The Highs and Lows of Journalism
Like I mentioned before there are many reasons why people choose journalism as their final calling. Some, are still trying to figure out if journalism is the right career and if they’ll be happy in the long run.
Some of this reasons are the desire to write, the desire to find out what’s going on in the world and the desire to tell a story. Some enter journalism for the glam status, and others to make a difference. Like any other professions, journalism has its highs and lows.
I’m working part-time as a copywriter, I’m producing travel features for an online travel magazine, I’m doing my masters in journalism full-time as well as voice training course for radio and television, on top of that, I’m looking for another job in journalism. At the moment, I’m analysing some prospects paid and unpaid that will update my skills. I have to meet the needs of the industry because it’s not going to work the other way round. People, I don’t have time to spare, now it’s time you also get stepping on it!
Before that, lets revise the highs and lows of the industry. Read this information for a fresh reminder and new insights of what journalism offers. This information has been gathered by Fran Molloy and Helena Janson’s ‘Careers in Journalism’.
General knowledge tell us that the pay in journalism (with exceptions of course) is usually not very good, but what does this profession have that draws people in?
1. Constant Learning
Working as a journalist you’re always learning new things. One day your interviewing a celebrity, the next day you’re covering a rally. Two days are never the same.
As a journalist you have to become an expert on one field, and the switch to another subject easily and under deadline. You have to be flexible.
You also get to meet informed and interesting people that are outside your social circle, and you’re job is to convey their information creatively into an easy to understand audience.
2. Great Life Skills
A journalism career can help your life in general. It teaches you how to distil the detail and the basic facts, helping you break things down into fundamentals, and you can apply these skills accross your own life.
You become a searcher of information. Anything you don’t know, or are unsure about, you naturally develop the ability to find out the facts. You know where to find it and like the chase.
You also learn to find information quickly, analyse and then separate the quality content of the pile writing, to creatively report it in a coherent form.
You develop confidence to approach people from all walks of life, and find out easily what the story is.
3. Knowing First Hand
As a journalist you have the advantage and perk to find out news as it happens, on the spot, before anyone else.
Knowing news first hand give news junkies a lot of satisfaction. You have to also be interested in doing follow ups for more possible stories on the topic or issue happening.
Continue reading Part Two of the High and Lows of Journalism
