I have no professional or student experience in journalism whatsoever! I graduated from UCLA with a political science degree hoping to go into the world of politics - so what am I doing at USC (as a Trojan) trying to invade a profession I know little about?
I spent my undergraduate career as a community activist and student leader at one of the largest universities in the country. My passion for politics and for improving the lives of those less fortunate -- particularly increasing the representation of minorities in the realm of everyday society -- drove me to seek advocacy roles in my student government.
One thing I realized holding an elected position on my undergraduate council was that not all change comes through a leadership role of power. I witnessed many of my colleagues get caught up in the art of politics, simply arguing with one another for the sake of winning a debate while forgetting the true meaning of power and the responsibilities that come with it.
Being turned-off by my experience on council, I decided to take my passion for change and politics into my other interest -- that of the news media.
As the ardent activist I was on campus, I plan to continue my enthusiasm for change into the field of journalism. The lack of diversity in American newsrooms is a call for drastic change. The reporters in front of the cameras are not a reflection of the society that finds itself behind the camera. Not only is there a peripheral disparity of those who report the news, but also a representative one which fails to portray the lives of minorities in an accurate and fair manner.
I not only want to report the news, but I want to be the voice for the voiceless in our society, telling stories of marginalized communities that would not otherwise be told. Today, what is not reported is just as important as what is reported and I plan to shed light on some of those stories in the broadcast medium.
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