This is an interview of Haley McNeal, Atlanta journalist.

1. When did you figure our you wanted to be a journalist? The earliest I can remember loving to write was around fifth grade when I created a journal and raincoat full of gadgets just like Harriet the Spy so I could write down everything I saw. I truly realized that I wanted to be a journalist in middle and high school through the yearbook program. Each year that I continued taking the class the more my adoration to reporting stories, laying out page designs and utilizing powerful photos grew. That's not to say I knew exactly what kind of journalist I wanted to be, but I knew what direction I wanted to go.

My take: I had a very similar experience. It was in 5th grade that I started to realize I LOVED photography and then through yearbook and this internship it's grown and I just know journalism is right for me.

2. What is your degree in and where is it from? I have a bachelors degree in journalism with a concentration in magazines from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

My take: UGA is a great school! That's where I intend to go- I want a media broadcasting/photojournalism degree.

3. Why do you love journalism? There are many reasons. Personally, I love that I can express myself through the written word in ways I cannot through spoken words. I love advocating for others by telling their amazing stories through different modes of communication. I love that I live in a country where I have the freedom of speech where I can tell the stories that need to be told.

My take: I love all these things. I love That through my photos and my written words I can stand up for my beliefs or a cause and advocate change. I'm a champion of free speech and love that I live somewhere I can exercise that right.

4. I know you've focused in the writing side of journalism, but could you describe the significance of/what you think of regarding the importance of photojournalism?Photojournalism is just as important as written journalism, it simply depends on the impact you are trying to make on your consumer. There are emotions you can portray and stories you can tell easier, and more dramatically, with photos than with words. Just as with written journalism, photojournalism is an art that takes a certain skill, and when photos are snapped at just the right time the result can be world-shaking.

My take: Yes. Yes. Yes. Photos can change the world. They have changed the world. And they will continue to do so. 

5. What's the coolest thing you've done for your career so far? Following my internship at with a lifestyle magazine I was able to interview a restaurant radio talk show host and write a profile article on her. I actually met her at a coffee shop in Atlanta and interviewed her on behalf of the magazine. Armed with the notes I scribbled during our talk and the recorded audio I captured, I wrote a feature article that was published online and in print. This was the first completely original feature article I had published and it was monumental for me.

My take: I kinda had a similar experience through my internship. The first time I got to publish my own work, even though it was a tiny little story, I was so so proud. And the BEST day was when my photos were published and it said "Photo: Hannah McQueen" beneath it. I know it wasn't a huge deal at all. But it was the first time my photos had been published on a news website and I was ecstatic. 

6. At the end of your career, where do you see yourself? I'm not really sure. I want to be a successful career woman that is happy with where my career leads along my journalism journey. I also hope to raise a family at some point, and still be able to write. For me, finding a happy balance between work and home life is what is most important.

My take: I want a balance too. I see myself, at the end of my career, hopefully following the steps of Steve McCurry. I want to have traveled the world and taken iconic photographs that'll be around long after me, you know?

7. What would be your dream assignment? To be in a stable position, able to write about topics that are important to me is my dream assignment. I believe that if you truly care about something you pour your heart and soul into it, making the story one that people have to read, watch, listen to, or see. As far as a specific job...I would like to see what it's like working at CNN/Turner Broadcasting.


My take: I love That. I think everyone has a dream job specific to themself. Mine would be to become a National Geographic photographer that gets to travel the world and experience things most people never get to. 

8. Do you think journalism can truly change the world? Absolutely. The communications industry as a whole has the potential to influence people profoundly, both in good and bad ways. This includes newspapers, magazines, television, and even blogging and social media (which is growing each day). My hope is that those who exercise their rights to free speech do so in a positive way. It's our job to work towards doing just that; reporting the truth and standing by every word we write or every photo we take. 

My take: YES. It's a simple as that. Photos and written word have, can, and will change the world. 

9. Journalists are often targeted, especially photojournalists. Why do you think people still continue to pursue journalism? 

I've heard it said before that you can't help who you love, and I think it's the same with what you love. No matter what career you choose, there is always going to be someone that you just can't make happy, someone who disagrees with you, and someone who wants to criticize your point of view. That's life. This career  lets you practice your freedom of expression in a professional way, and your works may butt heads with the passionate beliefs of others...just be ready. You can't help if you love it.


My take: ah! Yes. I couldn't have phrased it better. So many journalists lose their lives every single year. Like the American journalists who were beheaded by ISIS or the Charlie Hebdo killings more recently. It's tragic and unfair but someone has to do. Someone has to care about telling the truth and has to be brave enough to do it. I couldn't quit even if I wanted to.

10. What is the best thing about your job in journalism? At this point, the best thing about my job is that I get to experience every aspect of the magazine management business. From selling ads, planning each issue, finding writers, managing the budget, editing the entire book, attending trade shows, writing, and so much more, I get to do it all. It's building on to my education and arming me with experience I need for my future career steps.

My take: That's a big reason I love this field too. It's definitely not boring or routine. At my Internship, I get to try a little bit of EVERYTHING. There are so so many awesome opportunities in journalism and that's so exciting! 

1/5 Week Assignment

I need and want to know several things for my final product. I want to know what kind of impact photojournalism has made in individual lives and to what extent it did. I want to know if photojournalism can bring about actual change and fix major world problems. I want to know, in fact, need to know, if the path I have chosen for my life (photojournalism), is meaningful, is change-inspiring, and is important. I want to know that using photojournalism as a tool to change the world for the better is possible.
My current essential question is still the same that it was earlier: How can I utilize photojournalism and all its elements to such an effective degree that I express common social, political, and economic problems of our generation and promote awareness of said various world issues?
I plan to use other elements beside my website. I want to display some of my work, and mainly, some of the work of my greatest inspiration and possibly best photojournalist of all time- Steve McCurry (National Geographic- Afghan Girl). I also want to use a powerpoint presentation and oral anecdotes regarding my own experiences.
I will interview regular people. Because my whole research centers on the idea, the hope, that photojournalism effects REGULAR people, completely removed from the field of journalism. I want to see that photojournalism has effected normal people, maybe without them even knowing it.