A Farewell from the 2008 Archibald Communications Intern
Before working at SPJ, I knew what I would call an average amount about the First Amendment and Freedom of Information Act. I had done the readings and wrote the research papers for my Communications Law class at college, and, as an aspiring journalist, I believed in the importance of shield laws and journalists being allowed to inform the public no matter the circumstance. But was I passionate enough about those beliefs to even bat an eyelash when I read or heard that a journalist’s First Amendment rights were violated? Definitely not.
Most of the responsibilities I held as the Archibald Communications Intern were ones I was expecting – my anal retentive, perfectionist gene forced me to read SPJ’s Web site description of the position at least 10 times before my first day. I was well aware I would be writing press releases, working daily with local and national media, updating the Web site and editing copy for various SPJ publications. And I felt extremely prepared to do it all. What I was not prepared for was my transformation into the educated and passionate journalism advocate that I am today.
After roughly two and a half months of writing press releases about the federal shield law bill and researching freedom of information issues like it was my job – I was in charge of communications, after all – it finally hit me how important and essential having protection from revealing confidential sources and information really is to being the best public servant a journalist should be. Journalism is not just about reporting the daily happenings that anyone can see or hear about. It’s also about dedicating significant time and energy to informing the public about social injustices that the average person cannot, which sadly doesn’t happen too often these days with journalists doing more jobs with less people and less time to do them in. It’s vital to the industry that, when journalists do have the resources to do investigative research, one thing they don’t have to worry about is having to turn down sources with vital information for fear that they or their sources will be jailed, fired or worse for sharing their knowledge with the public.
Now I can’t say that my time at SPJ has made me want to shift my focus in the journalism industry to reporting hard hitting news that will change the world as we know it – that’s just not my style. I’m still an entertainment news girl, no matter how many eye rolls or disgusted faces Joe (aka Quill editor and my supervisor this summer) gives me for that passion. However, in my future career as an entertainment journalist, I will now be able and willing to confidently assist myself or my fellow journalists if I or they ever stumble upon a First Amendment violation from the education SPJ has granted me this summer. And although many may think that type of violation will never mix with my world of reporting on the latest Hollywood gossip, I would have to argue that the Watergate scandal would have been breaking entertainment news, so you can never say never.
On a side note, I want to take time to thank everyone on the staff and all those SPJ members across the country who were so willing to help me get the best and most educational experience I could out of my internship this summer. I have learned a great deal and am now determined to be the biggest journalism advocate in the entertainment news business – I have a feeling Joe will sleep better knowing this is so. If you ever have an opportunity to work with the amazing staff at SPJ headquarters or any of SPJ’s chapter leaders across the country, please don’t pass it up. I’m very glad I didn’t.
Thanks for stopping by SPJ,
Alyson Ahrns