What draws you?

Being a reporter can be at once exciting, overwhelming, exhausting and exhilarating. The job comes with both community praise for a good piece, and complaints (sometimes for the same good piece). There's a byline, peer recognition and overall the feeling that you've done something to make a difference in the community directly through reporting.

It's no wonder young people are often drawn to the lifestyle and passion inherent in reporting.

I'm on the other side. Copy editing has its stressful deadline moments and the quiet quest for the perfect headline, but it is admittedly a  behind-the-scenes job that is not often praised or appreciated by those who haven't been copy editors or aren't currently fellow copyeditors. Yet, finding a headline that fits perfectly in its space, or cutting a story but retaining the essence of the writer's intent brings with it a sort of accomplished and peaceful feeling. Much like writing the 'perfect' lead, but from the comfort of one's desk and without all the energy reporting requires.

So I wonder, what has pulled YOU to your current job, be it reporting, copy editing, blogging, or whatnot?
Is it the quest to create change in the community? The quest for the perfect headline? A need for the world to know your name? The excitement of chasing down a story? Or all of the above?