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On journalism...
By Tracy Swartz
Convicted murderer Rigoberto Sanchez-Velasco had three minutes until a lethal injection would permeate his veins.
I looked on, determined to squash a sinking, nervous feeling coming from deep within.
It’s not every day a 20-year-old college journalist witnesses the death penalty.
I fixated my eyes on the hefty inmate as his time ticked away.
I didn’t flinch when he winked to his priest.
I listened closely as he uttered his last words in a thick Spanish accent.
Within a few short seconds his life was over.
At that moment I knew I had chosen the right career path.
As a journalist I was determined to convey the life-altering scene to readers.
Few young students have seen what I have seen.
Last year, I watched a University of Florida professor scrape bug splats off a Greyhound bus in an attempt to identify that gunk on your car.
In July, I investigated a brutal murder and tracked down the victim’s and suspect’s family members, sometimes beating the police.
I have reported on crime scenes, sentencing hearings, city council meetings and memorial services.
Every person I meet – from the accident victim to the professor to the murder suspect – strengthens my respect for journalism.
I see this profession as an opportunity to accurately inform readers while bringing them to the action.
I also know how to break down complex issues for readers.
In September, I sifted through 3 inches of legal paperwork and environmental data to report on a potential lawsuit against UF.
During my Duluth internship, the courts reporter was unable to cover the fourth day of a murder trial.
I had been reading his coverage of the proceedings and was able to take over.
Later that month, I wrote a lengthy profile on a murder suspect who refused to be interviewed.
I can offer any newspaper team diverse experience and determination.
E-mail Tracy Swartz
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