Journalism is a very versatile and growing profession, especially with the advance of social media networks. Big newspapers and small newspapers alike have taken to Twitter and Facebook to get news out to the world. Local newspapers are the same, providing news for their communities, so that everyone has the opportunity to know what’s going on in the world around them.The Daily News Record (DN-R) in Harrisonburg falls into the local category, keeping residents on top of the news in their town.

The local journalist’s job is just as important as any other journalist, as they also keep people informed. Samantha Cole, who graduated from Eastern Mennonite University this past May, is a recent addition to the DN-R.

“[After graduation] I moved back home to Maryland until one of my advisers, Kristen Beachy, told me about that the DN-R had a feature position open. I was hired in June, so I’m a very new reporter with a lot to learn, but I love it so far,” Cole said.

Cole didn’t always have journalism as a career choice, until she took a  feature writing class and got involved in her college’s newspaper, the Weather Vane. Cole did other things to further her journalism career, such as being the Editor in Chief of her college’s newspaper, The Weather Vane, and spending time as a production intern at Al Jazeera English in DC.

“The time I spent on [the Weather Vane] played a huge role in shaping me as a reporter. I was able to hone my skills in a supportive environment, while learning so much from my peers and professors…I also worked  as an interview production intern at Al Jazeera English in DC during my senior semester. That experience lit my passion for journalism,” Cole said.

Journalist also face many difficulties on a daily basis so that they can get their best work out for the public to read. They are held responsible for the work they publish and have to make sure their articles are accurate.

“I think our main challenge as journalists is the responsibility of representing our sources accurately. They’re trusting us to tell their story, whether it’s about their organization’s fundraiser or their favorite swimming hole. And our readers are trusting us as well,” Cole explained.

Team work is also a big part of journalism. Without it, a newsroom would be chaotic and stories won’t get written on time.

“Working well with your fellow reporters and editors is vital in a newsroom. Communicating well with each other keeps ideas moving and fresh. We [journalists] all bring different experiences to the newspaper, so it’s great to be able to draw on each other’s strengths,” Cole said.

Local journalism gives reporters huge advantages as it allows them to explore their community deeper. For Cole, being a feature writer means going out into the city and finding the interesting stories residents have to share.

“I wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn from the community, in such a wide scope, at many other jobs.Getting to know the people who live and work in this town has been inspiring,” Cole said.

Getting to know community members also gives journalists many interesting stories to pass on.

“One of my first articles was on the rise of women’s boutiques in the area, so I went around to downtown shops and talked to the owners in their stores. More recently, I wrote about the nightlife scene of the ‘burg, and went to a few of the restaurants to interview bartenders and restaurant owners about their jobs,” Cole recalled. “My job definitely has a lot of fun moments.”

Fun aside though, local journalism does not only get community members informed, but also ties them together.Journalists are the tool by which people have their voices heard through out a city, big or small, and should be on the career list of anyone who enjoys learning about their town. Either they write about sports, politics, or feature writing, reporters do their best to bring residents together and make them a close knit community.