Enterprising, resourcefulness, respect: Those are the three traits that Scott MacFarlane believes are the keys to success in the field of journalism.

MacFarlane, a 1998 alumnus of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and current Cox Television correspondent, stressed these traits in his speech on Monday night in Room 102 of Newhouse II.

The purpose of the lecture was to teach students how to get the story and get the job. He emphasized that the skills needed for each are much the same.

MacFarlane opened his lecture by talking about the significance Syracuse University had on his life. More specifically, the room in which he delivered his lecture, Room 102, was where he met his wife of nine years, Lisa, for the first time.

MacFarlane said multiple times in his speech that SU alumni are like an extended family: They always look out for each other. If students are enterprising, resourceful and respectful, he said, alumni will be more than willing to help SU students climb the ladder to success.

“Every time I was hired or promoted, those three things were in play in some way,” he said. “Those are things you can’t teach.”

When MacFarlane goes into work everyday, his boss asks him, “Scott, what are you doing today?” All he has to answer with, he said, is an original idea that hasn’t been done before.

“No need for you to push along a story that’s already been reported; anybody with an iPhone can do that,” MacFarlane said.

He told students that producers and editors want to hire an employee who can come up with stories that no one else is reporting on.

“By enterprising, you can create your own job. It reminded me why I was here in the first place,” said Elizabeth Jones, a broadcast and digital journalism graduate student.

Jones said she left the lecture motivated and encouraged.

The second point MacFarlane referenced in his lecture was the importance of being resourceful.

“Equipment will break down. You cannot go back to your manager or editor and tell them that you couldn’t do your job that day,” MacFarlane said.

He went on to describe a time when he was trying to get in touch with a CEO regarding the US Airways and American Airlines merger, and couldn’t get anyone to answer his questions. MacFarlane continued his pursuit and caught the CEO in the hallway to be sure he got the story.

The final point MacFarlane discussed was the importance of respect.

“If you can have a calloused tongue and lip from biting it so much, you will succeed,” MacFarlane said.

MacFarlane told students that the way they treat others will have a significant effect on whether they make it in their field. If employees are respectful, they will get good references. MacFarlane said this is especially important when working in a newsroom where tempers can get very heated.

At the end of the lecture, MacFarlane gave students advice on how to get a job after graduation using the skills discussed in his lecture. He spoke about the importance of keeping in touch with those who helped you.

“Keep them posted on how you’re doing,” MacFarlane said. “Don’t just use me when you need me; they want to know how you’re doing.”

 

Published on October 2, 2012 at 12:49 am

Contact Leslie: laking04@syr.edu