A classroom of 21 students, all taking the Introduction to Journalism course by Professor Joe Donnelly. The first assignment is yet due and only a handful have done the reading. Joe tells his students to ask any questions regarding his life. This shall be the first assignment.

Donnelly, 51, originally knew he did not want to become a stockbroker or investment banker. He was undecided and then began to work for LA Weekly in which began a respect for all aspects of journalism. While pursuing journalism there was a realization of the diversity with different news and was alarmed by the digital age with journalism. He has been teaching for ten years and had recently been teaching upper class-men at Occidental (Oxy) College. He declares himself as a generalist. Grasping all topics therefore does not focus on a specific topic in journalism and narrative journalism is his focus. He appreciates environmental journalism and social justice among others. An inspiration for him back in the day was the Rolling Stone magazine. Genre of preferred music is rock with his admiration to the Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam, etc. Journalism is tough and surprisingly he has got death threats for the work he has done. Being kicked out of Santa Barbara, for example because of an oil company investigation. Guardians of democracy and no free country without a free press is the value of journalism.