[Journalists] blind former journalist

Fri Sep 16 11:26:07 UTC 2011

Hi Kevin,
Thanks for this encouraging message. I'd love to hear war stories about what you did. 

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: journalists-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:journalists-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Burton
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 5:44 PM
To: journalists at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Journalists] blind former journalist

Hi Jim,
   I was a newspaper reporter for about seven years.  Some of that time was spent on sports.  I had a very hard time breaking into the business because at that time you had to convince a newspaper editor you, as a blind person, could do the job.  Now you have a lot more options, writing/reporting online.  
   Transportation was the biggest hurdle for me as a blind journalist.  But if you really want to succeed, you'll find a way.  I rode to some stories with photographers, some with friends.  I took public transport when available.  I also lived in some small towns where you could walk to everything.  
   I did not do very much crime reporting but did everything else, from education to local government, agriculture, features and sports. 
   You always start as a "blind journalist." But if you're doing the job well you become just a journalist, with work equal to or better than that of your sighted colleagues. 

Kevin Burton
Wichita

--- On Thu, 9/15/11, journalists-request at nfbnet.org <journalists-request at nfbnet.org> wrote:

From: journalists-request at nfbnet.org <journalists-request at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Journalists Digest, Vol 58, Issue 2
To: journalists at nfbnet.org
Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 1:00 PM

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Help With A Class Assignment And Wishing To    Network
      (Kerri Kosten)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:43:41 -0400
From: Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
To: Blind Professional Journalists List <journalists at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Journalists] Help With A Class Assignment And Wishing To
    Network
Message-ID:
    <CAM6GWxzpp4f4PSUL0vdMSREv=+LQ1W9xTKzrXhoeeDwYBE6npA at mail.gmail.com>
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Hi Jim:

I'm also a student, so I don't have too much experience with being an
actual journalist but I have some ideas for the newsletter thing. I
would like to be a sports reporter as a career and am going to start
my own sports blog.

Anyway, some organizations that likely have newsletters besides the
NFB are the Association for Women In Sports Media, Society of
Professional Journalists, the Online News Association, Lions Clubs
International, the United Way, Make A Wish Foundation, the Elks Club,
the Rotery Club, and the Kawanas Club. Just look for service
organizations or other organizations and they will most likely have a
newsletter.

On 9/14/11, Elizabeth Campbell <liz at star-telegram.com> wrote:
> Hi Jim,
>
> Thanks for your note.
>
> There are any number of newsletters available to you. All you have to do
> is search out organizations, including the NFB, and I'm sure you will find
> numerous opportunities. We have divisions that publish newsletters, and
> you can find them onthe NFB web site
> www.nfb.org
>
> As for being a blind journalist, I work full time as a government affairs
> reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
> I think the most apparent challenge is the lack of a comprehensive public
> transportation system in north Texas. I cover a very large area none of
> which is accessible via our limited transit options.
> Other than that, I don't see differences between myself and sighted
> colleagues.
>
> Best regards.
>
>
> Elizabeth Campbell
> (817) 390-7696
> liz at star-telegram.com
> Fax: (817) 390-7789
> www.star-telegram.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: journalists-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:journalists-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Homme, James
> Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 8:04 AM
> To: journalists at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Journalists] Help With A Class Assignment And Wishing To Network
>
> Hi,
> I'm new to this list, so please tell me if this request is off-topic.
>
> First, the assignment. I am taking a course called Writing For Fun And
> Profit from http://www.vu.org/. One of the assignments is to sign up for
> ten writing newsletters. If you know of any you can recommend, would you
> please point me to them?
>
> Now, for the networking part. Is anyone willing to tell me what it's like
> to be a blind journalist?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Jim
>
>
> Jim Homme,
> Usability Services,
> Phone: 412-544-1810.
>
>
>
>
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