The time for me to go has come. I graduated on May 10, which unfortunately means my time at The Daily Eastern News has come to an end.
My first story was published on Valentine’s Day in 2022, a day of romance for some, but the start of an era for me.
My professor Dr. Ensung Kim kept pushing me to go in and join The News, and I was kind of hesitant to because I still wasn’t acclimated to Eastern yet, so joining a newspaper on top of getting adjusted would’ve been too much, until early February 2022.
I had no idea what this organization had in store for me, but I’m forever grateful for what it has given to me. I’ve gained life-long relationships, life-changing experiences. I’ve developed and grown while at The News, it’s been a surreal experience. Working at The News has been life changing. I’ve been able to travel to different states and get new life experiences.
Humbly speaking, I’ve made a name for myself while working here and people have come to me directly for news around Charleston and on Eastern’s campus, which was my goal since I started working here.
Over the last 3.5 years, I’ve written over 200 stories (206 to be exact including this column). I’m glad I spent the first 2.5 years strictly dedicated to writing for The News and not focusing and prioritizing anything over it. While it has been a lot of work and me not getting to experience all of what college has to offer me, this dedication has boosted my career and I’ve only gotten better and will continue to do so.
I am thankful for all my advisors that have helped me navigate my way through the collegiate journalism world, and the skills and traits they have taught me will transpire over to the professional world.
Joe Gisondi was the first advisor I met. One random day I got into his car with some other DEN reporters at the time, and I told him my name and he said he’d read my byline in the paper. That’s when it hit me that people actually read the pieces that I wrote. At the time I didn’t know he was an advisor for the paper and that he was a regular professor.
For Tim Drachlis, who I’ve called at outrageous hours of the night for advice about stories and he’s always been willing to answer (if he’s awake). Tim’s office has always been my go-to destination with any problems I may have regarding journalism or school, and he’s always been available.
I developed an appreciation for photojournalism and photography in general. I started to take my own photos for my stories and even volunteer to do so for others. I think I will carry this with me, even outside of journalism. I’m so grateful for my professor Greg Cooper for teaching me these skills.
To my past and present co-workers who’ve seen me at my highest and lowest, thank you for putting up with me. I hope I’ve made some sort of impact to our newsroom and to you, not only as a journalist, but also as a person.
During my time here, I’ve been able to blossom and figure myself out.
As I said earlier, I’ve gained an appreciation for photography.
I co-founded a movie podcast, which I heartbreakingly will be leaving behind, but graciously in the prepared hands of our current News Editor Luke Brewer. I taught myself how to video/audio edit and get myself better acclimated with everything in the video world.
I was accepted into a New York Time’s mentorship program during the summer after my sophomore year, which has streamlined a plethora of opportunities for me. I’m being flown to New York by the program about a week after my graduation. I’m forever indebted to Bill Ruthhart, the writing coach and editor for career program at The New York Times and an Eastern alum, for taking a chance on me.
The News has allowed me to improve my portfolio, which has landed me a six-month internship with the Chicago Tribune, which I start this month, and where you can continue to read my work while I work under the Emerging News desk.
I’m grateful for all who read, watched, listened to anything with my name on it. I’m thankful for everyone that has allowed me to interview them, especially some of the first interviewees where I was still a little awkward. I hope my work has kept you informed on the community or have kept you entertained while I express my passion for film.
Lastly, thank you to The Daily Eastern News. To those that have come before me, that have paved the way for me in ways I’m unknowing of. To the alums, that still read, I hope I’ve done right by this paper and to the university.
Cam’ron Hardy can be reached at 581-2812 or at cahardy@eiu.edu.
