Former student returns to South to discuss budding journalism career

Karins graduated from South in 2013, now interns for St. Louis American

Jessica+Karins+gathers+with+the+rest+of+the+Webster+Journal+staff.

Courtesy of Jessica Karins

Jessica Karins gathers with the rest of the Webster Journal staff.

Not many people know what they want to do when they grow up till later on in life, well Jessica Karins knew for years.

On Sept. 29, Karins came to her former high school to speak with the Beginning Journalism class.

“I knew I wanted to be a journalist during the 2008 election. It was the first time I was interested in politics. It’s so cool what journalists do, telling both sides of the story,” said Karins.

Karins has wanted to go into journalism for years, which begs the question of what she would have gone into instead of journalism?

“I think I’d probably be doing something in politics or writing grants,” said Karins.

Jessica Karins is 23 and a senior at Webster University. She once went  to Mizzou, but transferred after two years.

“The environment at Mizzou was very difficult for me to go to school. I ended up going to Webster. They were so much more interested in making sure their students succeed,” said Karins.

Karins has written a multitude of stories, some of great importance and some of not.

“The most important story I’ve written is the one the day of the Stockley verdict… It probably reached the widest audience of any story I’ve ever done,” said Karins.

Journalism has a lot of choices. What not to put into the article, how deep to dig, how far is too far. Journalists must choose what is okay to write about and what is not.

“I had to write about my university… there was a white supremacy group leaf letting… the editor decided not to put their name in the paper as to not give them free publicity. In the end their name was published. The most important thing are making decisions that will make you okay to look at yourself in the morning the next day,” said Karins.

Karins supplied a look in on the life of a journalist, particularly speaking about their writing freedoms.

“There is nothing I won’t write about because I don’t have the privilege as a young person. I was assigned to do a contemporary art review and I don’t know anything about that field,” said Karins.

Karins also spoke on her time at South High, and the things she experienced.

“I got to go out of state to two conferences while I was here… it’s foundational skills that I learned at the Treaty,” said Karins.

She spoke about the stories she wanted to do, and how she was pushed back on occasion.

“I wanted to do a story about drugs at South High. Everybody is more concerned about their image and making themselves look good, instead of addressing a real problem,” said Karins.

She touched on the topic of how schools see their students and student journalists.

“Schools see students as the product. They’re supposed to work and get good grades. They think these kids should be focused on work,” said Karins.

Karins has a faced obstacles with becoming a journalist, from moving universities to having condescending adults, but she stayed at it. Journalism is not for everyone, and while Karins may deal with the hardships, others may not.

“If you think to yourself at 1 a.m. thinking ‘God, I wish I had a easier job’, then get a easier job,” said Karins.