My Semester as Blog Content Contributor

By Brent Ramirez
Blog Content Contributor

For the past nine weeks, I have been writing articles as a Blog Content Contributor for KTSW, and let me say: it’s been a tough nine weeks. I knew becoming a writer would be pretty difficult, but this job has challenged me to the best of my ability. Nonetheless, it has definitely been something that I’ve enjoyed, writing new stories each week that would be published online for the masses to read.

I’ll admit, going into my final fall semester as a senior seemed a bit daunting as I was looking to go into a bulk of my major-specific classes, but to be completely honest, the thing I was most nervous about was joining KTSW’s web content staff. I was surprised when I got hired for the job, knowing that my writing was sub-par at best. But for some reason, the department saw some potential in me or something that made them think I was fit for the job. So I decided to step up to the plate.

I began simple, with things I knew. I wrote little Netflix reviews since I was very familiar with TV. This was in my comfort zone so I was fine, but I eventually started writing more personal stories, like the pros and cons of commuter life. It was with the latter that I realized I wasn’t half bad at writing about my personal life, so I slowly transitioned to those types of articles, doing my best to interject my personality into the stories I felt more people could relate to. Then I thought, “¿Porque no los dos?” Or for those who haven’t seen the incredible Old El Paso taco commercials, “Why not both?” I could write about things that I liked, while still trying to reach a wide audience.

This led to me writing a few WYSBEF posts, or “Why You Should Be Excited For [insert movie or show here]”, as well as several foodie-type articles. After a few weeks of fiddling around with my writing style, I eventually found my rhythm and the stories came out naturally. Ironically, I always saw writing as something so boring and a hassle, but now I have really grown to enjoy it. If you know me, you’ll know I’m not the best with my words when I talk, stuttering here and there and always trying to put my thoughts into words that don’t even make sense. But writing has given me an avenue to say the things I mean without having to sound like an idiot (at least… for the most part).

Well I’m here now, writing my last story for the semester and looking back on it all, I’m glad I pushed myself to apply for this job in the first place. As a mass communication major, writing has become a large part of all my classes. But writing for the blog every week has truly challenged me. Instead of writing scripts or fake news stories, I was writing from the mind and the heart, about things that I wanted to write about. The stress from constantly worrying about meeting deadline has beaten me up quite a good amount this semester, but I’m more than looking forward to continue writing for the blog next semester.

This job has tested my imagination, ability and ingenuity on a weekly basis and I truly believe it has led me to become much more eloquent in not only my writing, but with my speech as well. While it may be a bit too late to join KTSW for the Spring of 2017 by the time you read this, I do encourage anyone and everyone even remotely interested in writing to apply to KTSW as a blog content contributor. Being a member of KTSW has introduced me to some really great people in both the department and the station as a whole, and for that I’m truly grateful. I could go on about the people here, but I’ll just leave it at thank you to everyone who has made this experience a worthwhile one.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Holiday Season, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I’ll see y’all in the Spring!

-B.