2 answers
Taylor
Student
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota
1
Question
Asked
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What difficulties come with being a journalist?
Journalism has been my dream career for a long time but the art of writing seems to get lost more and more as people pay attention to broadcasting much more. Is this apparent when working in the journalism industry? Do you have any tips for how to be successful through these difficulties?
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2 answers
Steward "Tony" Pacheco
Minister, USMC Vet, John C. Maxwell Cert. Coach, Trainer, Speaker, Teacher, Straight Shooter
162
Answers
Kyle, Texas
Updated
Steward "Tony"’s Answer
Tip One: Don't Lie To Your Readers/Listeners
Tip Two: Validate Your Sources
Tip Three: Do Not Compromise Your Integrity
As a citizen journalist, i as well as my counterparts have been censored, blocked, even have our venues deleted but we still go on. Thats what journalist need before they enter an industry for 'Likes" or "Followers"
If It's just for the money, any of the MSM can offer an internship but you will eventually report what they deem fit, even if manufactured (just telling it like it is)
Start your own blogs, videos, following on news you collect, and create what you have sourced. If it gets taken down, do it again because you are on the right track.
RUMBLE, TRUTH SOCIAL, BITCHUTE, X, TELEGRAM are uncensored platforms which I use. None of my content is monetized but that's not to say yours can't be. Maybe start with YT which is a dying horse, but you can practice by rehashing news of the day. Once you deep dive (like a true journalist) then you can move to uncensored platforms for more recognition and a portfolio of works which can be used for job search or college entry.
Integrity in number one. The mainstreamed forgot that (if they ever had it) So much truth hidden, not enough brave & honest journalist reporting said truths.
Tip Two: Validate Your Sources
Tip Three: Do Not Compromise Your Integrity
As a citizen journalist, i as well as my counterparts have been censored, blocked, even have our venues deleted but we still go on. Thats what journalist need before they enter an industry for 'Likes" or "Followers"
If It's just for the money, any of the MSM can offer an internship but you will eventually report what they deem fit, even if manufactured (just telling it like it is)
Start your own blogs, videos, following on news you collect, and create what you have sourced. If it gets taken down, do it again because you are on the right track.
RUMBLE, TRUTH SOCIAL, BITCHUTE, X, TELEGRAM are uncensored platforms which I use. None of my content is monetized but that's not to say yours can't be. Maybe start with YT which is a dying horse, but you can practice by rehashing news of the day. Once you deep dive (like a true journalist) then you can move to uncensored platforms for more recognition and a portfolio of works which can be used for job search or college entry.
Integrity in number one. The mainstreamed forgot that (if they ever had it) So much truth hidden, not enough brave & honest journalist reporting said truths.
Brian P. D. Hannon
Journalist / Former College English and History Teacher
40
Answers
Bangkok, Thailand
Updated
Brian P. D.’s Answer
One of the great aspects of journalism is that anyone can join the club. There are no licenses or formal education required. Yet if your dream is to build a career in journalism, you would be wise to start by finding experienced individuals or people inside an established organization or group (or any size or form) who can provide you with guidance on how to do the job effectively and with strong ethical boundaries.
This is why many young people embarking on the start of their careers, myself included, have opted to join professional news organizations (companies or public or nonprofits) where the best practices can be learned through hands-on work and training. Media organizations of varying sizes, from small town newspapers to large television networks, have people who can teach young journalists how to gather information and present it in different formats that reach their audiences in the most effective way.
The internet has made it easy for everyone to share information. And there are many avenues for becoming a journalist without joining a formal news organization. Many people are making their livelihoods now by going out on their own with independent websites, video channels, podcasts or online journals. But often those people already have an audience developed over years, or at least some training and experience that have enabled them to find and hold an audience. Simply posting information on one of the many social media platforms may draw attention occasionally, and could eventually lead to a stable journalism career, but that is far from easy. Media organizations of all kinds work hard and use a wealth of resources and techniques to develop steady audiences of readers, viewers and listeners. This is even more difficult on your own. This is not meant to discourage you, but only as a recommendation to educate yourself about the available paths but also the potential roadblocks.
Regardless of what category of information or presentation format you choose (text, video, photography, audio, digital), the art of writing remains a vital and respected aspect of journalism. Text reporters and editors obviously need to be good writers. But that also is true for television and audio journalists who use scripts, photographers who provide explanatory captions and digital-first journalists who share information online. Strong writing will improve the presentation in any format and on any platform. Strong writing may not be as obvious in broadcasting or visual mediums, but it is still an extremely important skill to develop as a journalist.
Additionally, finding an outlet for the type of journalism you want to do is important. If you have a strong interest in business or government or sports or science or another field, you should try to find places where others who are interested in that subject can help you become better at researching and reporting those stories, while also steering you toward those audiences.
There are no formal rules to being a journalist, but there are certainly standards that need to be upheld and guidelines to follow if you want to gain the trust and respect of your audience, as well as the people and organizations providing the information to fill your stories. Trust and respect are built up over an entire career, but then can be lost in a second if you prove yourself unworthy by betraying your audience and sources with disinformation.
Fortunately, journalism at its core only requires telling the truth. Committing yourself to the truth is not hard. The difficulty is in showing your work: finding several sources (human or data) that can support your stories and then transparently presenting your work for the audience to see and judge its strengths and possible uses.
It is not enough to claim to be right because you personally believe what you have said or what an interview subject says. Wanting something to be true is not enough to present it as truth. Reporting provable facts is the only responsible path for anyone who aspires to be trusted as a journalist. And the best way to do that is through clear, articulate writing and presentation in text, broadcasting or any other medium.
This is why many young people embarking on the start of their careers, myself included, have opted to join professional news organizations (companies or public or nonprofits) where the best practices can be learned through hands-on work and training. Media organizations of varying sizes, from small town newspapers to large television networks, have people who can teach young journalists how to gather information and present it in different formats that reach their audiences in the most effective way.
The internet has made it easy for everyone to share information. And there are many avenues for becoming a journalist without joining a formal news organization. Many people are making their livelihoods now by going out on their own with independent websites, video channels, podcasts or online journals. But often those people already have an audience developed over years, or at least some training and experience that have enabled them to find and hold an audience. Simply posting information on one of the many social media platforms may draw attention occasionally, and could eventually lead to a stable journalism career, but that is far from easy. Media organizations of all kinds work hard and use a wealth of resources and techniques to develop steady audiences of readers, viewers and listeners. This is even more difficult on your own. This is not meant to discourage you, but only as a recommendation to educate yourself about the available paths but also the potential roadblocks.
Regardless of what category of information or presentation format you choose (text, video, photography, audio, digital), the art of writing remains a vital and respected aspect of journalism. Text reporters and editors obviously need to be good writers. But that also is true for television and audio journalists who use scripts, photographers who provide explanatory captions and digital-first journalists who share information online. Strong writing will improve the presentation in any format and on any platform. Strong writing may not be as obvious in broadcasting or visual mediums, but it is still an extremely important skill to develop as a journalist.
Additionally, finding an outlet for the type of journalism you want to do is important. If you have a strong interest in business or government or sports or science or another field, you should try to find places where others who are interested in that subject can help you become better at researching and reporting those stories, while also steering you toward those audiences.
There are no formal rules to being a journalist, but there are certainly standards that need to be upheld and guidelines to follow if you want to gain the trust and respect of your audience, as well as the people and organizations providing the information to fill your stories. Trust and respect are built up over an entire career, but then can be lost in a second if you prove yourself unworthy by betraying your audience and sources with disinformation.
Fortunately, journalism at its core only requires telling the truth. Committing yourself to the truth is not hard. The difficulty is in showing your work: finding several sources (human or data) that can support your stories and then transparently presenting your work for the audience to see and judge its strengths and possible uses.
It is not enough to claim to be right because you personally believe what you have said or what an interview subject says. Wanting something to be true is not enough to present it as truth. Reporting provable facts is the only responsible path for anyone who aspires to be trusted as a journalist. And the best way to do that is through clear, articulate writing and presentation in text, broadcasting or any other medium.