Script for YouTube:

Script for YouTube: Lewis University. Can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/user/apiasecki2000#p/a/u/2/uWD8pb41xu8

Hello! I’m Ann Piasecki. I’ve been a journalist (editor, Web editor, reporter, and photographer) for more than 20 years. And I love it! I could not have imagined a job more suited for someone like me: I love the adrenaline rush of the spot news story, the on-site interview, the constant buzz of the newsroom and the actual act of writing the story. I’ve won more than 20 awards in numerous categories at the state, national and international level.

In no other career can you call the governor’s office, dial into the White House Press Room, interview world leaders, glean the perspectives of a sculptor or community organizer, feel the pain of a community in the aftermath of a tornado, uncover the unethical business practices or step into the life of a schizophrenic homeless woman supporting three children.

Journalists have the privilege of sharing other people’s lives and the responsibility to convey it truthfully.

Having been a journalist at major metropolitan dailies, community newspapers, niche publications, online editions and magazines, I believe my colleagues could testify to my enthusiasm for critical reporting and well-crafted writing.

I’ll tell you something about myself, when I smell a solid story, I can literally feel a tingling sensation in my fingertips. I can’t wait to sit down at the computer. Unless I’m on deadline, the story rarely just rolls out. I immerse myself in someone else’s world because I want it to reflect that person or topic. As for the editing process, if any of my professional cohorts were asked about my habits, they’d tell you that my stories receive the toughest personal edit. I admit that it’s hard for me to let go of a story.

We’ll talk about the blood, sweat and tears it takes to be an honest journalist. Together we’ll analyze case studies where journalists, as a whole, fell miserably short of checking the facts or ruined someone’s reputation by taking information out of context by failing to put the information into perspective.

Nothing is black and white. As Aristotle noted, it’s the mitigating circumstances that reveal the truth. The who, what, when, where, why and how of a story is merely the skeleton.

Beyond that, today’s Internet capabilities—its speed and immediacy raises the bar for professional journalists. But don’t be afraid, as a member of a team, while one is working the on-site interview, another is conducting the research, and other is pursuing the citizen tip and checking for accuracy. The editor is guiding the whole project and the photographers and graphics folks are enhancing the image. Meanwhile, the Web site, Podcasts, Twitter announcements and blogs are being covered by other team members whose focus is on computer-assisted, multimedia production. Together, we collaborate to create a news package for online and print materials.

There’s no doubt about it, journalism is hard work. But it’s also fun. I welcome you to the collaborative newsroom. -30-