SUNY-Oswego, where I teach, hosted the 16th Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit on Wednesday. This year’s all-virtual event examined the topic “On the Front Lines with the First Amendment.”
The link to watch the entire panel discussion is here:
Here are some of the best quotes from the event, to give you a little motivation or inspiration:
Connie Schultz, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, Creators Syndicate
We really are the land of misfit toys in this profession. We are not conformists and we don't tend to do well when people tell us what to believe, what to write, or what to report.
I want you to think big. When I was a student at Kent Stat,e no matter who I was writing for and soon after graduation I told who I was really writing for was "The New York Times". And that was because for me at that moment, that was the goal. And so my standards were high. And I really tried to meet them on a regular basis
What they call you is one thing. What you answer to is something else. We will always have people who underestimate us. (Put) that on your shoulder and flick them off.
Steve Brown, investigative reporter, WGRZ-TV (Buffalo):
As far as credentialing is concerned, I have one. It's in the first amendment. I'm proud to be a member of the group of people whose job is enshrined in the framework for our country.
Don't be afraid to take intelligent risks. It is very easy to do what everybody else is doing and try and stand out in that particular way. Don't do that. Take a risk that you think is smart, that is going to place you closer to wherever it is that you want to go.
I will guarantee you that if you tell a story well, fairly, accurately, and powerfully, the world will change. Because I've seen it because I've done it.
Bret Jaspers, reporter, KERA-FM (Dallas-Fort Worth)
Really think hard about what is an area of interest that excites you, that makes you curious, that you want to dig deep into that particular area. … Whatever kind of job you have, like, being an subject matter expert is valuable. And also really fun. Starting now gives you a lot of time to really get good by the time you're mid‑career or whatever. So I would not only get good at the tools, all of the technology we focus a lot on. How to cut audio and do a ‑‑ put together a really good package that are ‑‑ and use the technology quickly and well. That's all great. But the subject matter expertise, I think, long‑term will keep you really marketable.
Michelle Garcia, editor, NBC BLK:
Take advantage of the fact that you're in college and you could honestly email some hoity‑toity journalism God or goddess and they might respond to you. Use your time in school to ask questions and play and create and collaborate with your classmates. So if you can do that kind of stuff, take the time to enjoy the fact that, you know, nobody's watching. Just mess around.
(Listen to more from Michelle on The Other 51)
Ava Lubell, Local Journalism Attorney, Cornell Law School
I would add the First Amendment actually explicitly allows for mistake and it's structured in a way to say people are going to make mistakes. If we say you can't make a mistake, we should go home. The standard of perfection is not one we can attain and it's not going to allow for the free throw of information that leads to the end goals of having informed citizenry and participation in government.
I love goofy podcasts. I also like long forms from some weird publications. Get out of your head the notion this is how you're supposed to be consuming news and just consume it in the way that it's going to talk to you. But get everyone else's voice of this is what you're supposed to do out of your head. It's a waste of time and you'll wind up not consuming anything.