Penn State College of Communications comMedia

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Student Portfolios

Mark Viera

Mark Viera

Major: Journalism

Year: Junior

I am a sports reporter, which is an amorphous concept to some. I am not a fan. And contrary to the old newspaper saying, I do not work in the "Toy Department." I consider myself a serious journalist, because my job is fundamentally no different from anyone else in the newsroom. The people I cover just happen to be tall and often famous.

I did not realize that when I first picked up a pad and a pen in high school. I was set on becoming a sports reporter so I could sit front-row at games and hang out with celebrity athletes. I have since realized there's more to journalism than just watching sporting events. But my platform as a sports reporter is one that I still relish.

During newspaper internships and time as a staff reporter for The Daily Collegian, Penn State's student newspaper, I have had the chance to cover a variety of stories, from overtime games to courtroom judgments. And I have really learned about being a journalist. That means gathering the best obtainable information for a news report, or exploring issues in an enterprise piece, or telling a truly personal feature story. Now, I'm learning, that also means working with multimedia to enhance articles in the dead-tree edition.

With one year remaining at Penn State, I am already looking forward to starting my career in journalism. Though it is a changing time for newspapers, I have learned that regardless of whether the story is told in print or online, or supplemented with a slideshow or video, my fundamental role as a journalist -- a sports reporter, no less -- will not change.