Starting off as an accounting major, Gregory Cappis later realized that journalism was the career that he wanted to pursue.  Cappis started his journalism career at Columbia College, in Chicago, Illinois. Currently, Cappis resides in Southern California and working at The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.

Cappis lives in a very frequent crime area in California. His main journalism focus being crime puts him at an advantage living there. Cappis is often exposed to crime scenes, dead bodies, and disturbing sights.

“It’s definitely messed up to see a guy slumped dead in the front seat of his car with bullet wounds to his chest and neck,” Cappis said. “Before I took this job, I’ve only seen dead bodies at funerals. Seeing bodies is something very jarring, something I hope I never get used to.”

Cappis is in the profession where anything can happen at any given time. Currently, The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin is for sale, meaning that someone can buy their company at any time and fire everyone.

“I try to not think about the lack of stability in our profession,” Cappis said.  “On the other hand I think that my profession is pretty stable. Our newspaper is a fixture community, and there is plenty of crime to write about. I think if I were to get fired, I would be able to find another job rather easily.”

Being a journalist can be a very stressful and taxing job.  Journalists are put under much of pressure to get a story and have it written in a certain amount of time.

“I’m a pretty laid back guy, but I do often get stressed out a work,” Cappis said. “The worst is when and editor says they need a story in an hour about a topic I know little to nothing about. That normally freaks me out, but I just try to relax.”

Cappis is put in very demanding situations nearly every day.

“I’ve gotten used to the pressure of having to write a 600 word story in a half hour,” Cappis said. “While it’s not my ideal way to work, it’s part of the profession. I get a sense of accomplishment once the story is filled.”

Even though being a journalist may not come with a bountiful pay check, it is still a great career. There are many great things that come along with being a journalist.

“I don’t regret becoming a journalist at all, even though my bank account might disagree,” Cappis said. “However, many of the biggest perks are getting to do something different every day. I like chatting with new acquaintances each h day and experiencing many different cultures that exist in our society. I like getting paid to write and reporting on a topic that can change the world.”

Despite having a challenging schedule and many responsibilities, Cappis still loves his job. The tough guidelines are not enough to stop Cappis from doing what he’s passionate about.

“I want to keep writing for as long as I can,” Cappis said. “At some point I want to transition to more long form writing, whether its newspapers, magazines, or books. I have dreamed about becoming a fiction writer, spending most of my day thinking, and writing without being hassled by editors.”