So long, Reporting

Wait... is it really over?

I have to be honest, I was dreading my 7-week stint at the Missourian. I'm magazine writing emphasis and I didn't think I could handle the fast-paced, stressful pace of a 24/7 newspaper. But I found that I can actually juggle quite well and I generally perform satisfactorily under stress.

My reporting experience was definitely shaped by the tornado. One of the first thoughts that went through my mind on the evening of May 22 was, "Crap... I have Reporting tomorrow." I was biting my nails when I hopped in the car, not only because I was terrified of what was ahead of me but also because I HATE getting in trouble and I felt like I was breaking a major rule by peacing out on the Missourian. So I was infinitely relieved when I spoke to John the next morning and learned I was going to get the chance to stay for awhile and write dispatches.

Not only were half of my stories about Joplin, but even when I was back in Columbia writing "normal" stories (if profiles over quilting lady truck drivers who hate my guts are considered normal), it was all I could think about it. The emotional stress I was under really weighed on me.

That being said, I also had a lot of fun. The people I met at the Missourian — fellow reporters, ACEs, editors, everyone — are some of my very favorite people that I've met at MU so far. I hope that this isn't the last I'll be seeing of them.

When I met with the second session reporters, most looking as dazed and confused as I was on our first day, I was (genuinely) all smiles. I did my best to convince them that I really did have an amazing experience at the Missourian and I'm all the better a reporter for it. (Keep an eye on Holly... I have a good feeling about her.)

The unveiling of our multimedia project

Finally, finally, our multimedia project is up on the web. I have very mixed feelings about this little piece of work. On one hand, you have visions in your head of how brilliant it's going to be, and it utterly fails meeting up to them... which is all the more frustrating when you put in as much time and frustration and sweat as Molly and I put into it. At the same time, it was a really great learning experience for me. I picked up some photography skills and feel much more comfortable with a camera in hand, and I can even do some projects using Audacity and Final Cut now. I'm happy I got to work with Molly on this project and even more so that we were able to do it over Joplin because my heart was definitely in it.

Multimedia Project: Joplin removes piles of debris

My last dispatch

I hope no one minded my cheesiness in this dispatch, but I guess that's what a little patriotism + fireworks + childhood memories will do for you ... especially after all of the devastation we've been dealing with down here. I was a little bit sad to be submitting my last dispatch (but infinitely happy that that headshot will never be used again).

Dispatch from Joplin: Reclaiming our unalienable rights

The catharsis of writing

This was probably my favorite dispatch. I wanted to explain to people who we were before the tornado, and I needed to chew on what our future will look like... so I just let myself go. It was incredibly cathartic for me. It was also nice to hear from a reader who was actually in the IHOP I mentioned when the tornado hit. This wasn't at all what I planned to write, but it just came out and I went with it, and I'm glad I did.

Dispatch from Joplin: We can be ourselves again