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Andrea Hammack is a junior graphic design major and art minor, but she’s also the Trojan Living section editor for the Tropolitan. Here are a few answers and tips an introverted journalist needs. 

Question 1: What does your position include? 

Answer: Each week I assign my writers stories, I usually contribute a story or two per week myself. I do a first round of edits before sending stories to the copy editor and on Wednesday’s I go in with all the other editors and lay out my pages to be sent to the printer! 

Question 2: Did you have a background in journalism before you became a section editor? 

Answer: My senior year of high school, we finally started a small school “paper” and that’s when I discovered my love for journalism. I have also been writing for the Tropolitan since my Freshman year, so almost 3 years now! 

Question 3: Were you nervous or hesitant to take on the position? 

Answer: Yes! I deal with anxiety daily and this was a scary idea, but it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Though I was nervous to accept, everyone within the Trop family was very encouraging and made me confident in my ability to learn and succeed as an editor.  

Question 4: What are a few ways you want to improve your staff? 

Answer: I’ve already been collaborating with one of my writers to bring in more music journalism into my section, and I’m very excited to see where that portion of the paper goes. It’s been really cool seeing so much involvement and excitement from them. I just want my writers to be able to come up with ideas on their own that they can be proud of; to be more confident in the things they want to write so that they can have fun with it. I want them to be confident when they’re the ones in leadership positions.  

Question 5: What advice do you have for aspiring journalists? 

Answer: As nerve-wracking as it might be, there are so many ways to be involved that you will find a place in which you’re comfortable and confident in your abilities if you keep trying. One thing I love about working with the team I work with is their openness to new ideas. If you bring something to the table, there is a high chance you’ll receive the encouragement and help you need to see it through. One of my favorite things about being a journalist is that you will always be in a situation where you meet interesting people that otherwise you wouldn’t have spoken to. Being able to form those connections with new people will make you a better person, I guarantee it. It can seem intimidating at first, but the more you write, the easier it’ll be. Just stick with it. 

You can check out Andrea’s work at The Trop’s Arts and Living section.