Western classmates making headlines
The media industry is notoriously competitive. Lots of people want one of the ever-decreasing jobs. And with the Western’s MA in journalism program pumping out 40 budding journalists every year, they know first-hand how hard landing that all important “first gig” can be. But as luck should have it – rather, as hard-work, excellent preparation and great timing should have it – three former classmates are now competitors.
Steven Bull, Rich Garton and Frances Willick, all MA in journalism grads from the class of 2009, have found themselves in Windsor, Ontario, each working for three major media outlets: Bull, CBC Windsor video-journalist/reporter; Garton, A Channel Windsor video-journalist/reporter; and Willick, Windsor Star reporter.
What is that experience like? Here are three questions, to three former classmates-turned-competitors.
Western News: What is the first post-Western journalism gig like?
Steven Bull: CBC Windsor is technically my second “real journalism” position. I was fortunate enough to have been awarded the IDRC International Development Journalism Award upon graduation and spent six months working as a reporter in Nairobi, Kenya, with the Nation Media Group. Three months with the country’s largest daily newspaper and three with NTV, a national television channel. I felt quite anxious to start reporting. But, at the risk of sounding like I’m spouting Western’s corporate media talking points, I can honestly say the training and hands-on experience I received at Western was fantastic and I was able to hit the ground running … in a developing country no less. Sure there were learning curves and speed bumps along the way, but that’s always going to come with the territory. In the year since graduating, one thing has become clear when it comes to the journalism field: If you’re not constantly adapting, you’re dying. Life’s an adventure. And so is this profession.
When I started at CBC Windsor in May, a month after returning to Canada, the transition was seamless. I work with a few other Western journalism grads, and the managing editor who brought me on board had nothing but glowing praise about Western’s program. It’s never a bad thing to have your resume give you that great first impression.
Rich Garton: Graduating from school was a scary thing because it meant the safety harness finally had to be snipped and real life was set to begin. But when I landed my first job at A Channel Windsor, it took a very short period of time to get into the swing of things and feel confident that I had the skills to do my job properly. There’s always more to learn and every day is a new story, but I’m glad I had the firm educational footing from both the University of Windsor and The University of Western Ontario to prepare me for that.
Frances Willick: I started at the Windsor Star about two weeks after school ended, and it was a pretty seamless transition. Of course I was nervous as all get-out on the first day, but I was amazed when I realized how well-prepared I actually was by Western’s journalism program.
It was the real deal, right from Day One. Pitching stories. Taking assignments. Chasing spot news. Meeting deadlines. Everything we learned in j-school was really happening. In the newsroom, there’s no hand-holding or coddling. You have to prove yourself and you have to do it every day. In the year I’ve been at The Star, I’ve covered court cases, fires, murders, strike negotiations, fundraisers, festivals, business, health, obits and everything in between. From tornadoes to monster zucchinis to vomit-inducing plane rides, you never know what you’re going to be doing on any given day. It’s pretty much the best job ever.
WN: What it’s like to be competition?
SB: I actually wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for Frances. She ran into a CBC reporter who I then spoke with who passed me onto the managing editor who brought me in for an interview. But I’ve never actually run into Frances in the field and have only crossed paths with Rich a couple of times. When it happens it’s more disappointing than anything, in that we can’t spend more time together like we did in j-school. Collaborating on assignments was something I was able to do with Rich a few times and, along with some other classmates, that was one of the highlights. But our brief chats when they do happen are full of laughs, swapping stories and ideas. Maybe I’m a bad reporter, lacking that stereotypical don’t-you-dare-get-in-the-way-of-my-story attitude you see in the movies, but I’m happier to see them doing well than anything. I don’t think of them as competition, but rather as friends who I’m rooting for.
RG: Being classmates was definitely like a family experience, seeing the same faces and interacting with the same people every day. So when faced with working for a competing news outlet was a weird thought at first. But when we actually cross paths, it’s a great chance to catch up and chat. We’re still friends and likely closer because we’re in the same city. Windsor is a fairly good-sized city, but the media circle is fairly close. Yes, we all compete for the same audience but we’re not cutthroat, at the end of the day, interesting and compelling stories are told and if I can say a friend of mine told it first, I’m more proud than jealous.
FW: I don’t actually run into Steve and Rich very often because we often work different shifts or different beats. But aside from that, Windsor isn’t a highly competitive media market. I’m sure all the news outlets watch and listen to each other’s work, but it’s not a cut-throat environment. When I see other media folks at events, it’s mostly just an opportunity to socialize and talk shop. The best part of working in the same market is that I get to see Rich and Steve all fancied up in their suits every day on television.
WN: What’s the best part of your current scenario?
SB: I consider myself incredibly lucky to have received the amount of training I did, which lead to my East African adventure, which lead to my foot in the door with CBC. But as happy as I am with my own position, I’m just as happy for my friends and former classmates. Having coworkers come back and say “Hey, I met your buddy Rich …” or “Guess who was at such-and-such event? Frances Willick …” is just a wonderful feeling. And people thought I was being facetious when I repeatedly said that the Class of 2009 was the greatest class ever.
FW: Since the job market is so tough for newcomers to traditional journalism, I always count myself lucky to be working in the field. I’m happy that Rich and Steve are also doing what they love to do, and having them nearby is just a bonus.
RG: I love that I work somewhere where I can share stories with classmates. If someone had told me that our class of 45 students would produce three working journalists in the same city given the state of the industry, I would have questioned their sanity. But being in the right place at the right time and embracing opportunity is how graduates need to function. And if you’re lucky, you may have a friend along the way.