journalism in my world today

* I got a really great compliment today. Someone really important in the community told two college journalists (from California, no less) that if they wanted to know how to be a journalist, they should follow me around. Wow. What a compliment, and what a timely thing to encourage me.

* I just interviewed Dan Haseltine from Jars of Clay on the phone. I was star struck. I think I might have stuttered just once at the beginning, but then I relaxed and kept all my thoughts composed. (I know, based on things he said, being a staf is far from what he wants as a musician.) I used to love Jars of Clay (Their first album with "Flood" was my favorite, and probably still is; although "Flood" was actually my least favorite song on that CD.), but then I sort of just didn't listen much. No real reason. Then their new "Redemption Songs" came out, and I remembered why I love them.

(They are playing at Murray State next week. That's why I interviewed him.)

In college, my roommate and I had quotes hanging all over the concrete walls. One was from Dan Haseltine. I wish I could remember it. Then six years later, here I am interviewing him. It was an interesting 20 minutes, and I hope I got more quotes. I won't hang them on my wall (I don't decorate like that anymore.), but I will surely draw insight from them.

Jars of Clay is very much into identity, who we were created to be, not who the church or the world says we are. Fascinating concept. And rather appropriate for what's going on in my heart and head these days.

* I started the Citizens Fire Academy this week. Sitting there, I was reminded how it's worth giving up time for things that aren't absolutely newsworthy to develop relationships with people. That's the key to this business, in my opinion. People are the stories — good or bad — so knowing them and choosing to communicate fairly with them is essential.

There's that's my Journalism 101 lesson for the day. You know, a professor or two probably told me that, but it wasn't really until this job (my third out of college) that I truly grasped and understood the importance. I think it comes with living and working in such a small community where the line between work and play is so blurred.