After finishing my first full-length article for the RedEye’s print publication, my editor Jim Walsh went over edits with me.
I was making mistakes — such as misspellingings — but I was learning from them. Having him point out the flaws was only making me a better writer. The result, an
.
Writing is a learning experience, and learning to do it well can take a long time even if you start early.
I had little background in journalism when I started writing for the Chicago Tribune’s publication for and by high school students, The Mash.
[Tribune community manager Maggie Wartik: The teenage media brand aims to empower youth to express unique viewpoints through a format that can be easily shared with young people throughout Chicagoland. The Mash hires local teens to generate the ideas and execution of compelling youth-centric content.Students are paid for their published work and, in turn, get a taste for real-life reporting experience.
As we develop their journalism skills – helping offset the decline in some school programs – we provide them with a front-row seat as one of the largest media companies in the country tackles the challenges of a new age of journalism.]
That Mash experience led to an internship at RedEye and my first assignment there — a list of fun facts about Jennifer Hudson.
Even that made me break out on a sweat.
“How do I know what I am doing wrong if no one is telling me?” I contemplated. Behind every great writer is an editor.
This past year, I wrote for several publications at the University of Chicago. But I found myself missing my Tribune editors. [ED’s note: Stockholm syndrome. — Jas.]
As for future stories, I can’t wait to see how far this journey with the Chicago Tribune goes.
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