Go ahead, say it. Tell me I'm not from Detroit. You wouldn't be the first and you certainly won't be the last. Because I'm white and I grew up in the suburbs, I'm not allowed to have any affiliation with the city I most identify with. I'm just a kid who wants to look cool.
Such is the struggle I've had with every student and teacher I've met at Marquette. "But you're not really from Detroit right?" they ask. No, I was not born in Detroit and I do not live within the city limits, but I am proud of the city I love.
Yesterday, I was assigned to read through some of the pieces that were named winners of the 2014 Online News Association Awards and find some pieces that I identified with. It took my professor less than half a page scroll for me to decide what I wanted to read and discuss.
The first was entitled How Detroit went broke and is actually a story I have read before. It's easy to dump on Detroit. The vacant lots and crumbling buildings unflattering yet poetic metaphors for the infrastructure of what was once a great city. Even sports teams take shots whenever they can. That's fine. What bothers me is that few take the time to understand why Detroit is where it is, which the Detroit Free Press so wonderfully outlined in this story. They simplified a complex history which dates decades into the past, using infographics and bullet points to explain a story in such a way that one can not ignore the truth of the situation. I love Detroit and care for its well-being. I want it to be a place I can take my children and grandchildren as my parents and grandparents did for me.
The second was about the 2014 Sochi Olympic games and was another story I followed closely. I am passionate about all sports and love the Winter Olympics in particular. I idolize sportscasters like Bob Costas and can not think of a job better in the world than the one he has. I myself blogged predictions for American Olympians and woke up early on a Saturday to watch the American Men's hockey team defeat Russia in one of our country's most spectacular games in years. I admire the work the New York Times does and am sure to read it as often as I can. Their in-depth reporting and talented writers make every story a must-read and this summary of the games is no exception.
The final story I wanted to dig into was the reporting done by WSB-TV in Atlanta during the city's severe weather debacle last winter. Being from Michigan, the "winter weather" Atlanta was experiencing was more of a hilarious example of the ineptitude of some people to drive in snow. But for locals of the area, it was a nightmarish experience and this station in particular did a fantastic job. As journalists, our first responsibility is to inform. We are relied on to get news to our audience as quickly and accurately as possible. This station went above and beyond, and was likely the first source anyone in Atlanta went to for coverage. That's what I want. I want to be the guy that everyone can rely on.
Ever since I was a little boy I had one dream: to be a Detroit sports reporter, and every day I get a little closer.
Such is the struggle I've had with every student and teacher I've met at Marquette. "But you're not really from Detroit right?" they ask. No, I was not born in Detroit and I do not live within the city limits, but I am proud of the city I love.
Yesterday, I was assigned to read through some of the pieces that were named winners of the 2014 Online News Association Awards and find some pieces that I identified with. It took my professor less than half a page scroll for me to decide what I wanted to read and discuss.
The first was entitled How Detroit went broke and is actually a story I have read before. It's easy to dump on Detroit. The vacant lots and crumbling buildings unflattering yet poetic metaphors for the infrastructure of what was once a great city. Even sports teams take shots whenever they can. That's fine. What bothers me is that few take the time to understand why Detroit is where it is, which the Detroit Free Press so wonderfully outlined in this story. They simplified a complex history which dates decades into the past, using infographics and bullet points to explain a story in such a way that one can not ignore the truth of the situation. I love Detroit and care for its well-being. I want it to be a place I can take my children and grandchildren as my parents and grandparents did for me.
The second was about the 2014 Sochi Olympic games and was another story I followed closely. I am passionate about all sports and love the Winter Olympics in particular. I idolize sportscasters like Bob Costas and can not think of a job better in the world than the one he has. I myself blogged predictions for American Olympians and woke up early on a Saturday to watch the American Men's hockey team defeat Russia in one of our country's most spectacular games in years. I admire the work the New York Times does and am sure to read it as often as I can. Their in-depth reporting and talented writers make every story a must-read and this summary of the games is no exception.
The final story I wanted to dig into was the reporting done by WSB-TV in Atlanta during the city's severe weather debacle last winter. Being from Michigan, the "winter weather" Atlanta was experiencing was more of a hilarious example of the ineptitude of some people to drive in snow. But for locals of the area, it was a nightmarish experience and this station in particular did a fantastic job. As journalists, our first responsibility is to inform. We are relied on to get news to our audience as quickly and accurately as possible. This station went above and beyond, and was likely the first source anyone in Atlanta went to for coverage. That's what I want. I want to be the guy that everyone can rely on.
Ever since I was a little boy I had one dream: to be a Detroit sports reporter, and every day I get a little closer.