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What is the most valuable piece of information you learned while becoming a journalist? #spring26
Job application tips, writing skills, etc.
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Joseph’s Answer
As a Journalism major, the most important skill I learned and used throughout my 45-year writing career is asking the right questions.
Who: Who am I writing for? What are their goals, needs, and interests?
What: What information does my audience need to make a decision or take action?
Where: Where should they use this information to achieve their goals or meet their needs?
When: When do they apply this information to achieve their goals or meet their need?
How: How do they use this information to achieve their goals or meet their needs?
Why: Why is this information important for them to achieve their goals or needs?
I structure my stories by answering these questions in order of importance.
Who: Who am I writing for? What are their goals, needs, and interests?
What: What information does my audience need to make a decision or take action?
Where: Where should they use this information to achieve their goals or meet their needs?
When: When do they apply this information to achieve their goals or meet their need?
How: How do they use this information to achieve their goals or meet their needs?
Why: Why is this information important for them to achieve their goals or needs?
I structure my stories by answering these questions in order of importance.
Updated
Martha D.’s Answer
Hi, Jorgia, and thanks for this interesting question. While I primarily used my writing skills in-house, I did study journalism. The key points that have stayed with me are:
- Become an expert in something you could write about, such as politics, science, space, business or the environment. With the proliferation of niche media, I think this advice is even more relevant today.
- Write every day; the discipline will be helpful and the practice will make your writing better.
I would add to find journalists you admire and read as much of their work as you can. Over time, it will influence your writing. You could go even further and put into words what you like about their writing and consciously try to incorporate that into your writing.
Wishing you good luck!
- Become an expert in something you could write about, such as politics, science, space, business or the environment. With the proliferation of niche media, I think this advice is even more relevant today.
- Write every day; the discipline will be helpful and the practice will make your writing better.
I would add to find journalists you admire and read as much of their work as you can. Over time, it will influence your writing. You could go even further and put into words what you like about their writing and consciously try to incorporate that into your writing.
Wishing you good luck!