The One With Margot Wilcot
Another thought on the DC. Too many thoughts on the DC. From now on, all posts related to the DC will be tagged “Margot Wilcot.” Don’t ask me why. I don’t know.
Why does it have a somewhat shoddy reputation with the student body? I realize
we can’t please everyone, but there’s something rotten in the state of Denmark.
We get people telling us we’re not real journalists and don’t have a clue about what we’re doing. We get people who tell us that we need to only print news that’s good for the community and that some of the stories we run should be kept to ourselves. We get people who tell us that we’re biased. We get some who think we should merge with the J-school. We’ve got people who read it religiously and people who don’t. We’ve got people who say that you can’t trust anything we print and that anyone who believes in it is an idiot. We’ve got a fraternity rumored to have stolen stacks of papers. We’ve even got someone who said we were “f**king fearless.”
Is this how it is with all newspapers (excepting Panola County’s finest bi-weekly, of course)?
I guess so. Perhaps SMU is just more vocal about it.
Although, it’s nice to know that our work is being noticed. Good or bad, people are generating opinions. That’s really what the first amendment is all about.
We’re like acting Presidents. People hate us when we’re “in power,” but years later the tide turns. Or does it?
But all this leads me to doubt if journalism is really what I want to do. I’m not sure if I’m ready for all the flak and the stress that stems from it. I hear ulcers are painful. I don’t want to find out for myself.
Am I destined to be a feature or soft news writer? I think I could live with that. Journalistically, it wouldn’t be very glamourous. I’d be forgoing the respect of many a colleague. Especially if I ended up writing soft, fluff pieces that weren’t really news and not special enough for features. Especially if I chose to work at the aforementioned bi-weekly for my career.
Maybe I could the weddings and obit person you always see in the movies. I might like that.
Maybe it’s because I’m only a freshman. [UPDATE: I guess I'm really a sophomore, lol] If I get more experience under my belt, then I’ll be better equipped to tackle my chosen career.
My other option is creative advertising. That’s IF I get accepted into the program. And IF I am successful in said program.
I look at the graphic design world today, and I am intimidated. I’m not that good. I mean REALLY. Sure, I can string a few things together in a pleasing fashion. But it’s not enough.
Plus, it seems like all graphic designers are more… urban. I am not. I’m not the type of person who goes clubbing or sips martinis while I discuss the latest art show.
I’m not even the suburban emo kid who designs the same cookie cutter designs as all the other emo kids do. I don’t even know how to design them.
I don’t even own Photoshop. Or a MacBook Pro.
