Adele Arakawa

By Maria Aponte

To start a journalism career on the right track, Denver television news anchor Adele Arakawa urged the School's fall graduates to pursue fairness, accuracy and balance. The winner of four regional Emmys gave the commencement speech at Macky Auditorium on Dec. 19.

"You will be working hard to earn respect," said Arakawa, who has worked at KUSA-Channel 9 since 1993. "That and experience are two things that take time and patience."

Integrity comes with responsibility, and Arakawa said journalism is a lifestyle decision in which attention should be put mainly on the real protagonists of the stories, the people in our communities and those who are affected. "Don't be impressed by presidents, first ladies, governors, heads of state," she said. "Do be impressed by the family who has the courage to talk with you about the death of their son, daughter, wife, or parent. Put yourself in their shoes whenever you're on a story."

People's stories provide new journalists with a better understanding of human demeanor and why events unfold the way they do, Arakawa said. However, she added, lack of experience should not discourage new journalists. She noted that among other things, graduates have idealism and youth, key elements of their beginning contributions to the profession. The learning process will turn them into something different, although they will still learn from those older and wiser," she said.

"Don't lose that idealism," Arakawa said. "That's what will infuse new life into a business that tends to get a bit jaded and is rooted in cynicism. We're taught to question everything."

Arakawa spoke bluntly about the times that graduates will question their beliefs and philosophies. In those instances, she said, they must decide what's right or wrong.

"It's going to be up to you how you stand by (your beliefs)," Arakawa told graduates.

Pointing to her more than 30 years of experience, Arakawa said the main advice she had for someone entering the industry is to seek out the knowledge and advice of others, but build her or his own philosophy.

On the other hand, she said, building opinions should not prevent new journalists from staying open-minded. "Put your political leanings aside," she said. "Put your social opinions aside."

She also said it is important for journalists to choose their battles carefully and to grow a "very thick skin" in the face of inevitable criticism.

Arakawa used humor in her talk to illustrate the human side of journalism, dryly noting at one point, "The day you look like death warmed over is always the day the promotion department wants to shoot a promo that airs for the next year."

A native of La Follette, Tenn., Arakawa started her career as a radio disc jockey and news anchor before moving into television in 1974. Arakawa also said she has remained active among Asian-American journalists. Her mother was born in the Hawaiian island of Maui, and her grandparents are from Okinawa, Japan.

Among the recommendations Arakawa gave is one very familiar to journalism students: "Read. Read. And then, read some more." She also told graduates to be prepared for surprises, to give themselves up to a job without schedules and to take seriously the responsibility that journalists have to their readers and viewers.

"No matter who wrote the story, if the words come out of your mouth, you're responsible for it," she said. "Always remember: Whenever you put on a microphone, always, always presume it's hot."