Anticipation, expectation, enthusiasm: these were all the feelings that had overtaken me just before I walked through the doors of the South Coast Herald. Having watched so many films that involved newspapers, I thought I knew what it was all about.
My vivid imagination had me thinking that the atmosphere in a newsroom would be animated, bustling and eccentric. That was but only a figment of it. I thought that eveything in a newsroom would be extremely accelerated and intense.
Well, it was eccentric and hilarious, but everybody in the office seemed to be calm and in control. The smiles on their faces lit up, not just the room, but the whole newspaper. I was killed by their kindness.
There was freedom, love and tenderness. All of the staff members had a warm and inviting personality. I felt as if I belonged. The conversations that flew around the room were priceless.
Most of the staff members preached about journalism being a ‘low paying’ occupation, but if you took the time to study them, you would see that they have a deep passion for what they do and that was truly an inspiration.
They lose themselves in their work. I think their secret is to work in harmony, a life lesson we could all learn and pursue. Enough about the staff, let us get back to my adventure.
I accompanied the various journalists on their quests. In one week, I experienced so much. I covered health education, enviromental education and I got the chance to be in a court.
The experience was overwhelming. We took photographs, met different people, spoke to different people and even ate like carnivores. While eating, we gazed at the wondrous ocean, we heard the sweet melodies it produces and we hid from taxi drivers that we thought were after us. What an experience it was.
My outlook of the Herald was forever altered. I realised that the image I had of it was extremely distorted. Their love had rubbed off onto me. After the few days I spent with them, I read the Herald again and was captivated.
I appreciated it so much more. The content was necessary, unlike some newspapers I’ve read. The passion they had for their work was revealed in the paper. If I were to describe the Herald in one word, I’d call it family. It is so much more than just a newspaper.
Even though journalism is not my first career choice, I would enjoy doing it, especially at the Herald. The coffee there is out of this world.
They love what they do simply because they do what they love. The bible says that ‘with humility comes wisdom’. I guess that is why the Herald team is so wise.
