Why I'm a Journalist Personal Stories from Those Who Cover the News

Why be a journalist? It can be a difficult job with long hours, hard work and an uncertain future. Journalists face relentless criticism and an industry in transition. Aaron Chimbel has put together a collection of essays from working journalists who answer the question ? why be a journalist? ? with their personal stories of coming up, toiling in the field and writing important, career-defining stories. These journalists come from different platforms, beats and locations, offering varying accounts of the travails and rewards of being a working journalist across changing landscapes and timelines.

The essays in Why I?m a Journalist offer encouragement and wisdom about the path to being a reporter, a broadcaster, an editor or a media professional. This is a collection for students interested in the field, early upstarts engaged with building their careers and seasoned pros looking to learn from their colleagues.

Foreword

Byron Pitts

Preface

Aaron Chimbel

Section 1 – Public Affairs Journalists

Norah O’Donnell

John F. Harris

Perla Trevizo

Ziva Branstetter

Section 2 – International Journalists

Elise Hu

Muhammad Lila

Robyn Kriel

Can Dündar

Section 3 – Media Journalists

Eric Deggans

Brian Stelter

Kristen Hare

Section 4 – Business Journalists

Karen Blumenthal

Kelli B. Grant

Michael Schreiber

Section 5 – Sports Journalists

Karen Crouse

Mark Godich

Joel Anderson

Section 6 – Print Journalists

Tawnell D. Hobbs

Rose Baca

Lee Powell

Section 7 – Broadcast Journalists

John Sharify

Michele Mitchell

Carlos C. Hopkins

Wayne Freedman

Section 8 – Digital Journalists

David Cohn

Mila Sanina

Steve Myers

Section 9 – Journalism Leaders

Aminda (Mindy) Marqués Gonzalez

Peter Bhatia

Susana Schuler

Jay Shaylor

Section 10 – Young Journalists

Alex Apple

Lexy Cruz

Andrea Drusch

Lauren Galippo

Andrea Masenda

Ryan Osborne

Daniel Salazar

Afterword

Bob Schieffer

Aaron Chimbel is an associate professor of professional practice in journalism at Texas Christian University’s Bob Schieffer College of Communication, where he has taught full-time since 2009.