Personal Statement

“Boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience. Seek sources whose voices we seldom hear.”

That’s a line in the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics—and it expresses a principle essential to my work as a student reporter. The SPJ code is well known to all journalists, with its commitment to doing no harm, acting independently, seeking truth, and being accountable. All of it anchors everything we do. But no line in that code has resonated with me or shaped my approach more than this one.

“Boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience. Seek sources whose voices we seldom hear.”

One of the defining stories of our time is the Israel-Hamas war. When we encounter news of such a cataclysmic conflict, we always hear world leaders’ voices. We hear activists and lawmakers. We hear celebrity voices daily. 

But in my junior year, I got the chance to tell the story from the perspective of students at my high school. I reported on an event that could easily have turned explosive: a discussion, hosted by my school's Jewish and Muslim affinity groups, in which a rabbi and an imam from a local synagogue and mosque spoke about the war. I expected rancor and frayed nerves, but instead, what unfolded in that room was an open conversation in which all sides got the chance to seriously consider others' perspectives. The voices of students and community figures, working together to understand, will never be told by the professional news outlets. That’s why student journalism is so important.

“Boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience.”

One thing that makes journalism so relevant and relatable is its reporting on the spectrum of human emotions: the highs as well as the lows. Some of our reporting is traumatic or tragic, like the imam's and the rabbi's stories of war. But some news is happy and heart-warming, like the very next article I wrote, about a social studies teacher winning our school's Educator of the Year honor. Pivoting from global tragedy to personal triumph is just part of what it means to report on the news.

I think magnitude is about not just the range but also the depth and richness of human experience. The heart of our task as journalists is to come to a deeper understanding of people—their decisions and actions, the influences that shaped them and the ideas that make them tick—and communicate that to other people. Whether I'm photographing students in Jazz Band pouring out their hearts through their horns, or telling the story of a freshman who struggled with video game addiction, or interviewing a student who is finding his political voice in a “No Kings” protest, my responsibility is to capture these people's realities as faithfully and truthfully as I can.

“Boldly tell the story of the diversity.”

I can’t think of a more divisive topic than the Israel-Hamas conflict. It's risky even to report on, because it's so polarizing. Yet you can't capture the scope of the issue without diving into the deep differences of opinion. The imam and the rabbi that day were honest about their divergent experiences and perspectives, and it opened up a conversation that was both generous and frank, with audience members seeking to bridge differences but not ignore them. Afterward, I interviewed both the rabbi and the imam, the presidents of the Jewish and Muslim clubs, Jewish and Muslim audience members, and an impartial spectator. They did not come away from the conversation all agreeing with each other—but I found that they had definitely heard and learned from each other. It gave me a valuable lesson in how to report on difficult topics, not by shying away from disagreement and diverse opinions, but by considering them carefully and reporting them honestly.

“Boldly tell the story.”

It takes confidence to report. The task of approaching strangers and asking them hard questions has required me to set aside the more reserved part of my personality so I can find the courage to interject myself in someone else’s private life or busy day. Asking questions that demand honest answers takes some nerve; it’s a learned skill rather than a natural instinct. It takes willpower to persevere through adversity, criticism, and censorship. Journalism in social media leaves one vulnerable to rapid-fire comments that can turn angry in a flash. I’ve received hate mail and backlash for my stories, even though I did my best to make them meticulously fair and unbiased. 

Assertiveness and a thick skin: these are necessary traits for any journalist, working on any kind of story. They are especially essential to photojournalism. The biggest lesson we can teach our photographers is to get close to the action—that’s where you’ll find the best shot, but getting close sometimes means being brave. Some degree of boldness is also necessary for reporting on school news. Whether your subject is a history teacher or the principal or the student body president, if you're open and confident, you'll get your interviewee to open up to you. Boldness is equally valuable in newsroom discussions. When editors and staff members learn to express their ideas, but also remain open to debate, we can shape our creative process in the most productive way. 

“The story.”

That’s ultimately what it's all about. Stories are how people make sense of life, so crafting them is ultimately the best means we have for teaching our readers something new, and encouraging them to think.