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What's the right path?
What should I focus on the most if I want to be a journalist?
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5 answers
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Yubing’s Answer
I agreed with both Ana and Rebecca. Find a mentor, register for some courses, and start writing with something small and simple, and gradually gain knowledge and experience to grow yourself into someone who is a good journalist. I also recommend you to constantly get people's comments and feedbacks. Hope you will find your way to succeed.
Updated
Sikawayi’s Answer
Hello Diana, thank you for your question. I would say the one thing you should really focus is being fair and balanced. When it comes to journalism if the article is unfair to either party you have not done a good job. It will be important to listen to the person/people giving you the story look into their face don't just write it down a true journalist will want to get to the bottom of story, others will stop at what appears to be the juicy details, best of luck
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David’s Answer
Hello Diana...
You've gotten a number of very helpful answers.
To the advice on writing, I'd add learning to communicate effectively verbally (and in writing) and developing critical thinking skills. You want to learn how to assess and analyze information — large amounts of unfamiliar information, at times — and communicate it to people in terms they can understand.
Any courses that asks you to examine a body of work and provide a critical analysis will help you develop these skills, e.g. literature and history courses are two good examples of the areas where you will often be confronted with unfamiliar information and be asked to explain what it means. What you study, topic-wise, is not as important in my view as what you are asked to do as part of that learning process. The assessment and analysis skills you'll develop are the same whether you study American History or Biology. The key is learning to figure out what's important and what's not, and then communicating that effectively verbally or in writing.
At the core, that's what journalists do: explain issues — often complicated and complex issues — in terms virtually anyone can understand.
Good luck.
You've gotten a number of very helpful answers.
To the advice on writing, I'd add learning to communicate effectively verbally (and in writing) and developing critical thinking skills. You want to learn how to assess and analyze information — large amounts of unfamiliar information, at times — and communicate it to people in terms they can understand.
Any courses that asks you to examine a body of work and provide a critical analysis will help you develop these skills, e.g. literature and history courses are two good examples of the areas where you will often be confronted with unfamiliar information and be asked to explain what it means. What you study, topic-wise, is not as important in my view as what you are asked to do as part of that learning process. The assessment and analysis skills you'll develop are the same whether you study American History or Biology. The key is learning to figure out what's important and what's not, and then communicating that effectively verbally or in writing.
At the core, that's what journalists do: explain issues — often complicated and complex issues — in terms virtually anyone can understand.
Good luck.
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad to hear that you would like to be a journalist.
Below are a few suggestions you can start with :
1. Read the stories / articles to learn how to write
2. Try to write some stories around you and publish online. People's comment would help you to improve.
3. Find the entry criteria of the journalism or relevant courses (e.g. media, etc.) course in the college. It would be beneficial to you obtain a degree on journalism
4. Explore any intern opportunities in the media. It can help you to acquire a better under the life of a journalist and establish the network.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Below are a few suggestions you can start with :
1. Read the stories / articles to learn how to write
2. Try to write some stories around you and publish online. People's comment would help you to improve.
3. Find the entry criteria of the journalism or relevant courses (e.g. media, etc.) course in the college. It would be beneficial to you obtain a degree on journalism
4. Explore any intern opportunities in the media. It can help you to acquire a better under the life of a journalist and establish the network.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Updated
Ana’s Answer
Hi Diana, great question!
My first recommendation would be for you to find a "role model" - that person that inspires you (maybe a family member or any journalist that you find inspiring). After that, my suggestions are the below:
1. Find a mentor! This person should be someone that is in a place that you are aiming to be
2. Understand the daily routine of a journalist - to make sure that this would make sense for you as a career
3. Identify the abilities that are necessary and put them in practice. Examples: write texts / stories / articles and show to people that are going to give you an honest feedback
4. Learn how to communicate with people - presentation skills are super important
5. Understand the best way to accomplish your goal: are you going to college? If yes, start to map the top universities that you would like to attend and talk to people that are already in (they will give you advice)
Hopefully, these tips are going to help you!
Good luck!
My first recommendation would be for you to find a "role model" - that person that inspires you (maybe a family member or any journalist that you find inspiring). After that, my suggestions are the below:
1. Find a mentor! This person should be someone that is in a place that you are aiming to be
2. Understand the daily routine of a journalist - to make sure that this would make sense for you as a career
3. Identify the abilities that are necessary and put them in practice. Examples: write texts / stories / articles and show to people that are going to give you an honest feedback
4. Learn how to communicate with people - presentation skills are super important
5. Understand the best way to accomplish your goal: are you going to college? If yes, start to map the top universities that you would like to attend and talk to people that are already in (they will give you advice)
Hopefully, these tips are going to help you!
Good luck!