News Literacy
When I first got my driver's license, I would blast my Spotify music wherever I went. But once I was appointed as news editor my junior year, I realized my commute was a perfect time to get a dose of the news — now NPR is the only thing that plays in my car. Along with reading online newspapers and magazines, this is where the bulk of my newspaper story ideas come from.
And while I think it is vastly important to read, listen to and watch the news as much as possible, I am also always careful about where I'm getting my news from. In an age where it's so easy for anyone to put anything out there, understanding what sources are credible is the only way I can ensure the news I share with my community is accurate.
Homelessness
The Focus magazine centered around homelessness was the first magazine where I played a heavy role in the production. The idea was sparked by a Dallas Morning News article that said the number of homeless people living on the streets of Dallas jumped 23%. Wanting to make sure that number wasn't random, we did some more research and found many more statistics just like it.
Quickly the story idea came into fruition, and I had to decide where we wanted to go with it. After looking at all the possible angles and sources we could use to talk about this issue, I knew it needed to be a magazine. So one of the first things I did was go Downtown to see the issue firsthand. With a photographer, I walked around Downtown Dallas and just talked to different homeless people. This furthered my assertion that homelessness in Dallas is a pressing issue that needed to be discussed in our community as soon as possible.
Along with talking to the homeless people, we consulted many experts and researched the issue on credible websites before creating the final product.
To view the full Focus magazine on homelessness, click here.
