Sharing the Life of a Modern Journalist

Del Mixon

10/16/12

Sharing the Life of a Modern Journalist

           

UNIVERSITY, MS- Journalism students at the University of Mississippi learned about the life of a modern day journalist.  Sandra Knispel spoke to a packed classroom at Ole Miss’s Meek School of Journalism. Knispel shared the events of her life that led her to her current job at Mississippi Public Broadcasting. 

            “My most memorable interview was done while covering post traumatic stress disorders among Mississippi war veterans.” Said Knispel responding to a student question. The reporter described the interview has a teary and humbling experience. For Knispel, seeing a war veteran, covered in patriotic tattoos, break down and cry in front of her made the interview the most memorable.            Knispel was awarded the Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters Award in 2009 for Best documentary.

            “It’s your duty to report the facts.” Said Knispel, “But don’t be afraid to cry with whoever you’re interviewing.”

            Knispel’s journalism career began in New York City, Ny for a German- American newspaper. Having grown up in Germany and just graduating from the University of Wales B.A. in politics and Russian studies, Knispel was excited.

            She explained this job as a miserable experience, all because of her boss. She was required to stay up past three in the morning and asked to plagiarize new stories. Knispel quit after three months of work.

            “How were you able to quit?” A student in the audience asked. To this, Knispel responded with a smile. She told her boss what she thought to his face, then turned around and left the building.  “I checked online, the paper is no longer around.” Knispel added.

            Knispel stressed to the students in the audience the importance of getting internships early. She advised the sooner you have experience the more prepared you will be for the world of journalism.

            Knispel’s speech was on Thursday Oct. 11^th and apart of  the school of journalism’s “Meek Week”.  The speech was a return home for Knispel, because she received her masters in Journalism from the University of Mississippi.  In between spending time with her husband and kids, Knispel writes for national magazines Babytalk and Concieve.