When I started college, the only thing I knew about myself was that I liked to write. With this curiosity, I enrolled as a communication major and took courses where I learned to write poetry, creative nonfiction, and academic research. I’ve stretched and grown just about every writing muscle I could, waiting for something to click. I signed up for my first journalism class as a sophomore taught by professor Mike Reilley. During the first day of class, I found myself immersed in his lecture about how to uncover a story using raw data and how to rebuild that data into visualizations that make the story accessible to the public. I finally felt the spark I had been waiting years for. Weeks passed and I continued to challenge myself by writing and researching topics including, COVID-19 shutdowns, hospital resource shortages, and others. UIC does not offer a journalism major or minor, so I went on to take the only other two journalism classes available under the Communication major, and I am currently taking the Advanced class a second time to continue to learn new tools and write new stories.
My Communication and Professional Writing education has equipped me with
knowledge of how to use some of the most up-to-date industry tools including Tableau, Datawrapper, Google Flourish, Google MyMaps, WordPress CMS, and Medium. I am also proficient in Adobe tools, including Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, and Premiere Pro. I have worked with these tools to build interactive data visualizations and create graphics or videos. I can write in AP Style, and I also have practice with formatting feature stories, press releases, newsletters, and grant proposals. Using these tools throughout my writing in college has allowed me to write visually appealing, reader-focused stories that make journalism accessible and interesting to a wider audience.
During several of my classes, I practiced working with a team or partner and learned to navigate disagreements and use each other’s strengths to create the best piece of work possible. Through trial and error, I have learned that delegating, setting expectations, and having open channels of communication are essential to successful group work. I have learned from my peers and enjoy being a leader when needed. In the fast-paced environment and tough time constraints that a career in journalism offers, It is important to stay organized. I do this using tools from
college that include Google Drive and Notion. These tools give me access to my work from any device and allow me to sort through and share my files quickly and securely. Finally, my time exploring types of writing helped me learn to write in new ways and about new topics. I can adhere my writing to strictly facts for quick release, or I can stretch my creative writing muscles and use my vocabulary to describe deeper, emotionally-driven stories. I am open to reporting and learning about any topic, and doing the story justice.
My personal beliefs about journalism ethics mirror those outlined by the Society of
Professional Journalists. I believe uncovering truth and reporting on it with honesty and integrity is essential to our democracy. Journalism can only be done right if the writer is not coerced by external interests because journalists work for the public first and foremost. Also, throughout all of my writing and interviews, I have practiced a people-first approach. I have seen victims of tragedies exploited through journalism, and while I believe it is important to tell their stories with their consent, it can be done so in a way that respects them. As a professional journalist, I will seek to report on the truth and continue to investigate possible solutions, putting facts first.
Julia Kindelin 