By Erica A. Hernandez
Stephen A. Smith shared many anecdotes from his colorful career with the SJI class on Wednesday.
“It’s not my job to know, it’s my job to ask those who know,” Smith said.
This week, more than ever, my job has been to know. During the institute, we have been asked to know everything about anything and at any time of day. Sports checks test our obscure sporting knowledge. Leon Carter tests our knowledge of “Invictus.” Our speakers test our knowledge on the current state of the business.
This all has been quiet a high demand on my small two decades of knowledge. My mornings are now spent studying the French Open standings and consuming any news I can get my hands on. Luckily this has increased my knowledge.
The constant expectations and the qualified speakers has given me more knowledge but not enough to ever think I should stop asking those who know. As Smith said, that’s our job and it will always be, because if we get to the point where we as a society have no questions and stop seeking out knowledge, then we would see the death of journalism.
David Squires, night editor at the Sporting News, also imparted some wise words of wisdom on the practice of journalism.
“If life ever knocks you down, fall on your back. If you can look up then you can get up,” Squires said.
These are words I know will ring true at some point in my future. I’m not naive enough to believe any of this will be easy. This week has only proved this belief even more, but it has also given me a new set of beliefs.
I am confident now that if at some point in my career I should fall, I’ll be able to fall on my back and look up at where I’m striving to be because of what Squires and the rest of the speakers have taught me.
With the support of the SJI extended family I’ll continue to ask questions to those who know and keep looking up.
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