As a college freshman, I was a female version of the friendly comic book character, Clark Kent, who eagerly sought out a career in journalism. But instead of The Daily Planet, I marched into the Mitchell Center proclaiming, “Hi, I’m Grace McDonald, and I want to write for the newspaper.”
Little did I know how working for The Antelope would unleash this small town girl’s inner Superman. Now, The Antelope newspaper is looking for more recruits to join our league of student reporters.
I know it’s corny to compare the life of a journalist to the fictional adventures of a tight-wearing Kryptonian, but I cannot deny the similarities.
Although none of The Antelope’s reporters possess super speed, they can be in multiple places at once, by which I mean they cover news all over campus.
I seek out sources and take photos while exploring UNK and building relationships. In fact, this job is great for someone lacking a career path because it introduces a variety of opportunities.
One of these opportunities is the chance to become more well-rounded.
I may not have X-ray vision, telepathy, a photographic memory or immortality, but I can detect story angles, investigate potential leads and remember important information. As far as immortality goes, my ideas have a longer life span when printed in black and white.
Reporters use these abilities while working as a team. However, instead of operating under the Justice League, we follow a code of ethics established by the Society of Professional Journalists.
According to the SPJ code of ethics, journalists must “seek truth and report it,” “minimize harm,” “act independently” and “be accountable and transparent.” These phrases sound like something straight out of a DC comic book. Coincidence? I think not.
However, the life of a hero, I mean, reporter, is not an easy one. They don’t call Superman the “Man of Steel” for nothing.
The truth is, this job is a learning experience that requires problem-solving, especially during times when the media is perceived as the “bad guy.” Publishing articles can be intimidating, print journalism can be time-consuming and college students are often stressed writing research papers anyway.
This is where The Antelope’s greatest superpower comes in handy.
The “S” on Superman’s uniform symbolizes hope. Meanwhile, The Antelope has represented UNK’s student body, since 1910 (which makes The Antelope older than Superman, who debuted in 1938).
My point is, The Antelope was created for students, by students; therefore, the campus newspaper serves as an influential voice. The university’s only Kryptonite is if we neglect to listen to it, or even worse, refuse to use it.
Interested readers are always welcome at The Antelope, whether they are seeking a position or wanting to suggest story ideas. UNK is our real-life Metropolis, and it is up to the students to share and protect the voice of all Lopers.
As Superman once said, “There is a superhero in all of us. We just need the courage to put on the cape.”
