The Demo Site

I admit it. I "stole" the idea for this blog from a past co-worker and friend. But in the field of journalism, we don't steal ideas from each other, we receive inspiration from them. And most importantly, we give credit where credit is due. So Marco, thanks for inspiring this blog.

So anyway, welcome to "Lessons from the Field." Here, I hope to provide some insight into the world of professional journalism from the standpoint of an entry-level beat reporter. The lifestyle is far from glamorous, but for anyone with a passion for journalism, there's no better life than this.

For those who don't know me, I graduated from Eastern Illinois University in May 2007 with degrees in journalism and marketing. For most of my time at Eastern, I was trapped in the public relations mindset (not that PR is necessarily evil, I was just glad to find myself in journalism again). I started my path in journalism as city editor for The Daily Eastern News in the summer. From there, I became the first Online News Editor and helped develop online, interactive content. After that, I took the challenge of reinventing our arts and entertainment/weekend guide and bringing glory back to the name of The Verge.

After graduation, I began working for the Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale. The Southern is an approximately 28,000-circulation regional paper serving about 12 counties. I cover two beats and will be picking up half of a third soon. I cover the city of Murphysboro, Jackson County and will soon be getting involved in the business beat.

So what can you hope to get out of this blog? Advice? Maybe. Guidance? Hopefully. Useful information? That's what I'm really shooting for. If you've ever wondered what it's like to enter the field as a beat reporter, here's your chance to get a taste. Welcome to the field.