Chelsea Accursi

2008 graduate

News-Editorial option

Department of Journalism

California State University, Chico

Q. How have your perceptions of journalism changed between when you started the program and now?

A. I think when I first came to the program I thought of journalism as some honorable and unquestionable calling that could only do right. But that isn't really the case. As you learn about and see on television what some journalists are doing, you realize why we're not the most liked people, but it just makes it more important to do your job well.
           
I've also gotten a much more realistic picture of what journalism is like right now, but that didn't necessarily come from being in the program. That came from being at internships. In class and at The Orion, everything seems fairly easy; if you work hard, you do well. I see now that isn't always the case in the industry today.

Q. Was journalism what you expected it to be?

A. In some ways, yes. In others, no. It's a fun job to have; you learn something new every day and you meet so many interesting people. I love the newsroom atmosphere and the stress of deadline. I love the satisfaction you feel when you write a good headline or a fantastic lead. In that way, the work itself is very satisfying and even better than I expected, but it's hard for journalism to be all it can be in the state it's in.

I find myself disappointed in print journalism at times for its lack of courage these days. I don't really see newspapers questioning the answers they get or really digging for the truth, and that's discouraging for those             of us who still have spirit and a real passion for finding the truth. I also think media conglomeration is literally a big problem that is diluting the quality of journalism. If one company is controlling all of what a certain community sees and hears, there isn't much diversity of information or opinion being told, and the lack of competition allows journalists to become complacent. 

Q. How have your goals changed?

A. My goals have changed in that I am considering alternatives to a journalism career. I'm not sure if I'll leave journalism, but I am considering other options, and I never really did that before. I think as I've gotten older I've seen that there are other ways to make a difference, and now I'm considering those ways. But it's still hard to imagine myself working anywhere other than a newsroom.

Q. What has been the most beneficial course in the journalism program, and why?

A. For me, hands down, the most beneficial course has been The Orion. It teaches you skills as you work for a newspaper, which is the quickest way to learn. Even though an "F" from Nordstrom in 260 stings, it's nowhere near as bad as a mistake that thousands of people read.  Working with your peers and writing one or more articles a week is the quickest and best way to learn how to write quickly and effectively. I've been told I made bad decisions by working and being in management on The Orion before taking certain classes, but I genuinely disagree with that sentiment. Media law, copy editing and 260 were the most useful classes I took, but a textbook can never teach you as much as actually performing the task.

Q. What course had the most surprising impact on your potential career options?

A. Copy editing. I always had a knack for grammar and AP style, but I never really considered a career in copy editing. David Little, editor of the Chico ER, was my instructor, and he told me a lot about the options I could have as a copy editor as opposed to a reporter. I still enjoy writing, but I see that copy editing gives me an edge in the competitive job market and so I've pursued that line of work.

Q. If you could change one thing about the journalism program at Chico State, what would it be?

A. I would change the fact that you must minor outside the College of Communication and Education. It is a complete disservice to journalism students in this age of technology that they are not allowed to minor in communication design. If Chico State's journalism students were allowed to do so, we would be producing graduates that had the online and technological abilities to truly compete in the job market, as opposed to great reporters who can't find internships because they have no online skills. It's really discouraging to see the way that this program churns out graduates who don't really have the skills they need to succeed, such as design skills for copy editors and online knowledge for all journalists.

Q. What extra-curricular activities (e.g., clubs, internships, study abroad) have helped shape your worldview and preparation for the “real” world?

A. What has helped prepare me for the real world is that I have worked at least 30 hours a week since I was 15 years old. I haven't really had time for extracurricular activities because I have lived in the "real" world since I came to college. I pay for all my expenses, and I work hard to stay afloat.

I actually think graduating is going bring an easier life my way. I can't imagine anything being as hard staying up till midnight or later working on proofs as managing editor, getting up at 6:30 the next morning to go to my second job and taking 15 units of classes. Parenting is probably comparable, but I don't plan on going down that road anytime soon.

Q. What is your minor and how does it fit with your employment goals?

A. I don't have a minor, but I am a double major in English. I don't think my second major fits with my employment goals other than it gives me more writing and grammar knowledge. Really, I was at a crossroads the first two years of college as to whether I should be a high school teacher or a journalist. It's really just a hobby to me. I love literature, and I love to write.

Q. Do you feel equipped to go into the workforce?

A. I do, but only because I took it into my own hands to learn online and multimedia skills. If not for taking an intro to Flash course, being online editor and taking a class from and working with Lewis Brockus, I wouldn't feel equipped at all. I would be just a copy editor, and we're in an age where a journalist has to be so much more.

Q. What qualities does a journalist embody?

A. Depends on the journalist. I would say we'd like to think we're all honest, courageous and truth seeking people, but really, we're just like people in general: there's good ones and there's bad ones, and I think we could be more honest and humble about that fact.

Q. What are your perceptions of the future of journalism?

A. I don't really know. Nobody really knows, and that scares a lot of people. But I think it's kind of exciting that we're the ones that get to be there for the change, and we're the ones that will have a part in what journalism becomes. Because it's definitely changing in a big way, there's no doubt about that. But what it will be is still in question, and I'm looking forward to taking part in and witnessing that change. And I think if there are enough dedicated people working on this issue, then journalism will change for the better.

Q. Where do you see yourself in five years?

A. There are three scenarios for me: A. I will be a lead copy editor on the desk of a metro newspaper. Maybe by then I have finagled myself into a management position, maybe not. I could also see myself working as a Web editor. Option B is I will be a law school graduate working in non-profit advocacy. This is the plan if I decide I'd rather make change happen rather than just report on it. In option C, I will be working toward a master's or PhD so that I can eventually teach journalism. We need good people in the workplace, but we also need good teachers in order to ensure the future quality of our trade.

Q. If you were a kitchen appliance, what would you be and why?

I would be a juicer because as an editor I pride myself on my ability to separate the juicy stuff, the meaning and essence of a story, from the flashy and unnecessary peel it's put in.

Information compiled by Ashley Paul

Cat Bytes is a student-produced publication of the Department of Journalism / California State University, Chico