Journalist

Contents

1. Do you have it?
2. Commitment as a Student & Job Commitment
3. Basic Qualification
4. Attitude Aptitude & Skills
5. Finances
6. Future Prospects
7. Other Professions

Do you have in you?

The main job of a Journalist is to inform and educate the masses through a local newspaper, a magazine feature, broadcast news on radio/television, or news portals. A Journalists interview sources and review records to assemble, collect local, national, and international news through interviews, investigation, and observation, and explore the implications of the facts before reporting it. Television and radio reporters may have to compose and report news live as it happens and are part of the team gathering the news as it unfolds. If you are curious about people and current affairs, possess good listening and communication skills along with an attitude to face the challenges, and can write clear, concise, objective, and accurate reports quickly then you are suited to be called a journalist.

Commitment as a Student & Job Commitment

As a student, you will be learning the skills to prepare for the real world. Freelancing and internships during graduation, working on school/ college magazines, and writing for various publications would generate published work adding value and experience to your profile. On the job, you are always working within a time frame which can create a lot of pressure. The uncertainty of the daily routine makes it difficult to incorporate family, hobbies, and any regularity in daily life making each and every day unique. To survive as a journalist you should be prepared to work along with the editor and should not be protective of your prose since articles will often be edited for publication without your consultation. In the broadcast industry, you should be able to work with the entire team of photographers and editors. A journalist depending on personal interest and caliber can choose one of the core categories of news from hardcore news about politics, international affairs, crime, etc, to business and sports news, and entertainment news. You also need to be very versatile and adaptable to be absorbed easily by different mediums.

Basic Qualification

Eligibility to sit for a competitive exam for graduation in journalism is 50% in 10+2 with any combination of subjects. A graduation degree in any discipline is required for admission to a post-graduate program in journalism which provides training in the technicalities of presenting information, news, and opinions. Most prominent institutions conduct a written test and interview as part of the selection process. Postgraduates in Economics, Commerce, and Business Management can become journalists based on their educational background if they possess the necessary skills.

Attitude Aptitude & Skills

Along with excellent written and oral communication skills you need to be persistent and willing to work irregular hours against tight deadlines. A journalist should possess the capacity to conduct independent research and should be capable of evaluating the newsworthiness of information before presenting it. Journalists must maintain a point of view while remaining objective. It is important for a journalist to be driven by the opportunity to reach a large audience and the initial low pay, uncertainty and occasionally dangerous conditions, and chaotic schedule should not affect the enthusiasm. Journalists not only need credentials and experience but also courage and hard work to survive in such a competitive environment. A budding journalist should always be willing to take initiative and have the stamina and the desire to tell real stories about real events. An important skill to possess is networking skills and the ability to make contacts in your own field. Overall, it’s your understanding of the medium and its demands that counts. A journalist must have a good knowledge of the subject being reported and should have a knack for presenting it well.

Finances

There is not much financial commitment that you need to pursue journalism. Moreover, a journalist after acquiring basic knowledge learns on the job and there’s no need in investing on any further courses to excel as a journalist.

Future Prospects

The media sector with the growth of television and the launch of new publications and broadcast channels having 24 X 7 news has great demand for journalists. There are multiple news channels, business channels, business publications, and regional as well as English publications. Journalists have diverse employment opportunities within print, radio, television, and online media. You can also be a part of production or the editorial side in a broadcast news house. The knowledge and skills the journalists develop are valued in careers in public relations, reality TV, publishing, marketing, and communications management/media management positions in large organizations. Journalists can eventually become editors, professors, researchers, and analysts in their field of expertise.