show on air after working for days after a week's worth of hard work went into it. Furthermore, there's nothing better than the feeling (almost a vindication, if you will) that you get when your audience comments on the end product.
And even more, I've never seen a newsroom without Diet Coke and chocolate - the real fruits of the earth.
I hope you appreciate what goes into our work. I'd love to hear what you have to say about it - good or bad, it's always good to know you're watching. But don't let any journalist give you the ol' martyr line; we wouldn't do this unless we love it and the sacrifices we make never go unredeemed.
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