I’d received a lot of journalistic training when I was in school at DePaul. Four good, long, not so hard years of it. I enjoyed my theory and study classes much more than I did my classes in practicum. That’s to be expected for a contemplative person like myself. I’d like to have a pensive understanding of practice before I go out and do something.
But you know, all the preparation in the world can’t train you for some situations. They say the best thing for a young journalist is to sidestep your selected sphere and experience something completely different and new. They say getting out of your comfort zone can give you a new perspective on a particular topic. It can turn apprehension into appreciation. Indifference into understanding, they say.
Well, they’re right.
Jake Berent 