Steppin' on up

My editor at work loves baseball.

He doesn't just love watching the games, wearing hats to support his team and talking about the game. He can relate almost anything to the game.

So if he were writing this blog posting, his advice would be to step up to the plate.

I know many young reporters who whine about his or her editors not giving more advice. Perhaps this is something editors could focus on, but I think the real problem lies with us - the young journalists.

In college we had plenty of people telling us what to do, professors wrote in sloppy, red pen all over our stories and term papers. At internships between pouring coffee for editors, we were thrown an AP Stylebook and told harshly to "learn it."

But once we are labeled "professional journalists" (something I take offense to because I believe everyone should be a student journalist - always learning - and that anyone can behave like a professional journalist) we are somewhat out on our own.

Rather than complaining that you want advice, ask your editor for advice. Rather than talk endlessly of wanting to know how to use databases in stories, find training. Rather than tire others of you looking for a mentor - become and find a mentor.

We are the newsroom leaders of the future. We should not sit idly on our hands waiting for someone to make us a better journalist. We need to make ourselves better journalists!

If anyone wants to start - he or she can join this blog. As a bloggero or bloggerette you can post tips, ask for advice, inspire others, be inspired, tell your friends to check out your new blog, etc.

If you are interested, please e-mail me.