The final tip
The Oxford English Dictionary lists a definition of security as “the state of feeling safe, stable, and free from fear or anxiety.” This definition caught my eye as I was completing a grant application recently, and comes to mind now.
Those who pursue journalism, or for that matter any storytelling or creative endeavor, are not in pursuit of fame or fortune. They do so because they believe they are contributing to the development of modern society, because they believe their work will help people cope better with the world around them.
Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the ability to pursue that work, particularly for early career journalists like me who are still trying to navigate the plethora of quagmires that are detrimental to the industry’s future. Most ideas for stories, as well as projects like this one, have been forced to take a back seat because the constant fight or flight mode of trying to survive takes precedent — a challenge that complements the angst that comes from trying to focus on being creative during a pandemic.
The doubt one has in themselves, their work and their abilities becomes more pronounced, combined with the endless unease of wondering how to make it through each day intact. Yet, one keeps going — not because they necessarily want to, but because they have no alternative — even if the tone of the day resembles Murphy’s Law, while the blank screen causes one to utter either profanities or Homer Simpson’s famous catchphrase.
We utter those words because there is no other option for us except to play the delicate balancing act that make up our personal and professional lives in pandemic time. We do so not just to survive but to make strides in answering important questions. It is our way of trying to feel secure, even if circumstances suggest otherwise.
The need to feel secure — both professionally and personally — is something that cannot be accomplished in one fell swoop. Instead, it is something that needs to be worked on each day — idea or no idea, plan or no plan.
When I launched The Tip Sheet two years ago this month, I tried to give a tip about advancing one’s career or about an issue being discussed within the journalism world. The plan that I had was to incorporate reporting and other features into this publication in an attempt to make this a resource for any aspiring journalist.
Then, life happened, and as I juggled personal and professional obligations, I changed my plan — I committed myself to at least one piece a month, and for the most part, I kept to that schedule. Now, I’m changing my plan again, roughly a year after the COVID-19 pandemic began to impact life in the United States.
There is no question that the year has brought challenges, including an impact on the ability to be creative. Some days are better than others. Nevertheless, as I wrote above, one keeps going — idea or no idea, plan or no plan.
However, there was one thing I omitted — the plans or ideas you have don’t have to stay stagnant. They can evolve for a variety of reasons, whether to address the circumstances of the time or address goals wanting to be accomplished.
That is exactly what is happening here. As a result, this is the last post you will see on The Tip Sheet. I have some goals that I want to accomplish, some things I want to explore, and some ideas that I want to put forward, be it on Medium or elsewhere.
Even though there won’t be new posts anymore, the contents of this publication will still be here, and I invite you to visit my Medium page to keep up with the work I do on this platform.
A global pandemic may still be occurring, yet I keep going, even if my plans and ideas, be it for work here or elsewhere, change in the meantime. However, one thing that won’t change is the credo that I believe myself and other journalists subscribe to, courtesy of Fred Rogers:
“Anything that we can do to help foster the intellect and spirit and emotional growth of our fellow human beings, that is our job. Those of us who have this particular vision must continue against all odds. Life is for service.”
Thanks for reading.
