Who needs Superman?

Not me.

In today’s world, telling someone you’re going into journalism merits expressions of horror akin to the type I would assume you’d get if you told someone your life ambition was to be the captain of the Titanic.  But here I am: a 20-year-old pursuing an industry that politicians, CEOs and old-school newspaper men  continue to describe as “failing” or “transforming;” an industry, that no one really knows what to do about, and many would say needs a Superman to come and save the day — fly around the world a couple times and turn back the clocks to the newspaper golden years.

I disagree.  We don’t need a Superman.  We need a Lois Lane.

Lois Lane, for those of you who are not familiar with this heroine of the Superman series, was the Daily Planet’s star reporter.  A smart, savvy, stubborn and sly newspaper journalist, Lane always takes the toughest assignments and would gladly infiltrate the most evil of villain’s lair if it meant getting the scoop.

She once drove her car, full speed, into the bay so Superman would come in and save her.  After he pulled her out of the water, she asked him for an interview.

Point is: fictional though she may be, Lois Lane had the right idea.  And she epitomized what I hope to be as a journalist: a ruthless, smart, hardworking, intrepid reporter who wouldn’t let hard times in the industry (or in the world) get her down.  She would keep on risking it all for a profession that she loved and believed in — Superman or not.

So it is with this blog that I hope to take a look at journalism and at the world through the eyes of one who questioned the belief that there would always be a Superman there to save the day.  Because, like it or not, it looks like we’re on our own.

W.W.L.D?

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