Bill Carey of Aviation International News, by Brittney FigueiraDistributing copies upon copies of newspapers to Mary Carey’s Journalism 300 class, brother and international journalist Bill Carey of Aviation International News shows his sister’s students how they can aspire to his success as a trade press writer.
Carey indulged into the world of AIN shortly after graduating Syracuse with a degree in journalism in the 1980’s, a time Carey described to be when “newspapers were still a big deal.”
He grew an interest in writing about helicopters for the company although he says he knew nothing about them and from there he grew to love what he was doing, but even more he loved having a salary.
Carey has been able to travel all over the world reporting for AIN who has about five international shows a year. As he recently returned from reporting on an air show in Dubai for the company, Carey goes home to his work desk where he says he accumulates about five articles a week.
Although he is not in the work setting of a cubicle in a busy newsroom, Carey comments how his day can be short or even be as long from 6 a.m to midnight. He says, “As long as I make my deadlines everyone’s pretty happy,” which has been working out well for both him and his employers.
The core publication of AIN is roughly 40,000 subscribers who indulge in their eye-popping advertisements. Carey says, “What drives everybody and drives us is displaying advertising, that’s what pays the bills.”
Ben Storrow of The Daily Hampshire Gazette by Brittney Figueira
Ben Storrow of Gill, Mass., will always dream of making it big as a political writer but forever holds the Daily Hampshire Gazette close to his heart. After visiting Mary Carey’s Journalism 300 class, many students got an insight of what it is like to write for a community paper. Storrow explains that for him it is a “stressful job, the pay’s not great but [the job is] super rewarding for me.”
Not only is it nice to know as a writer you have made an impact on the community, but Storrow also explains the excitement that overcomes the people he interviews for the Gazette is great to see too. He says, “Working for a community paper, people are so pumped to see you, to know a newspaper cares about them.”
Politics have always been Storrow’s forte. In elementary school during the 1996 Dole vs. Clinton election, Storrow tells the class how he was one of the only kids raising his hand to answer every question asked on the subject.
He describes his major interests for writing are to be politics, economic issues, and environmental issues. Storrow also mentions that, “There’s a lot to be said for community journalism. You really talk about issues that affect people’s everyday life.”
Storrow’s ultimate career goal is to keep growing as a writer. He says, “If I had the chance to cover a story at the White House, I’d take it.” At the Gazette level, he feels as though he can connect more directly with people in the area, however he claims he is not married to what he is doing now.
Leaving the room with words of wisdom, Storrow describes the importance of getting your work done, and getting it done on time. Comparing journalism writing to everyday life, he says, “more often than not, you have to get your work done.”
Whether if you are a procrastinator that works well under pressure or a person that can juggle several stories at one time, Storrow says, “Good work can speak for itself. Just get out there and do it God damnet.”
Brendan Hall Visits an Old Class with New Stories, by Brittney Figueira
UMass alumnus Brendan Hall of Westminster, M.A., shares stories, advice and experiences to journalism 300 students of how he went from starting out at UMass’ Daily Collegian to reporting for ESPNBoston.com.
The now 26 year old, graduated the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2007 with great ambitions. But before furthering his education in writing, Hall’s career first started with his high school newspaper. He mentions that he always thought he was a good writer with a wild imagination and love for football. “So why not combine the best of both worlds?” Hall said.
While at UMass, Hall first became a sports writer for the Daily Collegian. Later he attained an internship with the Worcester Telegram and Gazette, and even became a police writer at school, where he would sometimes ride along with UMass police officers to cover the story on scene.
While building his portfolio of clips and stories, Hall was busy sending his resume to newspapers all over. Although he did not use his resources of Career Services located on campus, he still managed to achieve what is said to be one of the most competitive internships for journalism students; a co-op with the Boston Globe.
First semester of his senior year, Hall was working about 37.5 hour work weeks for the Globe, making about $400 a week and also completing 15 class credits. Here, mentors such as Bob Hohler, helped him with award winning stories and certainly helped build Hall’s career.
Others such as Danny Ventura of the Florida Times Union, where Hall completed yet another internship, is someone Hall now sees as his competition but will always be a legend in his eyes. Hall said that during those three months in Jacksonville, F.L., he learned the most he ever has in his eight years of sports writing.
Working for ESPNBoston.com, Hall covers high school sports stories throughout the Greater Boston Area as well as for New England’s finest athletes on teams such as the Red Sox, Boston Bruins and New England Patriots.
For a while, Hall elaborated on his love for hockey. “Hockey was always in my blood even though I didn’t play,” he said. When asked if the Bruins were his favorite team to cover stories on, Hall explained that they’re definitely the easiest.
With the Bruins, Hall said he has never been turned down for an interview with the team. The New England Patriots on the other hand, Hall compared their locker room to Fort Knox. He said, “You’re not going to get anything out of them.”
Over his years of interviewing players, Hall has learned the tricks of the trade and picked up a few tips. One major pointer was to allow your story to flow, but with great detail. Hall said, “If your story is going to flow like a river, don’t make it the Mississippi, at least make it the Amazon.” By this, he informs the students that no one wants to read a story that’s long and boring, details are there to give your story life.
Another tip is to never force a story. Hall explained his writing strategies, “There’s a certain [writing] style I’ve definitely adapted to, but when you get into an interview of a story, you realize that style isn’t going to happen.”
But perhaps one of the most influential tips of the day was to have great networking skills, and also to always be professional. With networking, Hall explains, you never know who you’re going to meet. “When you make a connection you stay in touch with it.” After years of networking with people from the Boston Globe, Hall tells the students that these people gave him a shot. “I owe it to them to keep in touch,” Hall said.
Hall exited room 720 of the W.E.B Du Bois library leaving the students with anecdotes of his pursuit to the top, loads of advice and plenty of business cards. Brendan Hall is one connection the students hopefully will stay in touch with.
