One of the most important points made in Streitmatter’s “Mightier than the Sword” is that history and journalism are inextricably linked. A journalist that will leave an impact doesn’t just report events, she influences them through her newsgathering. She will bring to the public’s attention what needs changing, and can inspire action.

   In the conclusion of his book, Streitmatter lists ten different patterns he has noticed in the behaviors of game-changing American journalists. His first observation I found particularly striking: “The news organizations that have influenced important events have been willing to set the agenda.”

   This insight highlights the powerful role of journalism. When any journalist writes a story, she has the potential to shape history by taking an active approach in chronicling and interpreting events. For any student interested in journalism, this is a compelling thought. For those willing to take risks and wholeheartedly engage with their writing, history is waiting to be written.