Introduction
Journalism is the field of pursuing truth and producing news that informs the public about the events of the past, present, and future. Journalism is based on the collection and distribution of reports and interactions of the facts and ideas of people. A journalist’s job is to inform society about the events unfolding in front of us every single day.
Journalism is a noun, and the job of a journalist is to ‘journal‘ the truth.
In the age of diversification of media, monetization challenges, and the combustion of print media, the job profile of a journalist has changed. Although journalism in some shape and form has existed for centuries; 21st-century journalism considers that there’s a smartphone in every hand and high-speed Internet in every town. Today, anyone with an audience can distribute news. This makes the job of a journalist even harder. Because if there’s something worse than lack of information, then it is misinformation. Here are some qualities and skills that a journalist must have:
Prerequisites of being a journalist:
- Confidence in basic writing, editing, and research skills.
- Pondering over the details and fact-checking your work.
- Reaching out to people and soliciting interviews to track a story.
- Publishing stories and breaking news for the public.
- Being in the public sphere and publishing stories for public consumption.
- Multitasking and working on a number of projects.
- Challenging the authority and dedicating yourself to finding the truth for the public good.
Think you are a good fit for journalism? These are the questions that you must ask yourself:
- Can you adhere to the ethics and principles of the job?
One of the first things taught in the Journalism courses is that journalists have the moral responsibility to be the arbiters of truth and pursue it at any cost. There’s a public-service angle to the job that other professions simply don’t have. Reporting the facts and verifying news as it comes is the cardinal duty of a journalist. Secondly, journalists must be able to build a relationship with readers and earn their trust. This happens when a journalist remains absolutely faultless throughout their career. Because you can’t fool a reader twice — they simply won’t allow it.
- Are you passionate enough about the job?
Journalists work in a rapidly changing and fast-paced environment and must be passionate and energetic about their work. It is a hard job, and it comes at great personal risk as well. It is not enough to just report the news. You must also be able to research, check sources, follow on leads, and present a well-balanced truth that is not in fear or favor of anyone with power or influence.
- Can you mingle with people?
Journalists must be able to mingle in the crowd and interact with people from all walks of life. They must be able to talk to everyone they meet and strike a conversation that can be converted into a story. Introverts and shy people generally don’t go far in the field, because as a journalist you really need to put yourself out there and get people talking.
- Can you pursue a report without bias?
It is impossible to separate yourself from biases. As a journalist, you must be able to have an open mind and step away from the biases that can cloud your judgment or mess up your report. Journalists must be broad-minded to be able to analyze all issues at hand and extract news. It is important to keep your biases aside and be fair in your reporting.
- Are you a good writer?
Often considered an afterthought, it is incredibly important to be a good enough writer, especially if you want to be a digital journalist. Journalists must have a way with words, and it should come out in their headlines and opening paragraphs. Writing is a part of the curriculum of the Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication degree. You must be able to captivate the reader base with interesting lines that can illuminate their imagination and make your job easier.
- Do you have the integrity to pursue truth?
Every journalist must have a strong sense of integrity. To be a good journalist, you must be able to report facts and present your story honestly, without any impartiality or sense of favor. Journalists open tussles with power, as they challenge authorities and expose corruption. Journalists must stick to their guns because they will be attacked.
- Are you curious?
Stories don’t appear out of thin air, they are pursued. Are you curious enough to pursue a story? Does every bone in your body tingle at the thought of hidden truth? Do you have the ability to search for truth and read between the lines to get to the bottom of the story? Can you build up conversations with anyone, lose yourself in the details, and stay curious for the long run, as long as you uncover the truth.
- Can you deal with controversial issues?
Journalists must have a knack for scouting extraordinary things and issues that upset most people. From covering gruesome crimes to reporting on the worst aspects of humanity – they must be able to look at stories for what they are. It is not easy to look at shredded pieces of a dead body and take a photo or hear the vails of a mother who lost her only child to a crime mafia and stay sane enough to write the story. This job needs emotional intelligence as much as it needs astuteness, and not everyone has the guts to take on this role. Can you?
In conclusion,
Every democratic country needs a free and open press made of truthful journalists. If you have an affirmative to most of the questions above, then you are a good fit for journalism. It bears reminding that in a career like journalism, a lot of qualities and skills are learned in the field. If you have the tenacity to pursue truth, you can become a journalist with a degree from Mansarovar Global University (MGU), University in Bhopal.
