As I headed off to Evanston, Ill., last weekend to help put on the
Alternative Journalism Writers’ Workshop, I was dreading the trip.
Yeah, I was looking forward to seeing some of my friends in the
alternative-newsweekly world, but … damn, I am busy. My plate is
full, with Best of Tucson® production, the Tucson Area Music Awards
and all sorts of other stuff heaped on top of it.
Plus, I was feeling guilty about dreading the trip. Thousands
of talented journalists across the country—including dozens here
in Tucson—have lost their jobs in recent months, whereas my
company was not only keeping me employed, but sending me (and a
co-worker) on a trip to the Chicago area … and I was dreading
it?!
It’s an interesting feeling to come to the self-realization that you
may be a bit of an asshole.
Anyway, I am back from Evanston, and I couldn’t be happier that I
went.
For two days, I was able to talk journalism—to break away from
the daily rigmarole and examine our so-called craft, talking about
things like journalism ethics and how our work can change our
communities for the better—and it was absolutely refreshing.
So, yeah, I am pretty much exhausted, and my plate’s still too
damned full. And, yeah, I still feel like a bit of an asshole. But I
feel much, much better about my job and life in general. Good
stuff.
This article appears in Aug 20-26, 2009.
Re: “For two days, I was able to talk journalism—to break away from the daily rigmarole and examine our so-called craft, talking about things like journalism ethics and how our work can change our communities for the better—and it was absolutely refreshing.”
Jimmy, what did you find that journalists as a whole can improve on? A penny for your thoughts?