ETHAN MAY
With the fun that was J2100 in the rearview mirror, I have now moved my focus to J2000 <opinion censored> and J2150. I am excited to learn about multimedia journalism this semester; it’s important to know what to do and what not to do before pointing a camera at someone.
Let’s begin the course with an introduction. Who am I? This three-word question can be answered in so many ways.
I’m a Twitter addict in constant recovery. I’m an adopted only child from a small town with a special story. I’m an unapologetic sports junky who has spent way too much a healthy amount of time writing about the Cardinals, Blues and until recently the Rams. I’m a lover of quotes. I’m a history nerd. I’m a journalist who enjoys writing on a wide variety of topics, from sales tax votes to Buzzfeed-esque mush. I’m a writer with an artsy side too, always looking for that next great picture. I’m many more things too, and I strive to always remember that other people are just as complex as I am.
What brought me to one of the world’s oldest and greatest journalism schools? I could give an extended response that leads to a sentimental conclusion, but I’m going to be more straightforward with you. I was brought here by a mixture of interest, proximity and irony. Growing up outside of St. Louis in Southern Illinois (that state below Chicago), I found myself on the University of Illinois’ side of the Mizzou – Illini rivalry. Likewise, black and gold was not to be seen in my house.
Then I grew up and it was time to choose a college. I knew that I didn’t want to move too far away and that I wanted to be a journalist. The answer was pretty simple. A couple months after graduation, my father helped his son move into the school that had always been seen as the rival. I became a Missouri Tiger. He will forgive me…eventually.
Where do I see myself in 10 years? Hopefully I will have a blue verified checkmark on Twitter by that time–some people’s life goals are different than others. In all seriousness, in ten years I simply hope to be an employed journalist working my way up the proverbial career ladder. Regardless of how big of an outlet I’m working for at the time, I hope to be doing meaningful journalism helping inform and entertain audiences. That’s all I can ask for.
My hope is that dedication and hard work given consistently over time will allow me to achieve my career goals. It’s also important to note how goals change over time. Right now my dream job would be to work as a correspondent on the CBS show “60 Minutes” or to be a field reporter for the New York Times. Perhaps 10 years from now my goal will be to start a media company of my own. Time will tell.
What topics interest me? I enjoy learning about nearly anything, with some science topics perhaps being the only exception. From politics to the already-mentioned sports and history, I’m a curious person interested in learning more about whatever I can. If I had to choose an area I was most passionate about, I would probably choose politics, because of the vast impact it has on every citizen’s life. However, I would rather not have to choose one area that I’m the most passionate in. At least, not right now.
I look forward to learning new things this semester and making new friends in the process.
Ethan May 