2008 Woodie Awards
The WC is the place to be
Ryan Ferguson
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Sports
Much can be learned after helping to produce more than 200 issues of the Western Courier. Everything from covering beats, working with writers and designing pages have become second nature over the last two years.
The only negative that occurred during that time period was having a low number of staff writers within the sports section of the WC. This is in no way a complaint but instead more of a push for the younger journalism students at Western Illinois to join the sports staff in the coming years.
The WC is here for the students in many capacities, whether it is to become a better writer, learn what it takes to become an editor, gain advertising experience or help to run the business aspect of the newspaper - all tasks completed by a student-only staff.
This newspaper is a learning tool. It works as a springboard for students into the real world.
To get a job with a newspaper or magazine, you need clips. Working for the WC is a perfect way to build a portfolio that will not only be impressive to you but also prove you are a better candidate than another person.
All too often, however, fellow students come into the WC office interested in writing about sports and realize the only beats we have available are golf, tennis or track. More times then not, they are never seen again.
Aspiring journalists are just that, aspiring. Recent graduates are not going to get to cover the most glamorous beats or write opinion columns every day, so current students should not feel they are entitled to the cover the most popular teams as soon as they enter the newsroom.
Take me for example: I started with the WC my sophomore year, covering men and women's golf in the fall and swimming and diving in the winter. Of course I knew those beats were not the most sexy things to write about, but I knew I would have to prove myself to my editors before earning the right to cover beats such as basketball and football.
In time, I became the assistant sports editor and then the sports editor - both of which look great on a resume. As an editor you are unleashed to a wide array of experiences that will help you when searching for a job after you graduate.
Because of the three years I spent at the WC, I was able to successfully interview for a sports writer/page designer position at the Midland (TX) Reporter-Telegram and receive the job offer. Without the experience of working at the WC, however, I do not feel I would have even been asked to interview for the job.
To wrap things up, this is all I have to say: use the student newspaper. It is a learning tool for any student who feels as if it could help in his or her future endeavors, but be willing to put in the necessary work.
The only negative that occurred during that time period was having a low number of staff writers within the sports section of the WC. This is in no way a complaint but instead more of a push for the younger journalism students at Western Illinois to join the sports staff in the coming years.
The WC is here for the students in many capacities, whether it is to become a better writer, learn what it takes to become an editor, gain advertising experience or help to run the business aspect of the newspaper - all tasks completed by a student-only staff.
This newspaper is a learning tool. It works as a springboard for students into the real world.
To get a job with a newspaper or magazine, you need clips. Working for the WC is a perfect way to build a portfolio that will not only be impressive to you but also prove you are a better candidate than another person.
All too often, however, fellow students come into the WC office interested in writing about sports and realize the only beats we have available are golf, tennis or track. More times then not, they are never seen again.
Aspiring journalists are just that, aspiring. Recent graduates are not going to get to cover the most glamorous beats or write opinion columns every day, so current students should not feel they are entitled to the cover the most popular teams as soon as they enter the newsroom.
Take me for example: I started with the WC my sophomore year, covering men and women's golf in the fall and swimming and diving in the winter. Of course I knew those beats were not the most sexy things to write about, but I knew I would have to prove myself to my editors before earning the right to cover beats such as basketball and football.
In time, I became the assistant sports editor and then the sports editor - both of which look great on a resume. As an editor you are unleashed to a wide array of experiences that will help you when searching for a job after you graduate.
Because of the three years I spent at the WC, I was able to successfully interview for a sports writer/page designer position at the Midland (TX) Reporter-Telegram and receive the job offer. Without the experience of working at the WC, however, I do not feel I would have even been asked to interview for the job.
To wrap things up, this is all I have to say: use the student newspaper. It is a learning tool for any student who feels as if it could help in his or her future endeavors, but be willing to put in the necessary work.
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