Check out Zisser's former employer at www.gazetteextra.com.

Visit charity run/walk homepage benefiting hospice care at www.tomorrowshope.org.

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Journalism student contemplates job market

Greg Zisser

Greg Zisser is a multimedia extraordinaire. 

Whether he is designing Web pages, writing stories or focusing on his college degree, Zisser has excelled through experience. 

"I was lucky enough to have some beneficial internships, including one at the Janesville Gazette," Zisser said. 

Zisser is referring to the two summers he spent working for his hometown newspaper in Janesville, Wisconsin. His contributions included managing the Janesville Gazette’s website and writing various types of feature stories. 

One of these stories was about a 24-hour charity run/walk that Zisser attended. 

"I’m glad that I attended the event because there was emotional aspect that I would have missed had I not attended," Zisser said. "It was for a good cause and I enjoyed reporting on it."

Zisser is a 1997 graduate of Janesville-Craig High School and will be a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in May of 2002. 

Before attending UW-EC Zisser spent his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. His decision to move came to him late one night, complete with hunger pains. 

Around 11:30 p.m. one night Zisser craved fast food after missing dinner, just as most college kids do. After finding out that Platteville had nothing to offer for late-night snacking, Zisser realized he was hungry for more. 

"I couldn’t find anyplace open, not even a Taco Bell," Zisser said. 

Zisser’s transfer to UW-EC proved to be more of what he expected out of a college. He picked up a major in print journalism to market his passion for writing, but found out it wasn’t exactly what he anticipated. 

Though Zisser has gone through extensive journalistic training, he feels like he is not likely to write for a newspaper. His dislike for deadlines and the horrible feeling of taking your job home are both reasons Zisser is opting not to journey within the newspaper world. 

"One of the most rewarding aspects of my experience in journalism is realizing that it was something I didn’t want to do," Zisser said. "I think [any college student] that tells you they know exactly what they want to do is lying to themselves or to you." 

With a degree in journalism and a lot of experience, Zisser hopes to move to Alaska to write for an outdoor magazine. 

"Alaska appeals to me because I have an interest in nature and I've never been there before, but ask me in a week and I could say I want to go somewhere completely different," Zisser said. "I just need to get out of here. College has been fun but it’s time to start paying the bills."