This is the beginning of my journey into new media journalism — a reflection on the steps that often go unnoticed but matter just as much as the visible ones.
The Power of the First Thought
The first steps in doing anything are often the hardest — and sometimes we overlook the very first step: the thought itself.
Thinking about
what needs to be done
how to do it
when to start
what tools will be needed
and why it must be done
are possibly the most important parts of the process.
Well, in my opinion.
There have been so many times I didn’t even consider the ideas or brainstorming as part of the “to-do” list. Whatever I wrote down was the list, and I felt like the work didn’t start until I began doing those things. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
I recently discovered, within myself, that ideas are just as much a part of the process as the actual list of things I want to do.
Finding My Direction
On my journey to accomplish my goals, the first thing I did was ask myself:
What is it that I truly want to do — something I will enjoy doing?
This was the most important question I could ask because I didn’t want to pursue my next degree without knowing I would actually apply it. I didn’t want it to end up like my marketing degree, which I still haven’t utilized. I want my master’s degree to be in a field I’m passionate about — something I already do naturally, even without the professional title or accolades to match.
Once I found my answer, I enrolled in my program — Masters of Arts in New Media Journalism.
Step one complete.
Building the Plan
Next step: develop a plan to put myself out there in the industry I want to join.
The plan?
Deciding what I want to publish, where to publish it, and how to promote it are all parts of the plan I hadn’t accounted for — until I finally did.
One key element of that plan was understanding what scope creep is — and how to avoid it. I’ve been plagued so many times by uncompleted projects because I let my ideas grow far beyond what I was capable of (or truly wanted) to do.
This time, I defined what I want to do — and why — along with what I’ve already established and how to build from it. By doing this, I can see where scope creep might appear and take deliberate steps to prevent it.
Publishing with Purpose
A huge milestone comes with publishing this piece — it marks my first official step into New Media Journalism. I can’t call myself a new media journalist if I’m not publishing anything. However, new media doesn’t just mean written content.
What’s the medium of delivery?
Text, audio, video — or all of them?
Social media? Absolutely.
Publishing this is a big step, but it’s only part of the path. It’s vital that I learn how to document my focus area across multiple mediums — not just in new ways, but in simultaneous, connected ways that create greater visibility and discovery.
It’s also important to start this early, instead of waiting for my degree program to begin. By creating an abundance of thoughtful, well-produced content ahead of time, I give myself a better chance at success — both academically and professionally — and build recognition among classmates and professors alike.
This, in turn, gives me more talking points when presenting myself and my work to professionals I’d like to collaborate with.
Step Check-In
Step 1: Formulate the ideas — ✅ Complete
Step 2: Develop the plan — ✅ Complete
Step 3: Identify areas of concern — 🔄 In progress
At this checkpoint, I can say I’ve already accomplished a lot of the initial steps — but there’s still more to do.
Step 4: Refine the plan — include everything that should and shouldn’t be done.
Reflection
Yes, the first steps are tough, but once we take them, they help us realize how much we’ve already accomplished — and what more we’re capable of. It’s not just about starting; it’s about manifesting what we’re reaching for.
Taking those first steps allows us to build deliberately and professionally — not hastily or sloppily.
Take the first steps.
Next up: What I am going to be reporting on and publishing.
thegamelagjournal.com 