Young columnist reflects on first year of writing

A year has passed since I became a newspaper reporter, and I have to say I have learned a few things. Over the past 12 months, I have interviewed and featured 10 individuals. Some of them I knew, and some of them I didn't. Some of the interviews were so easy that it didn't feel like work at all.

First, I learned that one of the keys to having a good interview is to make sure the person is comfortable and that the interview is all about them. It is also helpful to write down the interview questions ahead of time and bring a few extra just in case- you really can't have too much information when writing a good article.

Second, I was surprised to find out just how much emotion can be involved with interviewing people. Sometimes interviewees get really nervous and don't even know how to answer the simplest questions. I also noticed that the more confident I am with people, the more comfortable they are with me.

When it comes to writing, I just have to say- it takes time and can be a challenge! If you enjoy writing, consider yourself lucky. I admit, some articles seem to write themselves. They just come together. Others take a lot more work, and demand far more focus than I have.

I found it is really helpful to have someone (or multiple someones) take a look at my articles before I say "it's done!" I am lucky to have mentors when it comes to grammar and spelling. My mother Rachel Brazil is the copy editor at the Transcript and ensures each article is easy to read. Mine is no exception. Amy Wobbema, the publisher at the Transcript, is more than willing to give each of my articles a read through and make suggestions as to how I can improve. A second or third set of eyes can prevent silly mistakes and make the article better. I also learned that making revisions are part of the writing process, and that the simplest change can make for big impacts in the meaning of the words.

It is no longer surprising when someone stops me in public to mention an article they enjoyed. It is still a little embarrassing though, because I don't really know what to say besides "thank you." I had originally thought that kids my own age might be interested in my column, but as I've been informed by my classmates, "newspapers are for old people."

To that statement, I say phooey. I'm sorry my fellow fourth graders, but newspapers are for everyone. That is what makes them so great. Sure they've been circulating around the United States for a long time (since 1690), but newspapers are still important tools for sharing information. Much of the news featured in our local newspaper is original and unique. These are stories that will never make it to the big news sites, but that doesn't mean they are any less important to our community. Without our local paper, we wouldn't know much of what is going on around us.

Newspapers are for informed people. Because of our local newspapers, Transcript readers know the details about the Steinbach re-sentencing, donations to Dollars for Scholars and other charities, and how local bison ranchers faced flooding and freezing head on.

In conclusion, I say newspapers are not for old people, they are for all people who want to expand the amount of knowledge they hold in their brain.

Here is my New Year's Resolution and challenge for any of you skeptics. Sit down and read a newspaper today – then tomorrow and again whenever – just do it more often. Who knows, maybe we'll all learn something!