Originally published on 9.14.22

Last semester I found myself in a predicament: I was expected to write a paper on a rhetorician, and I was hitting wall after wall in my research. I couldn’t locate copies of her most significant work for a variety of reasons, and I was struggling to collect basic information about her as well.

That lasted until I just asked her for help. I swallowed my nerves, drafted an email—on Easter weekend no less—and sent it off, expecting to hear nothing back.

Boy, was I wrong.

Not only was she thrilled that I had taken interest in her contribution to the field, but she was also more than happy to share any and everything I needed to complete my assignment. I got access to things that one could only dream of being published for the world to see. All just because I took an interest and asked.

I have also experienced this in the professional world as a journalist. While it may not look like it from the way it’s portrayed in modern media, with a sole journalist going it alone, journalism is very much a team sport. We share data, contacts, statements, leads and anything that could help a fellow reporter out.