A Moment of Inspiration

11.16.04

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Kareem Copeland

There are a million ways a supportive newsroom makes my job as a sports reporter at The Wausau Daily Herald easier. But I don't want to talk about the technical aspects of what we do — tight writing, interviewing techniques, the importance of research. I want to talk about something not so obvious — confidence.

Support, encouragement and offers of help give young reporters like me the confidence to do what we do.

One of the goals of the Freedom Forum's ASNE/APME Fellows Program is to diversify small-market newsrooms. Some of us work in areas different from those we grew up in. Sometimes the people in my new community have different interests, occupations and, simply, different values than what I'm used to. No better, no worse — just different. As an outsider, asking questions of sources or questioning a decision-making process can be intimidating — especially when I'm talking to a community member who has been active in the community since I was in diapers.

But knowing that I have the backing of my newsroom makes me stronger.

Knowing that my editors believe in me makes me stronger.

And knowing that people are there to work with me through good times and bad gives me the confidence not only to do what I do, but to excel at it.

Confidence takes shape in a lot of different ways. It shows up when you volunteer for a tough assignment, ask the tough question or approach an intimidating source. Confidence helps you handle unfamiliar situations or circumstances that you just don't understand. And that's what we Fellows face many days.

As a sports reporter in north central Wisconsin, I've done pieces on archery, canoeing, weightlifting, Little League — things that I never knew a thing about before. At first, I wasn't thrilled to do any of these, but the confidence I've gained allows me to do these stories and be humble enough to respect participants' efforts.

My editors and fellow reporters have given me the confidence to face the unknown and the unfamiliar. And the Freedom Forum's confidence in me gives me the courage to welcome new challenges.

I think I speak for all of us Fellows when I say thank you for the support and your belief in us. I hope we make you proud.

Kareem Copeland, an ASNE/APME Fellow and reporter at The Wausau (Wis.) Daily Herald, spoke during a Freedom Forum program at the UNITY: Journalists of Color convention Aug. 5 in Washington, D.C.