This article introduces Somin Hong, a writer from The SeoulTech, who has just been promoted from cub reporter to journalist.

 

Q. Hello, reporter! Could you briefly introduce yourself, and tell me how you feel about your development?

A. Hello, readers! I am Somin Hong, who has been writing in The SeoulTech since last year. Now, I’m a sophomore majoring in English Literature and Creative Writing. At first, when I started writing articles, I had many doubts about whether I could do it well. But now, I have my ways of thinking and writing, so I can say I’m more confident about it.

 

Q: You wrote several articles on your first year. Could you tell us which one is the most memorable and why?

A. Absolutely; I wrote three articles as a new reporter. Among them, an article regarding literacy and text-hip trends was most memorable to me. As I’m a young adult, a reader, and a writer myself, declining student literacy was a concern to me, so it was good to write about a current resurgence. The fact that it was my very first article could be a reason, too.

 

Q. Did you have any regrets in your articles?

A. I always try to make sure that my vocabulary and expressions are appropriate, but sometimes it doesn’t work out as I intended. After all, English is my second language, and I often feel like a huge wall is blocking me from writing, and I think that is when I feel most discouraged.

 

Q. In what ways you’ve improved the most during your time as a cub journalist?

A. I have become a lot more mature during my semester as a trainee journalist. I learned how to coordinate and manage an official schedule with my personal life, and how to reconcile other people’s opinions to make the best compromise. Not to mention that my English writing skills have improved. I developed a greater interest in the English language and a love for English-language newspapers through the process of typesetting and collaborating with people to find better expressions.

 

Q. How has the “life of a journalist” differed from what you vaguely envisioned as a freshman to what you’ve actually experienced?

A. Before getting started, I thought newspaper activities were just about writing in front of a desk. However, later I found out it wasn’t. As with other forms of writing, it involves a deep focus on the topic for a few weeks, often before even putting any words down. Then you have the revisions, and the fixing of minor typos that most readers might never notice. But then there are the specifics of writing for a newspaper: research needs to be done in a much more hands-on way, for instance. Nevertheless, the whole experience is very meaningful to me. I love being able to tell other people the news in my own words.

 

Q. As you’ve transitioned from one academic year to the next, how have you balanced being a journalist and academic work?

A. Becoming a sophomore and being promoted has definitely made me busier. Currently, I am doing a job on campus, working for the English newspaper, and balancing my studies. Time management can be a challenge when I consider my major, classes, and extracurricular activities, but I try to stick to a routine by using planners and scheduling systems as much as possible. I also try to look after my health and make time for things I enjoy.

 

Q. What kind of articles would you like to write as a journalist in the future, or is there a style or topic you’d like to try?

A. I usually write about social issues in the newspaper, so I want to focus more on articles regarding students and the campus. I’m also interested in columns and reportages, so it would be wonderful to write those in the future.

 

Q. Finally, is there any advice you would give to first-year journalists who are just beginning college and life as a journalist?

A. Even if university life is not what you expected, I hope you will not be so quick to blame yourself for any difficulties that may arise. I want you to experience and learn as much as possible because we still have a lot of time ahead of us. When things get tough, don’t let yourself get knocked down too easily, and take a break. Wishing you the best of luck with all your new beginnings!

 

Reporter

Hyeonseon Namgung

namgung0121@seoultech.ac.kr

Reporter 남궁현선

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• e-mail : namgung0121@seoultech.ac.kr