Loyola alumna stands on two feet despite journalism being on shaky ground
| October 18, 2016 |
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By Maggie Sullivan
鈥淚t鈥檚 not for the faint of heart,鈥� Elizabeth Greiwe said of working in journalism as it struggles to transition to a digital society.
Greiwe, a 2015 Loyola graduate, is the Voice of the People Editor at The Chicago Tribune. Far from faint of heart, she began working full-time at the Tribune her senior year of college鈥攐n top of a rigorous course load.
Her career in news began with an internship at The Chicago Tribune. When a position for an editorial board coordinator opened up, Greiwe was encouraged to apply. She was given the position even though she hadn鈥檛 yet completed her degree.
Despite the demands of senior year and having to sacrifice school activities like writing for the Loyola Phoenix and working at the student radio station WLUW, Greiwe endured working full-time and was later promoted.
Now it is her responsibility to carefully select opinions to be voiced in print. Everyday The Chicago Tribune receives more than 100 letters to the editor in response to current events and previous articles. To prepare the selected letters for publication, Greiwe fact-checks, makes edits, chooses photos and writes headlines.
The process invites people from all walks of life to have a public dialogue. Working to make sure readers are heard pushes Greiwe to see issues from unique perspectives every day.
鈥淚 like having a chance to challenge myself to not make assumptions about what people are saying and being able to give people a chance to have their say,鈥� Greiwe said.
Of course, her daily duties aren鈥檛 the only challenge that comes with working in journalism.
Industry-wide buyouts and layoffs leave many employees of media companies in constant trepidation of the future as newspapers continue to lose resources amid the chaos of changing technology.
鈥淚t鈥檚 scary being unsure what my future is and not knowing if I鈥檓 going to get laid off or if I鈥檓 going to leave first,鈥� Greiwe said. 鈥淚 had a mentor at one point鈥攕he also left [the Tribune]鈥攕he said you don鈥檛 retire from journalism anymore. You get another job or you get laid off. I keep that in mind all the time.鈥�
Nevertheless, Greiwe, 24, finds importance in her work. While she admits it would be nice to have a better paying job, working towards a greater purpose is more of a priority for now.
鈥淸The media] is the fourth branch of government. [Journalists] are doing a service for the people so you really have to take that to heart. If you look at it that way it鈥檚 easier to come to work every morning,鈥� Greiwe said.
鈥淣ow I鈥檓 happy to devote the time and the passion and the drive but in a couple years I don鈥檛 know鈥ou have to have a certain drive and a really good sense of creativity to be able to be in journalism for a long time鈥 wouldn鈥檛 discourage anybody from going into journalism but you need to make sure you really want it. You鈥檙e usually underpaid and overworked; at the same time, it鈥檚 such a fulfilling job,鈥� she said.
Working as an editor has well-prepared Greiwe for whatever her next step may be. In this position, she has become skilled at explaining complicated subjects and helping people improve their writing, which has led her to revisit her desire to be a teacher.
鈥淚鈥檓 a big reader and a big believer in always educating yourself more,鈥� Greiwe said. 鈥淚 loved being a student. Classes at Loyola wove together really well and I especially appreciate that the ideals of a Jesuit education were built in without ever being overpowering.鈥�
The journalism major also emphasized her adoration of Lake Shore Campus and it鈥檚 place in the city.
鈥淚 just loved being on campus. A sense of place is important to me. Feeling like you鈥檙e in a beautiful place puts me at ease; it makes me happy. Anytime I got to walk across campus鈥攅ven if it was blistering cold鈥擨 just loved it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be where I am right now if I had gone to a rural school.鈥�
But Greiwe鈥檚 education didn鈥檛 end when she graduated. Pulling a massive hardcover book from her bag, she said, 鈥淚 got really interested in Revolutionary War history. I read a book about the War of 1812, am now reading this 鈥榮hort鈥� [George] Washington biography and I鈥檝e got John Adams鈥檚 biography on tap.鈥�
Keeping up with her interests outside of work is of great importance to Greiwe and she advises current undergrads to consciously maintain a meaningful personal life as well.
鈥淚 wrote an op-ed right before I graduated. And I鈥檓 frequently reminded of it. A job doesn鈥檛 have to be your life. Some people are blessed enough to follow their passion but it鈥檚 OK not to. It鈥檚 OK to just work a job. Things other than your work can be your passion. You can have hobbies and spend time with your family and cat. That is OK,鈥� she said.
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 OK to not know what you鈥檙e doing,鈥� Greiwe continued. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e looking at your life and you don鈥檛 know where you鈥檙e going to be in five years, that鈥檚 ok. For the most part people end up just fine.鈥�
For more of Greiwe鈥檚 wise words, read her opinion on graduating http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-college-graduates-commencement-perspec-0501-20150430-story.html