I am a worry wart.

July 13, 2007 Katie Nieland, Grand Island Independent, Grand Island, Nebraska.

This really has nothing to do with this blog, but it's important background information on the workings of my inner thought process.

I spend an hour in the morning each day reading over local and national news sources. I find it keeps me in touch with what's going on and nobody I need to interview gets in until 9 a.m. and I get to work at 8.

I also check up on Poynter's Web site, which you journalism people know. I read another story about the mass layoffs and hiring freezes at newspapers around the country. Twenty here, 50 there and 200 at some papers. It makes me worry for the incoming freshman classes at journalism schools around the country. Will they be able to work for papers or will they get sucked into PR, advertising and marketing?

Then I calmed down a little because I do realize how versatile a journalism degree is. Just because people are getting them, doesn't mean they're looking to be the next Lois Lane. So they'll be OK.

In other news, a feature story of mine was picked up by the AP. Yay! People here tell me they don't often pick up features.

I also have discovered that I can write four stories in one day, with ample time to surf the web and have lunch. I don't like how much time I spend in front of a screen. I think the light is melting my eyes.

After reading Andy Boyle's blog I got serious pangs of homesickness. I miss Lincoln too, Andy! Yes, I am closer to it than Erie, but I work a lot and can't make it there very often. I also miss that couch at the DN, even with the giant hole in it.

 

Katie Nieland
My name is Katie Nieland and I'm a senior news-ed major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I'm interning at the Grand Island Independent this summer as a general assignment reporter. I've been at the Daily Nebraskan since fall 2004 and will return this fall as managing editor. Email Me, View All Katie's Entries