Speaker Feature
With over 40 years in the radio industry, Sonja Williams has seen and done a lot: student, educator, producer, creator and more all across the United States, working with NPR and other major radio organizations.
Despite a stellar career, Williams is down-to-earth: "Working with people I idolize and being able translate them into a digestible product," she said in regards to what about the job sticks with her most.
Williams shared her knowledge with future journalists at San Jose State, giving valuable insight to what their own futures in the industry might look like, all with warmth and good humor.
She regaled students with stories from coast to coast: from her time as a journalism student, going from school to school, to her first job in the middle of nowhere in Iowa, to her multiple ground-breaking series about black history in music and radio.
Of course, she wasn't all stories.
The students had plenty of questions to ask and Williams had plenty of experience to answer them with.
In particular, she passed on her wisdom on how to interview someone, with regards to how to replicate their voice for writing as well as how to write "for the ear," to which she said to write conversationally.
She also shared excerpts and stories from her book "Word Warrior," a biography about fellow journalist Richard Durham, who she indeed idolized.
Despite a stellar career, Williams is down-to-earth: "Working with people I idolize and being able translate them into a digestible product," she said in regards to what about the job sticks with her most.
Williams shared her knowledge with future journalists at San Jose State, giving valuable insight to what their own futures in the industry might look like, all with warmth and good humor.
She regaled students with stories from coast to coast: from her time as a journalism student, going from school to school, to her first job in the middle of nowhere in Iowa, to her multiple ground-breaking series about black history in music and radio.
Of course, she wasn't all stories.
The students had plenty of questions to ask and Williams had plenty of experience to answer them with.
In particular, she passed on her wisdom on how to interview someone, with regards to how to replicate their voice for writing as well as how to write "for the ear," to which she said to write conversationally.
She also shared excerpts and stories from her book "Word Warrior," a biography about fellow journalist Richard Durham, who she indeed idolized.
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