AAJA San Diego is featuring a member of the chapter and the work they do. This is the eighth profile.
Steven Bartholow is part of the new-age journalism that’s rising in response to current state of the print industry. Currently the multimedia editor for the San Diego News Network, Bartholow has a knack for promoting news through online media, using multimedia and social networking. Occasionally, Bartholow writes for the political section and does marketing for SDNN.com.
With a degree in journalism and minor in political science, Bartholow graduated in 2008 from San Diego State University, where he was the president of the Society of Professional Journalists chapter there.
In the past, Bartholow not only did on-air work but also online work for KPBS and other local news radio stations like Clear Channel Radio. He also worked at the Kaplan Journal as the online editor and web designer.
Bartholow got involved in AAJA this September through Hoa Quach, the current president of AAJA’s San Diego chapter, who he has known since college.
“I have met many helpful people in AAJA in the few months I have been a member. Networking is always good.”
Bartholow answered some questions about his career via email:
How did you get started in journalism?
A democracy doesn’t function well unless the voters are well informed. I realized this during the Bush administration and I got into journalism because I had a passion to inform them. I started writing for the Grossmont College paper, The Griffin, and migrated to the campus radio station, KGFN. It was there that I learned how to write for broadcast and put together packages.
What do you enjoy most about it?
Everyday is different, and everything I do has to be creative.
Tell us about your roles and responsibilities at your previous and current positions. How were they like?
All of my previous experience was freelancing and internships, so being the Multimedia Editor at a startup news site is much different. Everyday I make and break rules and chart my own path. Last year I was the intern, now the interns are asking me what to do.
How did you get involved in multimedia?
At KGFN I learned to edit audio, which turned into editing video, and maintaining the website. Then at SDSU I took classes focusing on multimedia and the new journalism world. I helped create and maintain the first online journal put out by SDSU’s Journalism and Media Studies department.
Are you planning to stay on the side of multimedia? Or would you like to focus more on writing politics?
I have a feeling I will always be doing multimedia, because no matter what I write, there is always a photo or video or graphic that will help tell the story. I love to write politics, but unless I find myself in a job where I am expected simply to write, it will always be something of a side project for me. Someday I would like to write political columns.
What’s your favorite part?
Meeting new and interesting people everyday.
What’s your least favorite part?
Writing on a quickly approaching deadline.
What experiences in the journalism field have been most valuable to you and why?
Working with my colleagues at SDNN, creating what I consider one large continuing project, has been an amazing experience. You don’t get many chances to help create something like that with such talented people.
A lot of professional journalists have been worried about their future in journalism. As a journalist yourself, does the state of the industry worry you?The state of the industry doesn’t worry me. I feel like I am thriving in this climate. It may sound crazy, but I am more worried that the internet, which I think is more fragile than most people understand, likely won’t exist as it is now, forever. Journalism is always changing, it’s just a matter of keeping up.
Check out some of Bartholow’s SDNN work here.
Read past profiles at our Member of the Month page. If you would like to suggest a person to profile, contact web@aajasandiego.org.
