Meet a Journalist

A journalist's profile, stories and career in the field of journalism. Know a journalist who should be profiled here? Send an e-mail to Janet E. Bardon

February, 2003
Doug Lunney
News Reporter, Winnipeg Sun
Winnipeg, Manitoba
dlunney@wpgsun.com

Why did you choose journalism?

Some sort of media career was often in the back of my mind growing up, but I didn't seriously consider it until my second, and what turned out to be my last, year of university at University of Manitoba.

I was playing for the Bison hockey team, hoping for a pro tryout that wasn't forthcoming, and got to know a sports writer from the Winnipeg Sun who covered university sports. He encouraged me to apply for a summer student job at the Sun, which I got.

I was hooked right away, and painfully gave up hockey to get started on a career.

Once the term position was over, I asked the sports editor if he thought I should leave U of M for a journalism course at Red River Community College. He suggested working at one of the many weekly papers in Manitoba and trying to get back on at a daily, believing I had already learned more at the Sun than I might at Red River. I worked at weekly papers in Morris, Man., and Selkirk, Man., for less than two years before moving to the Brandon Sun daily, where I stayed for five years as a sports writer, before coming back to the Winnipeg Sun in 1995.

What was your second career choice?

I was taking intro criminology courses at U of M, leaning toward a career in law enforcement, thinking I'd likely apply with the Winnipeg Police Service.

Where did you complete post-secondary education?

As I mentioned, I left U of M in my second year and never went back.

Where did you attend journalism school?

I didn't.

What experience best prepared you for the job of journalist?

Playing junior and university hockey, I was interviewed several times by various types of media. It also allowed me to do a great deal of travelling. But I always did well in English classes growing up and, for a kid, I read the newspaper a lot that was a huge advantage for me.

Tell us about a highlight of your career, a story you have covered or an interview you have conducted.

In order to write news features, I've jumped out of an airplane at 3,000 feet, I've ridden in the Goodyear Blimp, and hung out with thousands of hard-core bikers at the rally in Sturgis, N.D.

This past summer I was one of the first - if not the first - reporters on scene when a plane crashed in a busy Winnipeg intersection.

I've had the misfortune of interviewing my former baseball coach the day after his two sisters-in-law were murdered.

Back in my days as a sports writer, I covered the last game played by the NHL's Jets in the Winnipeg Arena. I also enjoyed covering national university basketball championships in Halifax, a world junior hockey championship in Winnipeg, and a national curling championship in Sault Ste.Marie.

Who was/is your mentor?

There was a sports editor when I first worked at the Winnipeg Sun as a student, named Jim Ketcheson, who made my introduction to the job enjoyable. If he'd been a miserable old ..., maybe I wouldn't have continued with it.

What do you recommend to young people considering a career in journalism?

I don't think getting on at a daily without taking a journalism course, as I did, can be done today. There are weekly papers in every city and many small towns. Try to get articles published for reference purposes as soon and as often as possible. Many daily papers have a constant need for freelance writers from time to time. Don't be too picky in taking jobs that can give you valuable experience - don't hold out for a daily or better paying position right off the bat. If you work hard, you'll move up quickly, but be prepared to move in order to do that.

What do you consider the biggest challenge facing journalists today?

Competition. Everyone wants the story first. You wake up every day wondering if you've been beaten on something, and hoping no one else had the story you did the day before. Also, television and Hollywood often portrays the media in a negative light. Many times you'll call someone and, as soon as you say you're a reporter,
they'll have a negative image. I hate seeing actors playing reporters on TV. They are often portrayed as callous bottom feeders and many members of the general public buy into this.