A Carillon farewell

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Going out guns blazing./ Brett Nielson

Going out guns blazing./ Brett Nielson

Multimedia editor Brady says goodbye after two long years at the Carillon

So, here we are. Another Carillon year has come and gone, and what a ride it’s been. Funny to think that after capping off my second year here at the Carillon and, unfortunately, my last week, but damn, has it been a ride.

I remember walking into the Carillon last year as a freshman, nervous as hell trying to find the office that would unknowingly become the spot I’d basically live in during my time at the University of Regina. Little did I know that that one interview would spark some of the coolest experiences of my life.

Who else could say that at the age of 19 that they were able to interview athletes such as Theoren Fleury and Geroy Simon? The time I was able to spend here opened my eyes in so many ways and pushed me to journalistic bounds that I would have – in any other circumstance – not be able to do until, as some people would say, “when you’re actually a journalist”.

I’ve considered myself a journalist since the moment that Carillon Editor-in-Chief, Michael Chmielewski, called me while I was on the golf course just two short summers ago. Who woulda thunk it, eh?

Stepping into my first interview was mind blowing. Here I am, just a few days away from legally being able to buy a lotto max and I have a microphone and am speaking to the greatest receiver in Canadian Football League history. All I could think was “Damn, I’ve made it.”

The next day, when I actually had to start the article, I realized that there was actually hard work involved in putting a story together. Reflecting what interviewees said and turning that into full-fledged, flawless stories that would actually interest a reader into not only reading that story, but also keep them coming back for more.

That, in part, is what makes journalism such a tough profession, but one of the most rewarding by far. After that first story, I was hooked and constantly focused on improving every skill needed to become a better writer, interviewer, and overall a better journalist.

Throughout the next 21 months, this job has been kick ass. Regardless of how tough a job is as a writer or an editor, seeing your name in print or online as the author or editor of the piece, it becomes the highlight of your week. Getting feedback on little ways you can improve and pushing yourself not only because of the masses, but also to improve the credibility of the Carillon and the members of our staff here.

Every week, we work our asses off to bring you kick ass news, arts, sports and op-ed pieces, as well now in doing videos and podcasts through our new multimedia section.

Through all the hard work we do here at the Carillon, we are still university students; so being on the staff of the Carillon is a unique experience that many people will never be able to do. Having to leave of skip classes due to interviewing students, athletes and people involved in stories can get hectic, but at the end of the day, everything is worth it.

Being able to tell the stories of someone who deserves more recognition than they’re initially getting is so rewarding. Being noticed from afar after writing a story is really the best part of this job. I actually got a message from one of my old friends in Ontario completely at random thanking me for writing an article that I wrote on players in the OHL being suspended over Tinder and accountability of athletes at any age.

Even though that kind of praise is amazing, pushing out articles such as “Don’t date in University” made this job so much fun. Being able to push out articles for the Arts & Culture section was awesome, because I was able to show more of my personality – well I at least hope you guys get my sarcasm…

Looking back at my time spent here, there’s a lot I would change, but just as much that I wouldn’t have wanted to change at the same time. I was able to meet many awesome people from across Canada and in the United States, working at the Carillon instantly made university for myself.

While implementing the Multimedia section this year has been tough, I was able to do my favourite piece: sitting down and talking to Theoren Fleury about his life and his road to sobriety. Meeting a former NHL superstar – and the man that wrote one of my favourite books, Playing with Fire – couldn’t have been better. Seeing the people behind the name and talking about their lives and what they hope to do with their stardom was amazing.

Looking back on these two years, I feel like not only personally, but also as a media base, the Carillon has changed in so many great ways.

I look forward to watching these fine people at the Carillon as this company keeps growing and improving in the next few years.

Thanks a lot to everyone who has contributed to this paper’s success and continue to watch this company grow in the future, and always remember, “Illegitimi non carborundum” – and for those who can’t read Latin, “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”

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