Some do not understand that you are working in the Student Press in this era. That is not a wrong thought. Nowadays, things are different from the olden days. Students in the 1st and 2nd years spend time on school activities and supporters. In the case of the 3rd and 4th years, they are spending time getting better grades and applying to get internships. The criterion of choice is mainly due to the experience to improve your chances of getting hired. Everyone does their best to find “cost-effective” activities that can fill up their resumes, one more page, without difficulties.

The Student Press cannot satisfy these conditions at all; whether it helps get a job, whether it has the distinction for a career, and whether it takes less time. This is because you have to hold down a job and take classes to write an article every week, such as choosing an item, interviewing, meetings, and editing. It’s a lot of work just to add the one liner “20XX-20XX Channel PNU Reporter” to your resume.

The whole Student Press faced the worst workforce shortage. So many of them faced a closing problem, and the existing press reported the “Discontinuance Crisis of the Student Presses.” PNU Newspaper was no exception. Finally, it was enforced with fewer than ten people and closed. When wild rumors like “PNU Newspaper discontinued” spread without facts, I entered here. There was no one keeping the job.

Though I have known every circumstance, I did like that because I wanted to revive the PNU Newspaper. I quit a part-time job because I knew I should spend a lot of time on it. I was an ambitious newcomer.

It came to my mind lively when I called PNU Headquarters for the first item interview. I was embarrassed to introduce myself as a “reporter,” and it was hard to continue asking questions if the answer was uncooperative. The first time I took on the special article, I was unfamiliar with doing everything independently. From finding contacts to sending messages to an utter stranger, those were the only experiences from here. Likewise, I was trained to be a reporter by spending “skilled time.”

Although my work-related time was too long to do other things, I did not feel like it was unfair. Instead, I had a passion for doing better by investing more time in it when I got used to it. If the answer did not come, I asked for it several times until I got it. Also, I learned how to request favors from someone who I do not like. Refusal for an interview was common. As it must not be spoiled, I had to look for a better source. I got lessons on communication ability and courage from enquiring everywhere.

So, I’ll tell them without hesitation. Because of this generation, I do work for the Student Press. I am spending “time that money cannot buy” in a tough university life, only leaving the competition to “reinforce a resume.” If there was no connection of Student Press, it would just slide by.

By Im Ha-Eun, the Editor-in-Chief of PNU Newspaper

Translated by Lee Yoon-Seo