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I graduated from college at the University of Maine more than 30 years ago, and I admit most of the sage advice my college professors gave me is collecting dust in a box in the corner of my basement.
But there is a tidbit that one of them told me that I use each and every day when I sit down at my computer to write this and other stories.
It was, "Don't make yourself part of the story; you are just there to report it."
Of course, on this page, I am entitled to interject my opinions. But on the front page or the others, it would break his golden rule.
His words also ring true when I watch sports and a panel of so-called experts are analyzing every play as if it was the greatest to have ever taken place. It might have been just that in the past 24 hours, but certainly not of all time.
Not true, say sensationalistic journalists. To many, sliced bread is passe.
They must analyze and overanalyze players and plays until the time slot is filled. Then the discussion continues online for seemingly weeks on end.
I can't tell you how many times I've gone to Outlook and saw what I call "non-stories" about the ongoing feud with Iowa women's basketball Caitlin Clark and LSU's Angel Reese. It wasn't really even a feud as it was one-sided.
At any rate, MSN has latched onto that story for weeks now, milking it for every readership second it can get.
It certainly detracted from an unbelievable game and from what should have been a monumental day for women's college basketball.
MSN also likes to sensationalize headlines to capture readers' attention. I remember reading a headline about my New England Patriots and whatever the subject of the headline was, that information wasn't even written about in the story.
I'll admit it's not easy to be objective at times, keeping your opinions out of your work. But it's the only way to maintain professionalism and integrity as a journalist.
There are many stories that tug at my heartstrings as I write them. I focus on trying to capture my subject's emotion and not my own.
That's also not easy in this day and age when interviews can be conducted via e-mail or text.
Not hearing the individual's voice makes it difficult to judge their true feelings.
In filling content for these pages, editors use their opinions to determine what is of interest to readers. Hopefully, we give you content that keep you picking up a copy of the paper six days a week.
But writing copy and selecting stories still doesn't mean that reporters should thrust themselves center stage into the story.
I couldn't imagine wanting to be in that spotlight. I'll gladly stick to the sidelines and stay busy jotting down notes.
I do enjoy my reality TV with their staged drama. Watching the Real Housewives of _____ (You can fill in the blank.) makes any problems I have always seem very trivial.
Their cat fights are purely for entertainment value. Based on the fact that they seem to hang out the next day as if nothing happened, I find the fighting to be nothing but scripted drama.
All the hair pulling and name calling is purely ratings driven. And, the reunion shows are nothing short of hilarious.
I'm so glad that drama hasn't invaded the world of journalism full force.
Thanks to some on network television, it has at times.
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Greg Williams is a reporter and Sunday Night Editor for The Sentinel. A Mifflin County native, he has been writing for The Sentinel since 1991. His column, "Virtually Home," appears regularly.