BLOG: Writing from experience

As a journalist, I think it’s very important to experience life to the fullest in order to write the best, most comprehensive stories. The best stories about Amish people are going to be written by journalists who have lived among them and experienced their way of life and people who have gone out and seen wild animals in their natural habitat write the best stories about wildlife.

But this is easier said than done. For example, I had the best of intentions to blog, Tweet and Facebook in a journalistic fashion about all the events of Dakota Days. In order to do that to the best of my ability, I also participated in most of the events, which made it hard to incessantly send out Tweets. While I think I did a pretty good job “covering” the week, I know I could have done better, but I was too busy having fun.

Who knew it would be so hard to balance life with being a reporter? I once wrote an article about a family in California who made keys the old fashioned way, with a ruler and a grinding machine, so I immersed myself in what it takes to do that for a living. I’m not exactly a metalwork fanatic, so I found it easy to get my article turned in on time. But it’s different with D-Days. I’m part of the madness, and I’m basically writing articles and Tweeting about my friends, so it’s harder to separate myself from the situation and remain professional.

I’ve learned a lot from D-Days this year and I hope that I can grow enough professionally to separate myself from the events I cover. I feel like this problem isn’t something that can be taught in school, so I hope someone out there benefits from this blog. You can pick up a lot about what it takes to be a good reporter in school, but the hard stuff you learn from life experience. While I have no easy answer about how to keep your personal and professional lives separate while still immersing yourself in your story, know that it is hard and you will probably mess up. But that’s OK.  You’re human and you will learn from your mistakes, just like I do.