John Williams is a tall man who is hard to miss with his confident demeanor and projecting voice.
A photojournalist at Newsday, he has accomplished more in his career that some journalists ever dream of, including winning the Pulitzer prize for his work in Rwanda. Â
But meeting him in our small secluded classroom, he made a point that it isn’t about money or success but doing something he truly believes in and cares about.
“If you don’t enjoy reporting and like what you do, you won’t do as good of a job. When you love it, you see journalism differently.” (I might not have gotten the exact quote…sorry)
This was the speech he shared before he went into the story of his own career.
Being a photojournalist, he hadn’t discovered his calling for photography until a bit late in the game- when he was 24 and out of college.
Being an incoming senior, I figure the deadline to know our future career path is by sophomore year of college, if not sooner. But in retrospect it really doesn’t matter when you find your “calling,” but what you do with it when you know.
Williams’s calling has led him to take beautiful pictures of some of the most monumental moments in history, such as the inauguration ceremony of President Barack Obama. He has also gained the privilege of traveling around the world to places in Africa and the Middle East. He informs us that his commuting can be quite dangerous, always anxious when leaving for another trip across seas. But his work is also crucial, it is important for the people to be informed about the issues occurring across the world and to never forget how fortunate we are.
In a nutshell, Williams is the kind of reporter I hope to be someday. My favorite types of articles are human interest, and to be able to make a difference through something I enjoy is an ideal dream.
Anyone can write about the latest celebrity scandal, but to be able to reach out to people from another culture and have them open up to you about their lives is what makes journalism a beautiful and miraculous profession.Â