Melissa Oakley

Reporting on a new medical school for NB (CBC Photo)

I was always focused on my path in life, and for me journalism was it. I fell in love with TV reporting in high school. After only 9 months in the working world, I feel like I’ve grown and matured a lot as a journalist. I wanted to tell people’s stories, ones that matter and that would make a difference. At the CBC, I feel like I do that every day.

You always have a picture in your mind of what the “real world” is going to be like. You worry, what if after four years of university the newsroom and the world of journalism isn’t what I thought and it’s not for me? Thankfully, I knew right away that the newsroom, and specifically the CBC newsroom, fit me.

But there were a few things that took me by surprise.

The first being how much I LOVE the newsroom. There is nothing like the adrenaline rush of a breaking story — the excitement and the anticipation.

I’ve found out that I thrive on deadlines, a good thing, too, since news is all about deadlines.

I’ve also discovered that I love radio. I was convinced that television was my only medium but as it turns out working on the Information Morning show has been incredibly rewarding for me. The current affairs program has the perfect mixture of hard news and real people. I’ve worked a lot as the assistant producer on the show and it’s been great to be a part the team.

The number one thing I’ve learned in my short time as a journalist is flexibility.

The ability to be versatile — radio and television, producing and reporting — being able to do it all is an asset.

Life as a casual reporter at the CBC is exciting. My days are rarely the same.

I spent two weeks in Charlottetown, PEI, as a television reporter. I work in Saint John doing reporting whenever I’m needed. I’ve covered Stephen Harper visiting Saint John, a baby killer trial in St. Stephen, controversial airport scanners, and a horse that found a new home. I’ve done live hits for CBC News Network about a snow storm and gained valuable experience.

Honestly, I can’t imagine a more rewarding and exciting career — and mine is just beginning. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Short URL: http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=3816

Posted by Originally published Jan.14,2010 on Dec 14, 2011. Filed under From the field. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.