Have you ever wondered about the Camosun students writing the articles you read in Nexus? Know Your Writers will help you dive into the minds of the writers behind the stories.This issue, we talked to contributing writer Elias Orrego.
What drew you to journalism?
I always loved writing and have thought it would be fun to write for a paper one day ever since I was a kid. I delivered newspapers at a young age, and I remember thinking about those writers tweaking the last sentence of their story seconds before it needed to be printed. I thought, What a thrill that would be, having to find a story, make the interviews, and write the story in a matter of hours. In high school I grew to love opinion pieces, as well. Nexus has given me the opportunity to have the experience I fantasized about as a child, without needing a degree or a great deal of experience.
What is the most awkward moment you have had in an interview?
The most awkward experience I had surrounding an interview was when I recorded over my first interview with my second interview for the same article. I didn’t realize until it was too late to reschedule and interview, so I ended up writing the article without that first person’s contribution. That was literally my first interview for Nexus and it went well, except I ended up having no record of it. I learned to be more careful with the technology and also leave enough time to iron out mistakes before printing.
What are the worst and best parts of your job at the paper?
The worst part of the job is that I had a hard time at first with deadlines. I’ve learned the hard way the importance of deadlines in media, as others had counted on me for things and it threw them for a loop when I did not meet the deadlines. Things happen in life that can make deadlines difficult to keep, but there is always enough time if you don’t wait until the last minute. Another part that was difficult for me was the fact that your work is edited and changed. I may put something in my piece to artistically make it sound more interesting, but the editor might take it out because it may be deemed misleading or biased. Reporting is definitely a little less free to the imagination than poetry or fiction writing, but learning to write in concise, objective language is something I’m glad to experience. I really enjoy being able to choose what to write about, and interviewing people is also a part of the job that I love to do. I love being able to connect with a variety of interesting people.
Why did you come to Camosun?
I originally came to Camosun to do the pre-med program. Now that I am back at Camosun after a couple of years, the specific program by name is no longer an option, but all the associated classes are still offered. I’m back after some time at UVic to do some more courses for a year, working toward a degree at UVic in Chemistry for the Medical Sciences.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I have a wife and an 18-month-old daughter who I love to spend time with. We go to the beach, visit family and friends, play with other people’s pets, watch movies, and go out for ice cream. I enjoy experimenting with food in the kitchen and casually researching topics in history, politics, and science. I also really enjoy writing, whether it’s drama, poetry, or short fiction. I love hiking, running, and biking in the outdoors.