My writing has changed over the course of this semester. Before this class, I would write in what Dr. Sivek called “a research paper style.” Now, I write much more clearly and concisely. I have learned to write in a conversational tone and keep my words concise so the reader can easily follow along with my story. One of the most important things I have learned this semester is that I want and need the reader to easily follow my entire story and enjoy it. I feel much more confident as a writer. I have learned several different styles of writing through this course.

     The news writing portion of the class was completely new to me. I didn’t feel strong in my writing skills prior to this class, so I was skeptical as to whether I would be a good news writer. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn’t that hard. I actually really enjoyed it. News writing is much different from other styles of writing because it is very informational and conversational. There was no need to write creatively or conduct extensive research. I was basically writing a story as if I were reporting it. I enjoyed the second portion of the class even more.

     The magazine writing portion of the class was fun. Yes, I said it was fun. I was able to express myself more as a writer in this section. The participatory article was especially fun because I followed a humorous tone. I was able to show more personality in this particular piece of writing than in any other. The profile article was also fun because I was able to meet with a professional in the community. I learned a lot about Lisa Casarez as well as foster care through this assignment. The interview portion was exciting to me because I am emphasizing in broadcast journalism, and I was able to become a reporter for the day.

     The public relations writing portion of the class was also very new to me. I didn’t know what a fact sheet or backgrounder was. Public relations writing is not one of my favorite styles of writing. I think it is somewhat boring because it is basically just writing facts, but I am definitely glad I learned the basics of it. Reporters read press releases on a regular basis, and now I know how to read and construct one.

     I believe writing more concisely is one of my strengths. In the beginning of the class, I would write using more words than I needed to. I learned to get to the point because redundant words are unnecessary and distracting. This was clear in the bomb threat inverted news story. The first draft of this story was about 200 words longer than the final draft.  I still need to work on developing a stronger voice in my writing. I am in the beginning stages of writing, but in time and through practice I will learn to express my voice more strongly. Evidence of my developing voice can be found in the participatory article because I was able to write about my own thoughts and experience. Another weakness that I was able to address in this class was the inability to post my writing online. Now, I have much more knowledge about blogs and internet writing.

     Posting the final portfolio online was interesting. I know it is a new era, and blogging is the new cool thing to do, but before this class, I was never interested in it. I am not extremely computer literate so, I never tried to post blogs or publish my writing on the internet. Now that I know how to, I will start to post blogs and my writing online because I need to keep up with the current media fad. It also allows me to approach writing in a different way. I can make it even more fun and write about whatever I want and what I think people would like to know. The best part is I can share my writing with the world. 

     I will constantly be improving my writing. There is no limit to what I can learn in writing. The best way to improve my writing is to practice. I need to start writing as much as I can. Another way to improve my writing is to read more. Reading different styles and different author’s works will expand my knowledge in writing. Becoming a good writer is going to benefit me in my career. Like I said, I am studying broadcast journalism so, writing is going to become a part of my job; I get paid to broadcast my writing. Every portion of the course, especially news writing, will help me in the future.

     As I reflect on this course, I must say that I really enjoyed it. I learned several different styles of writing that I will use in the future. Receiving good feedback and good grades on my previous portfolios has made me a much more confident writer. This is really important because confidence shows in your writing, which allows the reader to be more confident in your story. I am on my way to becoming a successful writer.