If this was a piece of journalism…
Posted by Cassandra | Filed under Uncategorized
…this entry would be the nut graf.
In any time-sensitive piece of writing, the writer has to provide the reader with context for why they’re reading what they’re reading right now.
In journalism, that explanation is called a nut graf. It’s a small paragraph, usually near the top, that tells the reader why the story is important and why it’s important at this particular moment in time.
So, I’m finally getting this blog started after months of contemplation because it’s internship application season. Former newspaper interns, my future editors, my professors, a former employer and friends have been asking me, and journalism students in general, “Why don’t you have a blog yet?”
I’ve kept a LiveJournal in the past, but it was very personal. Writing has always been the best way for me to express myself, and writing after my mom passed away in 2004 was very therapeutic. I’m so glad I have a record of what I was thinking during that period of time. But it’s not necessarily the way I want to showcase my ability to think critically and write about it. Especially not to potential employers and colleagues.
Plus, at 22, I think I’m ready to move away from the angsty teenager prose.
The blog “experts” say you should write about what you know and love, and choose something you can write about almost every day. For me, I know and love current events, politics and social issues, and I can write about them every day. I talk about them every day with friends, family, sources and mentors, so it should be easy enough.
I also plan to post photographs, stories I get published and links to interesting stories and photos. The beauty of the Internet, after all, is the ability to share information.
I'm a writer and editor just starting my career at 