Finding the Perspective

By Chris Trevino

Never in my four years studying journalism have I ever given any thought to becoming a columnist. I feel the demands and expectations put on columnist and their style of opinioned writing does not suit me.

 

Despite this lack of interest in becoming a columnist, I was still able to learn a lot from today’s guest speaker, well renowned St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell and not just advice about being a successful columnist, but a successful journalist.  

 

What stuck out to me most was perspective. This to me was the most interesting point Burwell made. In all my journalism experience, I don’t recall being lectured on this concept. His point on the two ways of viewing the hug gave at the beginning of class was simple, but eye opening.

 

When I’m stuck or tired of viewing a story from the same view over and over, I will remember this hug and look for the other side, to look where no one is.

 

Burwell also made a point of encouraging us to read, to read as much as we could and to read the best writings out there. I found this funny because I had received this advice two years earlier as a junior in college. Scott—or S.L.— Price had told me this during a lecture at the University of Maryland. And it seemed fitting Burwell brought up Price when discussing this point.

 

Since Price’s lecture two years ago, I have followed this advice very closely. It was nice to hear Burwell make this exact same point and remind me two years later to keep reading and keep growing because we are never done improving, no matter how close we think we are to being perfect. There is always something else to learn.