Interview Article

Here is an article I wrote about a friend of mine.

Bryan Maury is a local journalist who has experienced the good and the bad of choosing journalism as a career path.

When Maury landed a journalism job with the Buffalo Current during the semester before graduating in 2005, he thought he was set. “It didn’t pay much, but it was the best $7.50 I’ve ever made in my life,” Maury said. Maury worked in the entertainment wing of the paper, and was able to meet bands and musicians he had long admired. “I was able to meet Brian May from Queen, and interview the Dropkick Murphys,” he said, “I usually interviewed and met really cool people.” Six months into the job, however, Maury was laid off, and the paper shut down. “Everyone got laid off, it totally sucked,” Maury said.

Since that time, Maury has worked as a freelance journalist, contributing to local papers and Internet sites. He has written about sports and local matters, from the Boston Red Sox to the new roundabouts in Hamburg. “I’ve had opportunities to freelance, and it’s something I plan on doing more of,” he said. “I’ve written for a few on-line magazines and some local papers.”

Maury received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Buffalo State College, but it was in high school when he first discovered his love of writing. “I wrote for the high school newspaper, but I never thought about pursuing it,” he said. That changed when he attended Erie Community College for English. “Erie Community College didn’t have a newspaper, so I got together with a few other students before the start of my second year, and we started a full fledged newspaper,” he said, adding, “after graduation, I looked back at things I wrote, and really liked it. I wanted to do it.”

Maury transferred to Buffalo State College, after graduation, to pursue a career in journalism. Maury believes that Buffalo State has a great journalism program. “I really learned a lot, really developed my voice as a writer,” Maury said. He also wrote and edited “ The Record” while there. “Writing for ‘The Record’ was a good experience,” Maury said, “it gave me experience for when I started writing for other publications.” Maury also did two internships while at Buffalo State. He was a photo runner for Reuters during Bills games, and he interned at Night and Day, a local newspaper. Working with “Night and Day” wasn’t the exciting reporter’s job he was looking for, but it taught him a lot. “I was interviewing people about the school supplies they were buying, and how they were going to decorate their dorm rooms,” Maury said.

Maury is currently looking into graduate programs for journalism, and freelancing as much as he can. He believes the Internet will open up new opportunities for current and future journalists alike. “As much as I love print journalism, the internet is a great tool,” Maury said. “It gives you more freedom as a writer.” He also sees social media playing a role in the future of journalism. “Social media is a huge part of where journalism is going, again; it’s just a great tool,” Maury said. According to Maury, journalists need to embrace new technologies to stay relevant. “It sucks that newspapers are closing, but it’s the new way.”

Maury has advice for those who are thinking about journalism as a career. “You really have to love it, and not be concerned with money, especially starting out,” he said. “You’re going to have to pay your dues.” The most important aspect, according to Maury, is finding your voice as a writer. “Find your voice,” he said. “I’m still working on it, but it’s about making people think, laugh and feel something.”