WJI Blog 2022, May 27 PM - Loosening Up

On Friday, almost a week into WJI, I found myself in an enjoyable rhythm of interacting with new friends, learning from stellar professors, and having challenging projects on the horizon. I particularly enjoyed Les Sillars’ lecture on “Journalism and the Moral Imagination.” Dr. Sillars touched a lot on the importance of recognizing a created order in our approach to journalism, and how story shapes the way we understand ourselves in the world. We discussed the “personal essay,” as well, and had a chance to write our own pieces and share with the rest of the class. Several people mentioned they were grateful for a writing exercise that allowed for a bit more freedom and less technical demand. Dr. Sillars concluded the lecture by saying, “You just have to relax. That doesn’t mean you get sloppy or lazy, but you just have to write.”

We went on to learn more a bit about recording podcast profiles with Paul Butler and got a little bit of experience with the relevant software. That was new for me, but I enjoyed learning yet another storytelling medium.

Overall, Friday afternoon was rich both in the substance of the lectures and in the opportunity to write a bit more personally on our life experiences.

- Peter Biles