Recently, I was on assignment covering an event for the paper, and I bumped into a young reporter from another newspaper who looked to be a recent college graduate.
During the event and subsequent interviews, she only used one piece of equipment - her cellphone. She not only took photos with it, but she also used a voice recorder app.
I, on the other hand, always attend events with a fully loaded camera bag. I use my cellphone to take photos, but I also use a digital camera just in case. I also use a recorder, but I take notes as well in my reporter's notebook. I believe it is important to always have a backup plan.
Also in my bag are spare batteries and extra pens, as well as business cards to give out. I make sure that I always keep a spare pair of reading glasses in my bag, which I'm sure the young reporter won't need for a good many years.
I wanted to give her some advice about only relying on a phone. What if it gets lost or stolen or she drops it and it gets run over by a car? I guess I am just old school.
Not only do our styles differ, but so do the types of publications that we write for. Chester County townlively (formerly the Community Courier) is solely committed to informing the public about positive people in the community and sharing information about local events that can be enjoyed by the whole family. We highlight service organizations, school students, historical societies and businesses, and most importantly, we shine a spotlight on ordinary people who do extraordinary things.
Through my job I have met a few celebrities over the years, including professional athletes. And while it is exciting to meet someone who excels on the playing field, it is equally or perhaps more gratifying to meet everyday heroes.
For instance, there are local families that have lost a child but have turned that grief into something positive by forming foundations or awarding scholarships to students in the names of their lost children.
Local community members have installed Little Free Libraries, where people can take books home to read and then return them if they wish. Similarly, volunteers have set up little food pantries where people in need can access free food.
I have met people who have overcome difficulties, like cancer survivors who now use what they have learned to help others facing similar situations. And there are those whose primary goal is to serve others as volunteers.
Those whom I remember fondly include a wheelchair user who was able to develop his upper body strength enough to become a championship archer. I met a little girl whose parents adopted her from Russia at the age of 2, and her favorite TV program was "The Lawrence Welk Show." And then there was a volunteer from a pet rescue who stayed up all night to feed two newborn kittens that were abandoned by their mother.
My wish for that young reporter is that she will have a career like mine where she will meet amazing and unforgettable people. And hopefully in time, she will not rely solely on her cellphone while on assignment. Because, after all, everyone needs a backup plan just in case.
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