One of my biggest fears…

Was that I wouldn’t find a job after college in my field of study: Communications. I knew when I applied to the College of Communications that jobs in the field were competitive. Some people who I’d spoken with who’ve graduated with a degree in communications weren’t doing what they wanted to do; others had a job totally unrelated to communications.

I knew all of this when I applied, but I was eager to work hard and follow my dream of working in television. Besides, I wasn’t going to waste money going to college if I wasn’t going to be studying something I loved, something I could see myself doing in the future…Frankly, I might as well be miserable working at McDonald’s if I had chosen to take that route...

My name is Jackie…

I’m a senior at Rowan University, and I just started the job of my dreams. Exactly one month ago, I began my position as Investigative Researcher and Digital Content Producer for the NBC10 Investigators. If you’re not familiar with the NBC10 Investigators, shame on you!…Just kidding…I actually didn’t know much about them before I landed an internship in their unit this past summer.

Let me tell you a little bit about them…The Investigators Unit is made up of reporters, Lu Ann Cahn and Harry Hairston, Producer, Ed Dress, Photographer, Dave Bentley, and, now…Me! The way our unit works is, viewers give us tips on different investigative stories or call us with their own troubles and ask for our help. We’ve investigated everything from predators lurking on Myspace to a chicken wing distributor setting up shop in his garage!

One time, when I was an intern, I went out with Lu Ann to do a story on a street that was in dire need of a guard rail. The issue was…cars would go speeding down this road, lose control, and crash right into one family’s backyard. This family dealt with several accidents; one involving a truck flying through their fence and into their pool while the father and his son were swimming. (Couple Wants Action After Third Car Lands In Yard)---The pictures of this truck sitting headfirst in their pool are incredible!

Anyway…after this story aired, the township sped up their investigation and finally put a guard rail up! It was really cool to see how this story played such a big role in getting the township to take action!

That’s what I love about the investigators…The stories we investigate really help people and have an effect on the local community. It’s a rewarding job…

The subject of my blog is A Day in the Life of an Investigative Researcher…

I started it for a course project, but I’m excited to finally have a reason to blog! And, I figured I could use this time to write about my own experiences working in news….For all you other students who are worried about breaking into the field of journalism, I want to share with you my own personal account of how I made it inside the newsroom.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m no expert. I don’t have all the answers. I was extremely fortunate AND lucky to have had my internship during a time when a position opened up in the Investigators Unit. But, I worked hard to get here and I feel as though I have some good advice.

There were so many times my friends and family would tell me I should go into nursing or teaching because those professions guarantee you a job after school. The sad part is…there were times I considered doing this. The happy part is…I didn’t! I kept following my dream! And, I’m here to say…anyone who has the dream of one day working in journalism shouldn’t let others discourage them!

I thought…maybe, just maybe…my experience might help others who are in the same boat as me.