Where is my voice? Is it lost? Have I ever had one in the first place?
Since starting at journalism school I have been instructed to report the facts and not to editorialize. Now that I am in my final year and in the online stream, I am being asked to blog with a distinct voice and opinions, about anything and everything. Yet, I can’t seem to find my voice.
Amber MacArthur, now at City TV and CP24 as the new media specialist, easily related to my predicament during Friday's early morning session on "Finding Your Voice Online."
MacArthur emphasized that journalists need to find their passions and get out there by either writing, shooting video or podcasting.
“It’s important to be a little more original,” MacArthur said. “Just do it.”
Amber MacArthur(Photo by Aaron Roberts)
MacArthur laughed at her reference to Nike, but following that advice was exactly how she was able to find her voice: by just doing it. The more practice MacArthur had with expressing her voice, the easier it became.
One reason MacArthur encourages blogging is its flexibility. There are no rules. . .well sort of. There is definitely more freedom writing for a blog than traditional reporting. She believes that blogs shouldn’t be about he said/she said reporting. Writers still must have facts behind their opinions, but otherwise the world is their oyster.
So here I am writing my third blog ever. Do I have a distinct voice? Not yet. But as the panelists said, I could be on my way.