RENOWNED JOURNALIST LEE IVORYVISITS NSU COMMUNICATIONS STUDENTS
By JALIZA BRAXTON
To jump start the celebrationof MCJRWeek atNorfolkState University, overtwo dozen students of theuniversity's Department of MassCommunications and Journalismgathered in the lecture room ofHugo J. Madison Hall. Whatthey did not know was that theywere not in it to be lectured, butinstead have a conversation witha seasonedjournalist and scholar.
Lee Ivory former USAToday reporter, editor, and
deputy managing editor andpublisher of USA Today SportsWeekly , shared his storiesand advice with the hope ofinspiring young j ournalists.
He began by telling the storyof his journey as a 22-year-old reporter from Arkansas,fresh out of college, workinghis first reporting job with the
Shreveport Times in Shreveport,Louisiana. He talked of thechallenges he faced and thelessons he learned from them,and he also spoke ofhis love formeeting new people each day.
You really have to beinvolved even if you
don't work for your
college newspaperor yearbook
"It was the greatest job, the
greatest experience for mebecause not only was I in apbsition to practice my craft,to show everything that I hadlearned in college and all ofthose 7 a.m. mornings laying
out the newspaper when nobodyelse was there, but I got to meetall of these people everyday."
He then encouraged studentsto not only enjoy what theydo, but to practice what theywant to do before they gotout into the real world where
they would be expected tohave a set ofpolished skills.
"The one constant that Ihad in my college career, myacademic career, was that Ialways practiced my writing,"said Ivory. "You really have tobe involved even if you don't
QUAME'HAMUN I
SPARTAN ECHOLee lvoryis o formerUSA Todoyreporter, editor,ond deputymonogingeditor ondpublisher of USATodoy SportsWeekly.
work for your college newspaperor yearbook," he later added.
In between a few recollectionsof major interviews with toppoliticians on the nation'scapital as a reporter with the
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Gannet News Service, Ivorymade sure students knewhow important it was to be
prepared for opportunity."There is no 'dyed-in-the
wool'blueprint or outline for ajournalistic career or any careerfor that matter," said Ivory.
"A lot of it is broken-fieldrunning; a lot of it is beingin the right place at the righttime, and most of it is beingprepared," he added.
A long way from servingas a reporter in Louisiana,and with nearly 30 years ofjoumalistic experience underhis belt, Ivory channeledhis learning experience intoa teaching opporhrnity.
"l tell my stuclents youdon't have to be an expert atanything, but you do have tohave the capacity to learn, andlearn quickly," Ivory said.
Nominated 201 I VirginusDabney Distinguished Professorat Virginia CommonwealthUniversity in Richmond, Va.,Ivory explained his progressionfrom the newsroom to theclassroom as "natural."
"I thought it was a naturalprogression," said Ivory ofhis new teaching role. "I lovebeing around young people. Ilove talking to young people."
Ivory also serves as presidentof the Washington Associationof Black Joumalists (WABJ), anaffiliate of National Associationof Black Journalists (NABJ),where each summer a groupof high school studentsare selected to participatein journalism workshopssponsored by the organization.
"I think with studentsthat have very unique needsand very unique situations,you've got to listen to whatthey're saying," said Ivory.
"Journalism is a very veryreal and fulfilling career, itcan be," he said. "It'sjustlike everything else; youhave to be dedicated to it,you have to practice it."
Ivory will continue teachingundergraduate and graduatelevel courses in multimediajournalisrn at the VCU Schoolof Mass Communicationsand Journalism in the andfall semester of 2011 .
