Selfless Journalism

When I began my career as a writer – in my mind – successful writing was measured by how well you wrote. Let me explain. A good writer could manipulate words, string those words together into beautifully blended sentences, paragraphs, articles, etc…

As my experience as a journalist grows, I am beginning to better understand the duty of a “journalist.”

“True journalism” is not about how good your words sound, or how great your portfolio looks. True journalism is a service to the people – our audiences. It is about the characters in our stories. Journalism is selfless.

So what defines a “good story?”

Journalism is not about getting the best story to the largest audience before any other news medium… well not completely.

It is about capturing the beauty in the people that cross our paths. Every person has a story to be told.

Some people just seem to sparkle. The more you talk to them and learn about them, you realize – one person can be and see so many incredible things in one lifetime.

And although there doesn’t seem to be many in this world – it is our duty – as a journalist – to share their unique beauty with others.

A great, selfless journalist should have the talents to take the milestones of our characters, their beauties and transform that into a series of words, paragraphs, articles and stories. Then, share that with their audiences. To me, great journalism is defined by moral judgment. A great journalist is selfless.

-C. Ann