Ashley's View: Vicki Chachere- Editorial Writer, Tampa Tribune

Vicki Chachere is an editorial writer for the Tampa Tribune and has been writing editorials there for three years. She graduated with a degree in Journalism from Arizona State University; it was there where she got her start in Journalism when she worked at the State Press. Then some internships took her across the country but after graduating she finally settled down in sunny Tampa Florida as a reporter for the Tampa Tribune. She left for a few years and joined the Associated Press as head of the Tampa bureau, but in 2005 Chachere found herself married with a young child and returned to the Tribune as an editorial writer. She says taking the job was almost a no brainer, “editorial boards seem to be a place where you come and just stay.”

Our critical writing class at USF had the chance to pick Chachere’s brain while we took part in our first editorial meeting, only Chachere actually sat back and listened as every student pitch their own idea. She then used her five years as an editorial writer to better the pitches thrown out to her. Since she has already written about every subject brought up she had good advice for everyone about where to start, who to contact and even what subjects to stay away from. She also gave the class some very practical advice that all media students can use, “good reporting is the basis of good journalism.”

Chachere started her career in Journalism as a reporter and she loved it. In fact, every time she brought up the differences between editorial writing and reporting she seemed to have a sparkle in her eye. It almost seems as if she didn’t want to give it up. “Editorial writing is more stable.” She told us she had a small child and “reporting for the AP was too much running around.” It almost seemed like she missed reporting, and digging up stories. But she also told us that “the big difference between pure reporting and editorial reporting is opinion and keeping yourself out of the story.” I can definitely relate to that. Learning about Journalism these past few years, I have always been told, tell the story, not your story, I was always told that the audience does not care about your opinion unless you are the expert: in fact, I have heard the word attribution so much that I hear in every time I report a story. Switching to editorials and infusing myself and my own view will be challenging but I will definitely use Chachere’s advice, “find issues to write about that create a visceral reaction.” That, I can do.