Feeling satisfied with the experience!

Being a journalist is fun and now that this journey is coming to an end, I realise that I have changed a lot. From being a sombre teenager to being one of the “cool” CJs, it has been an exciting adventure. The day I first filled the online form to be one of the CJs, I didn’t even dream of being selected; writing for a national newspaper for nine long weeks seemed like a dream. I still remember the first day; I walked in, feeling pretty nervous. The faces I met that day are a blur; even when I was selected, I didn’t talk much with anybody. But, by the second meeting, we (the six CJs)  were getting on like a house on fire. The five other CJs pretty much succeeded in bringing me out of my shell! 

As a CJ, I feel I have been utilising my time in the best way possible. My confidence level has increased by leaps and bounds; I manage time more efficiently now. Writing has always been a passion and my writing style has improved over the weeks. I would say that the most important part of being a CJ has been discovering new friends, forging new bonds and of course, improving my skills.

 
I believe my two stints as ‘Editor of the week’ have been the most interesting phase of this journey. As the editor, I had to convene a meeting with all the other CJs on a Wednesday and we would choose the theme of the week.Reading through everybody’s articles, editing, finalising them and of course meeting the sacrosanct deadlines were some of the editor’s tasks. Undertaking the responsibility and fulfilling the needs of the position makes one feel satisfied at the end.

Regarding my writing style, I have felt it has become more professional. The articles I had written and the ones that appeared in print were quite different; I have got a first hand experience of how editing is done. Of late, my endeavour has been to do away with the jargon and sentences I used in my writing earlier.

Personally, I have always been lethargic. The strict deadlines that we were expected to follow for turning in our articles and blogs have made me efficient.

Writing blogs have also been fun. Yet another thing that I’ve learnt working as a campus journalist with six others is team work.