By: Jessica Wachtel (History, Class of 2012). Last week I was asked by my faculty internship sponsor: In what ways has majoring in history informed my thinking and/or prepared me for work in the media field? Majoring in History has assisted me for my career in the media field by giving me a general background of international historical events and the way in which humans have recorded and preserved their own history. Through the medium of television broadcasting, news has been documented to give to historical events that have been framed through an eyewitness account or experience. News can be used as an archive to relate to in the future as a record of the progression of mankind and it is the journalist’s responsibility to inform the public of these events so they develop a social consciousness and awareness of what is going on around them and how these events can impact their daily lives. It is a civic duty to be in media communications as a means of passing on information to the public and leaving a legacy for the future human race.

Being a History major has also exposed me to the deception and bias of those “winners” who have written history and excluded certain parties to improve their own historical legacy. Moreover, in television broadcasting, I can use my historical background to understand how to report objectively and collect substantive evidence to deliver an honest and groundbreaking story. There is an art and tradition to recording history that demands the truth and which must be utterly respected. According to George Santayana, “history tends to repeat itself,” allowing people to learn from their mistakes or repeat them. News, as a source that shapes and informs history, allows man to reflect on its decisions and make informed decisions in the future. History has taught me how to tell a story within a certain context and be sensitive towards the public when reporting events. History tells the pastime of our country through television broadcasting. History has also taught me to appreciate the technological innovations of our generation in preserving and publicly announcing historical events. The origin and heritage of our nation is essential for America to proceed into the future built upon the principles and values of our forefathers and to evaluate mankind’s decisions to make decisions in the future.