When I reached out to Leigh Blander in the late spring inquiring about a summer internship with the Current, I didn’t know what to expect.
This would be my first internship, my first “real-world” job in journalism, the major I am pursuing at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
An internship would break my streak of holding onto my student status and returning to my summer job at The Beach Club in Swampscott, a position I’ve held for five summers.
I decided to double up and work two jobs when Leigh officially offered me an internship position.
My first meeting with Leigh and Will Dowd at Mookie’s at Mugford Cafe was intimidating. I nervously waited on a red couch until they showed up with smiling faces and a contagious passion for journalism.
I immediately caught on to the fact that Leigh and Will operate as a strong team with one goal in common: report the news, and do it properly. I am grateful for their commitment to teaching me how to do the same.
This summer, I got to apply my skills from class to stories written about my hometown. I got to meet some amazing people and learn about nooks and crannies around town I previously had no idea existed.
The biggest takeaway from this summer was that the people in our town care, and they care a lot. Stephen Cooper’s dedication to the maintenance of the dog park is admirable. Jonathan Sherman’s appreciation for his craft is something that sticks with me. I commend Lisa Ginivisian’s commitment to volunteering for the Festival of the Arts and inspiring kids to create.
Another thing I’ve learned this summer is people don’t always like to hear the news. Reality is scary sometimes. We don’t want to believe the world is as dark as it is. We tend to take our worries and stresses out on the people who are breaking the facade of peace we so badly want to believe in. We resort to criticizing “another genius reporter” for writing about sharks in local waters. We roll our eyes when the latest article on an ongoing controversy reveals new information, insisting it’s “fake news.”
We forget that, in reality, there are reporters making countless phone calls, scouring through public records and attending meetings to make sure everyone in town knows what’s going on.
In school, I’ve been taught a code of ethics written by the Society of Professional Journalists. The Code instructs journalists to work on four principles: seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently and be accountable and transparent. I think most people would agree these principles are valid.
Yet, when we seek the truth and discover it, some get mad at us. When we choose not to publish the name of a juvenile involved in a crime, we are chastised. When we report a significant story, some donors threaten to end their support.
Though we attribute the facts and quotes in our stories, the blame for any unhappiness with an article’s content falls on the reporter.
As I wrap up my time with the Current, I want to remind you that without the news, we don’t have a democracy. Imagine a world without the news. Imagine Marblehead without a newspaper. We always take the most important things for granted without realizing it.
I remind you to separate facts from opinions and emotions. If you have an adverse reaction to something you read, pursue it. I guarantee no one at the Current hears one thing and writes another. Maybe it’s worth considering you may not like what you’re reading because you wish it didn’t happen. Maybe it’s naivety. Maybe it’s optimism. But don’t insist the truth is false just because you wish it was.
Some of the national news we see can be biased and shapes our opinions and perspectives. Don’t get caught in a media bubble. I remind you to watch different outlets. Compare the differences between Fox News and CNN, then visit AllSides.com to further examine how left, center and right headlines can tell an entirely different story. Seek the truth and put aside personal opinions. Stay open-minded.
After all, we’re all on the same team here. We are all people trying to navigate a rocky reality. We, as journalists, report about our communities and the world to empower people to make the best choices. We especially enjoy writing about positive changes in the world. I implore you to take action so we can do more of that.
Lia Gorbach, a Marblehead resident, served as the Current’s summer intern. She is pursuing degrees in journalism and business at the University of Maryland.
