Sometimes we receive inquiries and applications from people seeking jobs as journalists, although they have no journalism experience.
Whether it’s inquiries from teenagers contemplating entering journalism schools, or from former teachers/English degree majors/creative writers/seekers of fame and glory, the hidden questions are the same: Do I have what it takes to be a journalist? Will you give me a chance to see if I can do the job? Can I see if it’s what I really want to do?
They’re tough questions.
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Career counsellors can offer information on programs, conduct tests on people’s interests and capabilities, and suggest the training and jobs people might want to undertake.
But people already in the business can give a clearer idea of what the job is like, what the job opportunities are, and honestly share the good and bad experiences from the job.
No job is perfect. What makes a job satisfying and encourages someone to pursue it as a career is if it’s enjoyable and offers a sense of pride and accomplishment.
What does it take to be a journalist? You need to be tenacious, yet resilient; be forever inquisitive, yet learn how to focus or let go when doing a story; be a persistent interviewer, yet also be an excellent listener.
A good journalist will be a storyteller without resorting to sensationalism or embellishing the facts. Tough when needed, a reporter should also know when to be sensitive.
A newspaper reporter should love writing and work hard to master the language; instead of being intimidated by words, the writer should work to tame them and use them to their full potential.
Journalists should also like meeting, studying and interacting with people.
Next week: more on what it takes to be a journalist.
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