who am I?
Jessica Estepa is a storyteller and a self-described news junkie/social media butterfly at the University of Nevada, Reno's reynolds school of journalism. To pay the bills, she is the multimedia editor at UNR’s insight magazine, a part-time reporter at the reno gazette-journal and an editorial assistant at the online nevada encyclopedia. She likes to think that after graduation, someone will hire her to do online journalism. But don’t worry, she comes up with a new back up plan every week.
When she’s not doing or thinking about journalism, she enjoys singing in karaoke bars, watching plays, musicals and college football, reading anything she can get her hands on, and ballroom dancing. She also likes piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, in case you were wondering.
why journalism?
I'm always meeting people who ask me this question. Sometimes, they're curious. Other times, they're cynical.
For me, the answer is always the same: "Why not?"
When I first became interested in journalism, I was convinced that I was going to be the next best thing that the newspaper world had ever seen. Eight years later, I'm not nearly as certain about anything concerning my future.
But I do know this -- wherever journalism goes in the next 5, 10, 20 years, I want to be a part of it. And at the end of the day, isn't that what matters?
I'm in this business to tell stories and to make a difference. I'm in this business to connect with my community. I'm in this business because I'm passionate.
In this changing media landscape, the possibilities are endless and the stories are infinite.
So again -- why not?
what's next?
I'm graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno in May 2010. I'm open to any possibility that comes my way, whether it's a journalism job in a small town, graduate school abroad or a shot on American Idol.