While his first career choice was computer programming, his passion became sports journalism.
An unplanned turn of events led Drew Nichter, news director for The Weekly Recorder, from fixing minor computer problems and fielding help desk calls, to managing a weekly newspaper based in Louisville.
Nichter is responsible for the weekly production of the paper, as well as writing, editing, photography, story selection, layout and design.
The Weekly Recorder focuses on news and feature articles for Baptists in Kentucky, as well as across the U.S.
Nichter graduated from IU Southeast in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism, having served as an editor for The Horizon.
He was also named “Outstanding Journalism Student” and won the top sports writing award in the 2005 Indiana Collegiate Press Association competition.
Nichter originally pursued a computer programming degree at the University of Louisville and worked in the IT Department for a doctors’ group.
However, he lost interest in computers while reading news and sports websites.
“After working around computers for so long, I lost the desire to continue working in IT,” Nichter said. “I became enamored with the thought of becoming a sports journalist.”
He said he then began to pursue his journalism degree at IU Southeast full-time and began working part-time.
Prior to managing The Weekly Recorder, Nichter worked at WAVE 3 Television as a part-time associate director, and, then, as the news producer for the Sunrise newscast.
Nichter said his studies at IU Southeast has helped him a great deal in his career and still relies on his professors for advice.
“Frankly, if I hadn’t attended IUS, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing today,” he said.
Nichter said he has a good career.
“Jim St. Clair [professor of journalism] and Ron Allman [associate professor of journalism] were valuable resources and still two people I rely on for advice,” Nichter said.
Nichter said a well-written article, whether a feature or hard news, should be concise, accurate and timely. Nichter also said these elements are too often missing in today’s world of up-to-the-second news.
“In this day of blogs and media that rely solely on being first at the expense of accuracy and clarity, I learned how to sit down and craft a well-written story,” he said. “Writing quickly doesn’t mean you have to write poorly.”
Nichter said he also advises future journalists to ensure they have another person proof read their story prior to being published, and should not be upset once it comes back with changes.
“No matter how great a writer you think you are, you can always be edited,” he said. “Always get at least one other pair of eyes on your story. You may think it’s the best news story or feature ever written, but it can always be improved.”
Nichter said journalists should also memorize the Associated Press Stylebook.
When not working at the paper, Nichter said he enjoys spending time with his wife, Sarah, and their two daughters, Caroline and Sadie. He said he also enjoys music, watching sports and running.
“I love to run, but I’ve been sidelined by an injury lately,” Nichter said. “I’m hoping to pick that back up soon once I’m healed.”
By JOHN DIDOMENICO
Staff
jdidomen@ius.edu
