The final deadline

I’ve always had a fascination with words and storytelling. Growing up, I would wake up every Saturday morning with a stack of pancakes, a copy of my hometown newspaper and a pen. I vividly remember, much to the playful teasing of my family, editing the spelling and grammar errors within that weekly publication. I’ve been involved in student journalism, more specifically yearbook, since seventh grade. I have continued to be blessed by pursuing that love during my time on the Petit Jean staff.
As a self-proclaimed grammar and journalism nerd, I had the opportunity this past summer to visit the Newseum in Washington, D.C., and it was the most perfect, surreal experience I could have been gifted for my 19th birthday.
The day I visited the Newseum, I immediately fell in love with everything the establishment stood for. I was not old enough to remember the events of 9/11, yet the exhibit honoring the journalists who risked their lives alongside first responders left me with goosebumps for the rest of the day. Hearing the story of a man who ran toward a cloud of smoke as one of the towers began to fall left me feeling somber, opening my eyes to how passionate journalists are.
I was a wide-eyed sophomore public relations major in the midst of a museum dedicated to the art of storytelling. My family allowed me to have a field day in the Newseum. I took a glimpse inside a replica of a newsroom that resembled the one I worked in last semester. I read stories of the photographers behind some of the world’s most iconic photographs. I looked at a wall, each country of the world color-coded to represent the freedoms of the press. It was all wonderful, but I will never forget standing at the top of the Newseum, staring below at Pennsylvania Avenue, sandwiched between the Capitol and the White House.
Visiting the Newseum was hands-down the highlight of my trip to Washington, D.C., (although Capital One Arena, home of the Washington Capitals hockey team, was a very close second.) This institution of journalism confirmed my love and appreciation for journalists and mass communication professionals; I had indeed found my calling. I could not wait until I could visit the D.C. metro area and the Newseum again.
The communication department takes a trip before the beginning of each spring semester to D.C. and New York City, with a visit to the Newseum as an attraction. After experiencing the Newseum, and the organized chaos of Washington, D.C., I could not wait to go back.
Recently, the Newseum announced that its doors would close for good at the end of this year. I feel that the timing of its closure reflects the changing world that is modern journalism. Front page news stories are replaced by Twitter moments. Ink and paper are replaced by pixels on a screen.
The Newseum represents all of the dreams, hopes and aspirations for journalists. It’s a place where young, self-proclaimed English and journalism nerds, such as myself, could bask in the stories and legacies of world-renowned storytellers. It is a beacon of light in a time where the future of print journalism remains uncertain, and it has gifted thousands with its message. Final deadline may have arrived for the Newseum, but for those it has inspired, the journey has only begun.