Kyle Cave
Staff Writer
Journalism is one of the most important professions in society. It holds power to account, informs society and brings many perspectives to the table. My relationship with journalism as a profession has only just begun, but my interest dates back to elementary school.
I still remember the very day I became interested in news and journalism. I was sitting in my house downstairs in 2011, watching CBS News New York (back then called CBS 2 News) and correspondent Weijia Jiang was reporting on a story. I don’t exactly remember what the story was about, but I remember she was the one on camera. As soon as she was about to wrap her segment up, I got the biggest epiphany I think I’ve ever had in my life.
The thought that came to my mind was in these exact words: “I think I can do this.” I didn’t develop the thoughts much further for a while, but in that exact moment in the late afternoon, I knew that journalism is what I wanted to do.
At first, I just wanted to be a news anchor, someone who anchored news for a living. Of course, that’s a big thing that comes for some reporters, but it wasn’t until I got older that I realized I wanted to do more than that.
The first time I ever did something journalism related was 2017, in my senior year of high school. I took a class called “TV Video and Production.” This class dealt with putting together a school news program dubbed “9:05 Live!” This was the start of my senior year, the class had us use “Final Cut Pro” to edit our program, we filmed skits some even outside. I got to anchor the program a handful of times as well as creating a news script.
After that, my passion for journalism sort of hit a wall. I became more interested in politics than in covering news. From 2017-2024, the journalism flame I had as a kid to a teenager was pretty much put out. I still posted news to my socials and talked about it, but the hard interest of being involved with news coverage was small.
Then 2024 came, and the election had me hooked on news coverage. I was posting nonstop updates on everything surrounding the election. That’s when the journalism flame the one that I had as a kid, lit back up with a vengeance.
I picked up where I had left off like I never stopped, I transformed most my social media into a news hub. Then, late into the Fall 2024 semester, I took the step of joining the news outlet you are currently reading from, The Stroud Courier.
Back as early as early 2024, if you had asked me what I wanted to do after college, I wouldn’t have been able to give you a concrete answer. I would have said “something to do with media.” Graduating from college back then made me nervous. I had my Associate’s Degree in Communication Studies, was lined up to get my Bachelor’s Degree, and was weighing whether or not I wanted to get my Master’s Degree. Even then, I was still shaky on my future.
Now that I am graduating in less than a month, I am more secure in my passion and what I want to do with journalism. The Stroud Courier was also a huge part in that. Since joining The Courier in November 2024 I’ve written a plethora of news stories, covered protests, interviewed an elected official and even managed to get a sit-down interview with Kenneth Long, President of ESU.
Even with all that I’ve done, I want to do more. I want to have a microphone in my hand, standing in front of a camera and informing an audience of an event. I want to walk into a major news building and thinking about the story I must write or pitching ideas in my head.
Where I’m hoping journalism takes me is pretty much up to journalism. Stories happen every second, you just don’t realize it. I like the fact I don’t know where it’s going to take me. I won’t lie and say that it’s not nerve-racking to think that after spending my entire life in school I won’t be anymore, and I will have to get started in my career. It’s a whiplash I’m not even fully ready for.
Despite all of the challenges, including how competitive the journalism industry is, the ever-changing landscape etc., I am confident I will find my footing.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, in a Variety video, said journalism is like school and how you are constantly learning. I find that quote to be very true. I can connect with this personally, journalism will also test me in my personal life.
When it’s time to make the big steps forward into this career, it’s probably going to alter my life for the better. Change is very scary, even for someone like me who has experienced it, but I know it’s the step I’ll have to take to make my life better. I’m ready to make that uncertain step to the future and will always appreciate the help I’ve had along the way, including the Stroud Courier.