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Eloise Hatfield, BJ '69

What types of work have you done throughout your career and what do you enjoy the most?
My first full-time job after graduating from Mizzou was working as a writer and editorial assistant for Campus Crusade for Christ, at their headquarters in San Bernardino, Calif. I wrote articles for various publications such as newsletters, brochures, tabloid-size newspapers and magazines. I was a member of the publications department for the ministry. Sometimes I helped cover ministry events or conferences. The articles that I wrote were mainly features, but also I contributed poetry to Campus Crusade publications. These poems all related to spiritual topics. I was a Campus Crusade staff member for 11 years. After leaving Campus Crusade in 1980, I had three other employers who were Christian organizations. In these positions, I was doing similar work -- editing, writing and eventually, transcribing tapes of correspondence. After I had spent some time transcribing on an electric typewriter, my supervisors began to ask me to learn computer software programs. That is how I entered the field of word processing. I became familiar with DisplayWrite 4 and 5, WordPerfect and Microsoft Word. For six years, I was a staff member of Washington University in St. Louis, and worked as an information processor (transcriptionist). I enjoyed being on a university campus every day and working for campus administrators. In 1989, I had a position that involved proofreading textbook copy for a typesetter. This job didn't include a computer or typewriter -- only a slanted desk and pencils. The environment reminded me of the School of Journalism, because I was making sure that typestyles were correct on the galleys. Unfortunately, after three months of employment, the company told me that many of their book contracts had been cancelled; and so, they would not be able to continue to keep me as an employee.

How has the industry changed since you first entered the field?
When I attended the School of Journalism in 1968-69, we didn't have computers yet. We were using copy paper and we typed all of our stories on manual typewriters in the newsroom. Also, I learned how to work on page layouts with a professor who was in charge of the "society pages" of the Missourian. Everything that I did was simply sketched in pencil on the layout pages, with places for photos marked out. Now I believe that all of this work is done by computer. People are using software programs such as QuarkXPress and PageMaker, and they can allow their computers to do much of the design for them.

What was the best professional lesson that you learned while at the J-School?
The best professional lesson that I learned while at the J-School was not to assume anything about people in advance, before meeting them and talking to them. I learned to give people the "benefit of the doubt" and to try to develop relationships that might grow as time progresses. This would include people in authority, such as directors and professors.

What advice do you have for current students?
When I was attending the School of Journalism, I thought that if I had my degree I would always be able to support myself when I graduated. For about 13 years, I did have full-time work as an editor/writer for organizations in other states. But since the summer of 1983, my employment opportunities have been in the categories of transcription, typing, receptionist work and other clerical duties. No one has asked me to accept a new position as an editor for the past 21 years. I've had to accept these other tasks; but I have continued to look for jobs that would involve aspects of journalism, such as proofreading and working with artists or typesetters. My advice is just to be aware that sometimes directors may not have any editing or writing that they can give you; the best response you can have is to try not to be angry about it. When you really like journalism and you don't want to be in any other field, it is hard to handle situations where someone in authority is telling you that you have to "find a new job." I worked as a temporary for a while, and many times an agency representative would say to me, "How about customer service?" I could never understand why they thought I would want to become a customer service agent after receiving a degree in journalism.

What did you want to be as a kid?
Long before I ever thought about writing and editing, I remember playing in a sandbox and in the dirt, digging up the ground and trying to find anything of value. I thought that maybe it would be fun to become an archeologist, and research artifacts or bones. Also, as a child I had my own "cowgirl outfit" and I often pretended to be riding the range. Later on, my parents bought two horses that increased the atmosphere of being "out west."