At the start of this class, I believed journalism was just about writing well. I thought I’d focus on crafting headlines, reporting facts, and editing text. But as I wrap up this final project, my view of journalism and my role in it has completely transformed.
This course taught me that today’s journalists don’t just write stories they build them using data, visuals, timelines, podcasts, and interactive media. Through the process of researching school district performance, analyzing MSTEP math scores, embedding Google Maps, and reflecting on podcasts and social media strategies, I learned how powerful multimedia can be when it’s used to clarify and connect with audiences.
What surprised me most was how technical this all got using DataWrapper, Timeline JS, cleaning data sets, making spreadsheets shareable, embedding multimedia elements and yet how human the work remained. Every assignment forced me to think critically: How do I make this data meaningful? Is this source trustworthy? What’s the best way to present this story?
My final timeline includes all these components at least six clear entries with images, embeds, smart links, and media credits. But more importantly, it reflects my growth as a student who came in unsure about digital storytelling and is leaving more confident, more capable, and more excited about the future of journalism.
