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Looking forward to sharing stories

My name is Josh Hughes, and I am the newest sports reporter here at The News and Sentinel.

I grew up around the area, and I can’t wait to become more involved in the community.

I graduated from Parkersburg High School in 2013 with my sights set on a career in covering sports. I always imagined having a job like this, and it is now a dream come true.

After I graduated high school, I took those aspirations one step further. I enrolled at Marshall University in August 2013.

I knew I wanted to pursue a job like this, but I also wanted to try my hand at broadcasting. I quickly became involved in Marshall’s college radio station, WMUL 88.1. A year later, I won the Glenn Wilson Memorial Scholarship. That scholarship is annually awarded to an area student who will be studying broadcasting or journalism in college. I was absolutely thrilled at this achievement, and it was proof that I could do great things in broadcasting.

Nothing could slow me down, as I returned to Marshall that fall to continue my studies. A year later, I became complacent in my program. I didn’t feel like I was doing anything new or exciting. I knew I needed to challenge myself, so I decided to try my hand at writing for Marshall’s newspaper, The Parthenon. Even though I was new at newspaper writing, I instantly knew I made the right choice. I got to interview coaches and players from all around the Marshall sports landscape. It was everything I imagined, and I was committed to doing the best job possible for The Parthenon.

However, I became homesick and wasn’t ready for all that Marshall University had to offer. I was at a crossroad, and my heart broke at the reality of leaving my adopted community in Huntington. I thought about all my options and determined that it was best for me to return home. I enrolled at WVU Parkersburg in January 2016 with no sense of direction for my career path. I thought I ruined my chance at having the career I always wanted. I had to dust myself off and prove that I could achieve my dreams.

I became heavily involved in WVU Parkersburg’s college radio station, WPKM 96.3. I hosted sports-related radio shows, and I found a way to channel all of my previous frustrations. I also wrote for their college newspaper, The Chronicle. In addition to writing about events all over the campus, I wrote articles about sports.

It was at that point when I realized this line of work was meant for me. I know I can provide this community with the best of what I have to offer.

If I had to look back on this time in my life, I would say that all of my triumphs and struggles were worth it.

I graduated earlier this month with a diploma in my hand and plenty of stories on my mind, and I can’t wait to share all of those stories with you.

Contact Josh Hughes at jhughes@newsandsentinel.com.

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