“Better-rounded people make better journalists.”
Randy Essex, 1983 graduate and editor of the Glenwood Springs Post Independent in western Colorado, said his best advice for journalism students is to pursue other interests beyond journalism while at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in order to become better journalists.
“Even if you’re focused on ‘I want to be a journalist,’ you’re at a university that’s an amazing place of resources,” he said. “It’s the last time you’re really going to be able to do whatever you want. So if you discover a passion, absolutely pursue it.”
Essex was a double major in journalism and political science at UNL, and he says that even today it helps him do his job because he better understands the reasons behind what politicians do and how government works — or doesn’t.
He spent most of his career at metro papers, including the Des Moines Register, Detroit Free Press and Cincinnati Enquirer before deciding he wanted to retire in Colorado and moving to the Post Independent. At the bigger papers, he worked just about every position on the city desk, was a copy editor before that, and eventually managed news staffs of more than 40 people. He’ll tell you that no matter how big or small the newspaper, the mission is the same.
“In a lot of ways it’s the same everywhere,” he said. “It’s our job to identify the important issues, do great coverage around the issue and help the community solve problems. We’re here to serve the community and that’s the same in big cities and small towns.”
Most recently, Essex was selected for the prestigious 2016 American Society of News Editors Burl Osborne Award for Editorial Leadership for his powerful editorials on Latino immigrants in his community. http://asne.org/blog_home.asp?Display=2068
With the ever-evolving state of journalism, Essex said it’s more important than ever that journalists be willing to try new things in the digital world.
“There’s no newsroom of the future, there’s only the newsroom of right now,” he said. “It’s going to change tomorrow and you need to have the knowledge, interest and tools to deal with it.”
And Essex credits his training at UNL for being able to adapt and be successful in any newsroom.
“I have worked with and managed people from the most prestigious institutions and I know my education is every bit as good,” he said. “The whole world is there at the university. Every single thing you could ever want to learn is there and it’s up to you.”