Last weekend, I had my first opportunity to attend the Associated Press awards banquet with some of my fellow Times-Gazette co-workers. Even though I had not submitted any of my work for the 2007 AP contest -- for one reason or another -- I enjoyed supporting my fellow reporters who had won several awards.

For me, a fairly young and inexperienced journalist, the banquet was energizing, and a strong confirmation of why I chose journalism as my career. As I watched television, radio and newspaper journalists accept their awards -- awards for remarkable pieces of work that represented skill, emotion, and service toward one's community -- I felt inspired. I also felt reminded that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing with my career.

From the time I enrolled in my college journalism program, I've never flinched in my desire to be a journalist. I may have fallen off the path once or twice, but I've always had the itch to deliver the news and tell people's stories.

Now, sometimes I may wonder why I have this itch, but I feel it, nonetheless. Why does any journalist feel such passion -- and most of the good ones are passionate -- about what they do?

It's not the money.

I can't recall ever meeting a well-to-do journalist. The old saying, "you get what you pay for," is completely false when it comes to journalists, because most I know are both hardworking and intelligent -- at least the ones with whom I work.

It's not for the time off.

Unlike many other occupations, journalists don't get a whole lot of time off. "It may be Christmas, but someone still has to report the news," is an accurate statement at most newspapers, especially the larger ones. Working for a smaller paper like the Times-Gazette does have its perks, as we do actually close for six holidays per year ... but most papers don't.

It's not for the praise.

There are many wonderful people in this community -- and some of them offer praise on a regular basis -- but that doesn't mean we don't hear complaints from others on a regular basis. Being in a small town, we do a lot for the community and, if at all possible, when someone calls requesting us to cover something, big or small, we usually try to get it done.

What bothers me is that, sometimes, it's the people we do the most for -- the event we give tons of coverage to -- that don't seem satisfied with our efforts.

But we don't do it for the praise ... the benefits, the money, the perks, or anything else along those lines.

Why are we journalists?

It's to serve our communities. It's to tell the story of the man who overcame extreme obstacles only to defeat the odds. It's to share an emotional photo with our readers of a little boy who lost his father in a terrible war in the Middle East. It's to educate our readers about why they see so many folks of another culture making their home in Shelbyville.

It's to tell the people the truth.

It was rewarding to be reminded of why we do what we do at the AP awards last week, and I congratulate all of my co-workers on their terrific accomplishments.

-- Sadie Fowler is a staff writer for the Times-Gazette. She can be reached at (931) 684-1200, ext. 214, or by e-mail at sfowler@t-g.com. This column is scheduled to print every Thursday.