I saw my niece Madeleine twice this week and both times our conversation started off with her excitement over articles she had written for her college newspaper at Manhattan College called The Quadrangle.

I love seeing her enthusiasm about writing stories. I know the feeling all too well. That’s one of the things I love most about this profession. Even after 25 years, as much as I might bitch and moan about long hours, missed holidays and the overall stress of the job – the feeling of accomplishment that comes from reporting a story you are proud of never goes away.

I don’t know if this is true for other professions. There is something about the news business that grabs hold of you and if you are destined to be a reporter it is hard to let go.

I don’t know yet if the news business is Madeleine’s destiny. (She certainly won’t get any pressure from me.) I just want her to enjoy the thrill of reporting, for the moment – and to indulge her aunt’s bragging!