Esther Looks Back

“I became a journalist to come as close as possible to the heart of the world.”

Henry R. Luce, American Publisher and Editor, 1898-1967

What a journey it has been since the moment I decided to do a senior project in September! Eating a bowl of cereal after getting less than three hours of sleep, thinking, and discussing, and writing about the future of journalism, I realized how happy I am. I realized how happy I am to be a journalism student. I was happy to see myself live the kind of life that I always envisioned reporters live.

It was very interesting to look at the trajectory of this project; where it began, where it switched direction, and where it is now. I have certainly matured over time just like the project. The lessons I have learned from completing the senior project are priceless. One thing that I am most proud of taking away is that this project has solidified my vision to be a ‘bugler’ of our society. This project guided me to verbalize this vision in my head with conviction.

I absolutely loved the creative side of the project in which I got to design a news delivery device as well as a video. The entire designing the news coffee holder and making a video process was the most thrilling but also challenging. Since I am not a Mac user, it took me longer to play with the Final Cut Pro program. The programs that I used were Photoshop, Solidwork, Final Cut Pro, and After Effects. Before making this video, I had heard many stories about the horror of editing. After working on this project, I feel that I can definitely speak for that. I had to forego multiple nights without sleep in a row, four cans of Red Bull a day, and lots of ice cream to placate myself. As odd as it may sound, I quickly found myself enjoying the situation. I felt like I was on duty for something so important that needed to be done right away. At the end, it was very rewarding to see the final products and be able to present them to other people.

This project was not about getting a credit or a good grade (even though they are very important!). I was genuinely curious to see how the society will evolve, and where journalism will stand in the newly formed society. What will be my role as the bugler in society? How will people receive the news that I break and stories that I write?

It is heart-throbbing to think that some people out there will hopefully benefit from the work that I put into this project. I have learned so much from getting the project done about myself, the industry, and the reporter as a profession. But this project is not really just for me. It is for people out there who will be able to receive the same news as I do with the help of technology.

Last but not least, I have gained a genuine friend who feels just as passionate about the future of journalism and its impact on our society: Kelley Vendeland. Our friendship is another treasure that this project gave me. I have faith in Kelley, our friendship, and our hope that the future lies in the hands of individuals who start thinking and talking now.