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revisit RISK AND REWARD

What happened to John? Finally, lightning struck—the most of you, before your
tiny Red Bluff Daily News in Northern California needed a careers are finished, will
sports editor, and John took the job. After two years of a find yourselves in jobs that
heavy workload and low pay, his risk paid off with a gig do not exist today. . . .
as a Washington, DC, correspondent for Red Bluff’s parent Embrace change, be an agent of
company. He drove 3,200 miles across the country, arriving change, but recognize its limitations. Hold on to
in DC on a winter night. “I remember looking at the your values.” Think of how the world has changed since
Capitol and just being filled with amazement that I’m you began high school. Name a change you have
there,” he says, “but also filled with determination and embraced successfully, and one that has proven more
the resolve to make it work.” challenging for you. Now consider what your world
might be like 10 years from now. Identify three skills you
After four years covering Washington politics and a stint have now that will help you weather the changes ahead.
in the Denver Post newsroom, John returned to the Bay
Area. He worked as assistant city editor at the San Fran- What risk may bring reward beyond your world? The
cisco Chronicle, one of the nation’s most esteemed daily work that John and his staff do has helped revamp a
newspapers. He was promoted to East Bay bureau chief flawed California foster-care system, overthrow an
and, in 1996, to a prominent role as editor of the editorial unethical district attorney, and trigger legislation to
page. Although he and his staff have earned many awards, protect financial privacy for bank customers. “That is
John is prouder of the legislative, social, and cultural prog- what we should be doing as journalists,” John says,
ress inspired by the Chronicle’s editorials. The National “giving voice to people who otherwise don’t have the
Association of Hispanic Journalists honored him in 2008 clout to lobby for themselves.” Read one day’s set of
for opinion columns on topics including immigration and editorials on the Chronicle’s opinion page (find them at
the terrorism “watch list.” www.sfgate.com—click on “Index,” and then under
the “Sections” heading, click on “Opinion”). Then do
What does this mean for you? John has endured the same on your local paper’s online editorial page.
changes, including the upheaval of the print industry in Thinking about a local issue, consider what rewarding
the new digital era. His ability to take risks and work change you might work to make happen. Then write a
hard has brought him enormous rewards. Honored to be compelling letter to the editor. Take the risk to send it
asked to address the graduates at Humboldt’s 2010 com- in and see what far-reaching positive effects your words
mencement ceremony, John said: “Some of you, perhaps might have.

GLOBAL RI SK AND REWARD Looking for a low-cost, energy-saving transportation option in

Montreal, and capitalizing on the widespread use of bicycles
there, city transportation officials developed the BIXI bicycle shar-
ing system. BIXI—a combination of BIcycle and taXI— provides
bicycles for rent at stations all over the city. Users pay at a kiosk,
unlock a bike, use it for up to 24 hours, and then return it at any
BIXI station. BIXI bikers travel at low cost, release no toxins into the
environment, and get great exercise to boot. 35

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