Banaszynski's experiences teach journalistic values

Listening to Jacqui Banaszynski’s passionate stories about her career over the past few years, will tell any journalist that they can make a difference.

Banaszynski, a Pulitizer Prize winner and the knight chair in editing at the Missouri School of Journalism, told stories about some of her most intense and demanding times in the industry.

When she was writing one of her most recognized pieces “AIDS in the Heartland,” she was forced to answer a question of life or death for one of her sources. Yet, she remained fair, balanced and objective, just like a good journalist.

During her speech, Banaszynski told of those trying times and yet remained fair and balanced, which has made her story recognized in many classrooms of high schools and universities as a tool of trade.

She repeated to everyone that attended the Keystone Press Awards on Saturday, that journalism is about the community and relating back to the community is a key. Although many journalists believe that they practice this, Banaszynski reminds that there are can be deep community ties for any national story.

As an aspiring journalist, knowing that someone can truly make a difference in other people’s lives through the stories they write is so powerful. If once, just once in my career, if I can make someone emotional or thrilled or upset, I think I’ll have done my job.

One of the most exciting things to me is to listen to people who have had an experience; whether it be favorable or unfavorable, it is still an experience that young people can learn from.

Young journalists still need to look at these historic journalistic works because knowing how to write is still one of the most important tools in the journalism industry.

The internet isn’t so bad either…