Journalism Hero

I don’t think I have a journalism hero, but I do have a few journalists I respect greatly. Maureen Dowd would be at the top of that list. Let me count the reasons why.

Dowd fascinates me with her Op-ed articles. I have always loved the opinion page and have spent a great deal of my college career writing them myself. I love when people have something to say and can say it I an educated and factual way. Dowd is what I aspire to be.

Dowd works for the “New York Times.” Is there a better place to write for in the entire world? Not to me. That is the end game.  Now, let me be clear, I personally am aware of the fact that I will never work there. However, in the fantasy that plays in my head— I would work here. It is literally THE dream.

During the 1970’s and 1980’s, Dowd worked for “Time” and “Washington Star.”

During this time she covered news, features and sports. That is pretty awesome. Sports writing is a language all it’s own. What I appreciate most about Dowd is that she is a well-rounded journalist. She seems to be able to write for any section of the paper.

Dowd won the Pulitzer Prize in 1999 for her coverage of the Monica Lewinsky/Clinton scandal. Another dream. Who doesn’t want to be a Pulitzer Prize winner in this field? “Glamour” magazine also named her woman of the year in 1996.

I love that Dowd speaks out about politics and gender topics. She tends to cover the topics I personally find fascinating so it is easy to look to her for inspiration.

Although I cannot go as far as to say she is my journalism hero (there are just too many wonderful journalists out there to narrow it down to one) she is definitely the kind of woman and professional I aspire to be someday.