Western Courier

Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Adam Sacasa Stan Hyman, a speaker at Journalism Day, believes listening leads to good journalism.

Former rock journalists Stan Hyman and Hank Bordowitz spoke in the Western Illinois University Union Sandburg Lounge on Monday as a part of Journalism Day. The event was hosted by Western's Society of Professional Journalists to provide insight in attaining a job in the field and how to do it well.

Hyman, current Leathernecks baseball coach, was originally a psychology and religions major and minored in English. Hyman said he "lucked out" when he began working at a daily newspaper.

Bordowitz, who began majoring in radio broadcasting in college, eventually switched over to journalism and minored in music, where he studied with great musicians such as Kenny Barrett.

"I came into (rock journalism) because I loved music," Bordowitz said. "I wanted to enter the record business, and I wanted to go into music journalism."

According to Hyman, in order to do his job well, it was important for him to be a good listener.

"The difference between an 'OK' reporter and a great reporter, a great journalist and a great columnist is someone who really listens," Hyman added.

Bordowitz added it is important to have some research in regard to your subject and not to go into an interview with no prior knowledge of the subject. "The best way to do an interview, I've always found, is to just prepare for it - know your stuff," he said.

Both speakers added it is also important to be nice and honest and not to go into an interview with preconceived ideas.

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