Learning From Experienced Journalists

Thank you @GovWatcher, @justingeorge, @LizNavratil and @mirandareporter for sharing your work and future goals with #loweclass today.

— Stephanie Harte (@StephhHarte) March 3, 2015

Being a college student, I have sat through my fair share of unexciting lectures. The problem is often that the lecturer is not interesting or the audience is not engaged. This was not the case Monday afternoon in #loweclass.

Professional journalists – the kind that do not have to write "aspiring" on their Twitter bio – visited to present their passions and upcoming projects. Each journalist had a unique piece of advice, providing much to think about.

"If you're not putting out your stories, no one is," @justingeorge said. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with #loweclass today!

— Hannah Hope Kirby (@HannahHopeKirby) March 2, 2015

Liz Navratil was the first to speak. She works for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as a crime reporter and is interested in under-reported U.S. crimes. Navratil's website is a great example of how to present works when there is a lot to show.

Justin George, a crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun, presented next. George was involved in the investigation that created Serial, the popular podcast hosted by Sarah Koenig. He is passionate about the culture that creates crime and investigating the reasons behind high crime rates. His lesson centered on using social media to connect with other journalists and gain a readership.

Fresh off a sabbatical in Spain, Miranda Spivack spoke about the importance of the First Amendment for journalists, as well as civilians. Spivack has worked as a reporter and editor for The Washington Post. Working through heavy amounts of legislation and laws for her articles, Spivack emphasized the importance of telling "human stories" so that readers can understand any topic's impact.

Dave Umhoefer of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel works as a political reporter. His investigations have given him the title of "GovWatcher," seen in his Twitter handle. Umhoefer has followed Gov. Scott Walker in rise to prominence in Wisconsin politics. Covering a controversial politician such as Walker, Umhoefer noted that a journalist can take a side and write with authority, although, it should only be done when all the facts are tipped to one side.

Having these journalists impart knowledge they have gained in the field was an invaluable presentation. It is exciting to hear how passionate they are about each topic and everyone should look forward to their upcoming projects.