Journalism is a dynamic career, with reporters and writers often covering fast-breaking news. These professionals use their writing skills and knowledge to report information accurately and fairly. In addition to researching, interviewing sources and writing articles, journalists must respond to breaking news as well as opportunities for pre-planned feature stories.
To get started in this career, you need an excellent command of language. Further, you should develop journalistic skills such as the ability to ask probing questions and remain objective. You should also learn to capture an interview’s essential elements in writing. So, you might wonder how to achieve these aims.
One of the best ways to do it is to receive training through a leading journalism training program. For instance, if you’ve already started on the path and want more expert knowledge, you could look into St. Bonaventure University’s online journalism courses. This top-notch school offers Master’s degree programs in Digital Journalism and Sports Journalism.
However, if you’re just starting on your way, or looking for a career change, you’ve come to the right place. This article provides information about career options in journalism, as well as offering some helpful advice for a career in journalism.
Table of Contents
What is the role of a journalist?
A journalist is a person who writes articles or news stories while following specific ethical standards. Journalists may specialize in certain types of writing, such as sports, business or politics. Most journalists seek to report the news accurately and fairly. As a result, journalists learn the skills to research their topics thoroughly.
This might involve asking probing questions, looking for objective news and not opinions and quickly grasping the vital elements of a story. The main job of a journalist is to report on issues happening in the world around us. This includes covering political campaigns, economic trends, sports events and natural disasters. Also, journalists interview influential people and explore cultural trends.
The importance of journalists in society: Why they’re vital to the world
Today, more information is available to the public because of technology and social media. So, whether you’re an avid news reader or prefer to keep your news consumption to a minimum, you likely know about the latest headlines and breaking stories within hours of them happening. Journalists play a crucial role in society and help us process news. They collect, analyze and disseminate information to the public.
Journalists are essential members of society whose work informs readers and even drives social change. They also hold a lot of sway and have the ability to help build reputations. The best journalists in the tradition of Edward R. Murrow hold people in power accountable. As a result, journalists can shape the public’s perception of these people by exposing their good and bad actions.
Additionally, journalists protect the public’s right to know. In a democratic society, access to information is essential for citizens to make informed decisions. So, journalists help drive this access to information by collecting and analyzing data so stories can be reported publicly. These stories can include anything from the latest headlines about the state of the world to investigative pieces about politicians or companies and their business practices.
Why are journalists vital to society?
Journalism is a powerful tool for change. Journalists are the ones who report on social issues, public policy and economic issues. Further, it’s their jobs to investigate and report on matters of public concern and hold people in power accountable. Without journalists, there would be no way to share this information convincingly.
Journalists tell the stories that need telling, especially the ones that are in the public interest. Therefore, journalists are professionals who get the word out about social issues important to the public, including stories that people in power might not want told. Often, journalists are the only ones who can expose the truth and inform the public about critical issues that warrant public attention. Without journalists, it would be much tougher to learn about issues that affect all of us.
Why it should matter to you: Protecting democracy
Journalism is a cornerstone of democracy. It provides citizens with the information they need to make informed decisions about their lives and communities. The professional provides a forum for people to share opinions and ideas and to hold people in power accountable for their actions. However, journalism is always in need of defending.
As investigative journalists hold people in power accountable, sometimes leaders crack down or even censor the press. It happens most often in fledgling democracies. With the power of technology, in some corners of the internet, there’s been a push to turn the public away from traditional journalism to less reliable sources. However, if the press can’t report the actions of people in power, then citizens won’t have the information they need as an informed citizen public. Without journalism, democracy is at risk.
Why it should matter to you: Combatting disinformation
Fake news and disinformation are problems that threaten all aspects of society, including journalism. These false stories can be incredibly harmful, especially when millions share them. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to spot these stories and know what’s real and what isn’t. And the problem is growing. As the internet and technology become more robust and powerful, there’s the potential for misinformation to rise.
However, organizations such as the Center for Humane Technology seek to support the voice of everyone, including journalists. The fact of the matter is that with awareness comes action. So, the more citizens are reminded about the crucial role of journalism, the better everyone’s chances of avoiding disinformation. Also, governments have started to seek ways to ensure that powerful technology doesn’t spread false ‘news’. Every adult has a role to play in supporting the work of high-quality journalists.
Why it should matter to you: Exposure and opportunity for change
Journalists have the chance to shine a light on issues that affect people all over the world. They can report on topics that people care about and that matter to them. Also, they can inform readers about what’s going on in their communities, what the government is doing and what’s happening worldwide. By providing exposure to essential issues, journalists can help inspire people to get involved and help make change happen.
Not only can journalists inform the public about the problems that matter to them, but they can also connect people to solutions and ways to get involved. For example, the United States has a vast culture of philanthropy. So, reporting on topics such as Giving Tuesday and the nonprofit sector, they help guide people to support others. In short, by shining a light on important issues, journalists provide exposure that can lead to an opportunity for change.
A free press drives social change
As discussed, journalism drives social change by holding people in power accountable and highlighting essential stories. As a result, journalists help create change when they report on crucial stories that need telling. Moreover, they support the public’s right to know by reporting on these stories. Therefore, journalism is one of the most pivotal careers in society, and it can lead to powerful social change. Let’s consider the existential issue of climate change.
For years, there has been debate about whether human factors are causing climate change. However, many journalists worldwide kept reporting on climate issues — even when the public may not have entirely been listening. This focus by many journalists helped create social change. Today, the largest global companies, such as Apple, Microsoft and Mastercard, lead the way to sustainability. Now that you understand journalists’ enormous importance, let’s explore career options and what it takes to excel in this essential career.
Career options for journalists
There are several journalism careers, each offering a different level of job security and potential growth. If you have a particular interest, research the best career path, ensuring you start your career with a solid foundation in the field.
- Business journalism. Business journalists cover the business world. So, they focus on a specific industry or the financial side of the business, for instance. They could write stories about the latest company mergers and acquisitions and executive leadership changes. They could also report on new products or initiatives. Business journalists also report on financial trends in the economy, including growth or decline in sectors such as technology or healthcare.
- Editorial journalism. Editorial journalists write stories for magazines, newspapers and other publications. They typically cover social issues, politics and lifestyle topics. They might write a feature story about a person’s struggle with mental illness, or they could write an article about how a new law impacts people.
- Photojournalism. Photojournalists use their camera skills and knowledge of news events to capture momentous events as they happen. So, they may be on the scene of a natural disaster, a political protest or interviewing a newsmaker. Photojournalists have an essential job, as their pictures are what many people see and remember about important news events.
- Communications and journalism. Many journalists are in communications. These journalists write news releases, develop media strategies and pitch story ideas to media journalists. Also, they produce media content, such as podcasts or videos, that promote a company or organization. They may also create ads or advise company representatives on responding to media inquiries.
- Sports journalism. Sports journalists cover athletic events or write articles about sports, athletes and sports teams. So, they may write about the latest game, government legislation or new sports stadiums. Sports journalists also review sports equipment, write editorial pieces and interview sports coaches and athletes.
Skills required to become a good journalist
If you want a path in this exciting career, you should hone a few skills. For one, you need to have excellent communication skills. So, you should have the ability to clearly state your ideas and respond to the thoughts and opinions of others, which is essential for interviewing. You also need to be a good listener and know how to summarize points of view. Other skills necessary for becoming a journalist include the following:
- Excellent writing skills. For a journalist, it’s essential to write, concisely and creatively. You need to use language and vocabulary accurately. Excellent writing is vital to appeal to a broad audience and convey your message.
- Research skills. To write an accurate article, you need to know how to gather information from various sources. You will need to know where to find critical information and have the ability to understand it.
- Observation skills. Journalists often research in person. So, they might visit a place they want to write about in an article. Therefore, you need to have good observation skills. This allows you to notice details and gather relevant facts.
- Critical thinking skills. Journalists gather information from various sources, including conducting interviews and making observations. Therefore, you need to analyze the data you collect to make conclusions critically.
- Creativity. To write an interesting article, you need to think creatively. Meaning, you sometimes need to come up with new and exciting ways of presenting information.
- Curiosity. Journalists write about a variety of different topics. As a result, you need to be curious about the world around you to develop new ideas for articles.
- Organizational skills. Journalists often write articles on a deadline. You will need to have the ability to organize your time well. Excellent organizational skills allow you to meet your article deadlines.
- Self-discipline. As a journalist, you should have the discipline to chase a story — even when it’s tough. Depending on your type of journalism, it might take a long time to uncover a story, so you need the discipline to keep going.
- Teamwork skills. You may often work as part of a team in journalism, such as when producing a television or radio program. You will need to be able to work as part of a team and cooperate with others.
- Strong communication skills. Sometimes, you need to interview people face-to-face, such as when interviewing a top government official. You will need strong communication skills to gather all the information you need and to ask the right questions.
Becoming a journalist
While there’s no set path to becoming a journalist, earning a degree can get you started in the field. For example, you could earn a Bachelor’s in Journalism, Master’s in Sports Journalism or a Master’s in Digital Journalism. Whichever stage you’re at, the best journalists always develop critical skills and abilities. For example, these activities might include the following:
- Read newspapers and magazines regularly. If you want to become a journalist, you need to read various newspapers and magazines regularly. Doing so helps you get a feel for the types of articles and the language used. Of course, it also keeps you up to date on what’s happening.
- Go to journalism conferences. Another great way to get the experience to become a journalist is to go to journalism conferences. These conferences often offer workshops and training sessions run by professional journalists. Plus, they’re great networking opportunities.
- Be creative. To become a successful journalist, work on creativity. Of course, you always want to report things truthfully and accurately, but language is a fluid construct. So, write to engage.
- Be curious. As a journalist, you should always be curious about the world around you. Doing so allows you to develop new ideas. Also, you need to seek facts and statistics to support what you report constantly.
- Be socially intelligent. You need to be socially intelligent to get an interview with a source. This is a skill that comes with time. However, social intelligence is essential for people to trust you and share their news.
Journalism: One of the most vital jobs in the world
Journalism is vital for democracy, social change and providing people with important information about critical issues that matter to them. Journalists report on the actions of people in power, hold them accountable, and, if necessary, expose truths. Journalists help the public remain informed so they can make decisions about their lives. By doing this, journalists help drive social change. They also protect the public’s right to know, inspire readers, make change happen and support a free press.
Journalism is dynamic, with reporters and writers often covering fast-breaking news. These professionals use their skills and knowledge to report the news accurately and ethically. The reality is that every democratic society needs journalists. While many of us go about our daily lives, it is journalists who help keep us informed and educated about the world around us. So, if you want to become a part of this illustrious career, it’s most certainly one you should pursue. It’s an enriching field with many renowned journalists, so you’ll be in good company.
