Highlights from Ira Glass’ commencement speech. – Brian Storm

Your goal should be able to make things that are memorable.

You don’t have to wait for someone to give you a job for you to start making something that you think would be good.

Amuse yourself.

If you fall into the right job it should be fun.

Keep one moment in every story that is there just for you.

Don’t deprive your audience of the chance to like your story. A funny moment is rare in a serious news story. Getting those moments that are amusing to you personally into a story more accurately depicts the world.

Finding a story idea is a job.

Alex Blumberg gets two richly deserved references.

Ira intends to eat something he shouldn’t.

Being a journalist is about having a relationship with luck. When stories are memorable it’s because you harnessed your skills and then you got lucky. Try things until luck kicks in because it eventually will. Wander along in the rain until lightning strikes.

Go the extra mile to be fair.

You don’t have to wait to make something good. Don’t wait for permission to make the kind of work that you want to make. Just start doing it. That’s how good things happen.

Set higher standards for yourself than anyone else is setting for you.

2012 Commencement: Ira Glass, Host, PRI’s “This American Life” from CUNY Grad School of Journalism on Vimeo.

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