A Few Words of Introduction

My name is Paul Edward Fetherolf. I’m a nontraditional student at Ohio University with junior standing. I'm a journalism major. That is, I intend to major in journalism. They're sort of particular about who gets to do that around here. Never mind, that's my problem. So, what does a journalist do? Well, from Lois Lane taking notes on some nefarious activity she’s uncovered to dry debates over proper grammar and usage, journalism is all about writing for the public.

I should add that I’m thinking mostly about news writing and editing here. Broadcast journalism has similar goals, but involves a different process. Traditional journalism- such as newspapers and magazines- is more my area of interest, even if it is dying by inches. As I currently understand it, traditional journalism involves two major activities, reporting and editing.

Reporters are professional writers: in the end, it’s their job to tell the story. Although most people probably have an image of journalists howling questions at politicians and murder suspects, the interviews are just one part of the process. They have to research their subject, and come up with an ‘angle,’ an overall approach that will generate interest. Though reporters are the most visible journalists, they are on the receiving end of a fair amount of input and oversight. That’s where editors come in.

Editors have many different responsibilities. Copy editors are the essential quality control of a newsroom. They correct factual and grammatical errors, and they revise manuscripts so that they are clear and concise. Copy editors also design the page layouts that will be used when the magazine or newspaper goes to print. Managing editors direct the entire process; the guy who’s always yelling at Peter Parker is a managing editor (actually, he’s the top managing editor, the editor-in-chief).

The Ultimate Role of journalism is to inform the public as best it can, with integrity and clarity. All the activity I have described is directed toward publishing a newspaper or magazine that members of the public will find to be relevant, interesting, and informative. That’s what I want to be part of.