Skill Significant To Journalism example essay topic

Today the term journalism is applied to prestigious publications such as The New York Times, and to television news operations such as 60 Minutes and NBC Nightly News". First amendment rights and the democratic political environment of the united states have contributed to the uninhibited growth of the news media in public and private communication". 1 the world of journalism has changed dramatically from the colonial days. When newspapers were just channels or devices of commercial and political information. SKILLS AND / OR APTITUDES With the new changes in technology, it has changed the nature of the journalism industry, making it vividly sophisticated and requiring a wide range of skills. There are four significant skills, to become an exquisite journalist; to be prepared, alert, persistent, there, and wary. vs. A prepared reporter educates her / himself. vs. An alert reporter looks for intriguing facts. vs. A persistent reporter never quits. vs. A reporter who is there gets onto the scene where news happens. vs. A wary reporter trust nothing until she / he is sure of it.

A journalist must also know the difference between a source and a subject, because all reporting involves a source and a subject. A subject is whatever a journalist investigates, and a source is whatever answers the journalist's questions. The most basic way to get answers is to ask questions, this process is called interviewing. "The single most important thing to do when interviewing anyone is to listen carefully", said journalist Michael Kronenwetter in his book How to Write a News Article. A good journalist must learn how to study his subject and source. Journalist must know how to listen carefully and pick up if the interviewee left out any crucial facts, contradicts him or herself, or mentions newsworthy.

Journalist must also have good writing skills, and must learn how to take down copious notes. Must be able to record as much as possible, so that they are likely to forget anything of importance. Journalist must also be able to observe and report every little facts. Including tone of voice, facial expression, gesture, body characteristics, and the environment a subject creates at home or office. These little facts can reveal a lot about a subject, so it should be reported. Another skill significant to journalism is research, unearthing old facts that someone else has reported.

Journalist should always be ready to research by keeping a good dictionary, almanac, atlas, encyclopedia, phone books, maps and directories to government agencies. Journalist should be ready to support, contradict, or explain the on-site reporting of a news event. Part of becoming a good journalist is learning how to research and review until your eyes begin to water. Journalist are always researching, whether it is talking on the phone with at least 2-20 people a day, or interviewing 5 people a day. Respected journalists never trust anything until they can see research, and find the answer for themselves. To be a successful journalist you must be willing to spend long hours of researching, writing, and must be innovative, creative and aggressive.

Journalism is a demanding a job and very competitive many skills are necessary to be successful in this field, but with time and effort it could be accomplished. EDUCATION Education is the key to making it somewhere important in this world; education is something no one can take from you and is also necessary to become a journalist. To become a journalist you will definitely need a high school diploma and at least 4 years of college. Half of the editors who hire newcomers prefer journalism graduates, meanwhile the other half prefer people who have a broad and deep knowledge of various subjects. How long you stay in school depends on where you would like to work.

Many reporters at the white house and other prestigious places went to school beyond the normal four years. If you would like to work in a prestigious area, you should definitely go to school beyond the normal four years. If you are unsure where you would like to work, or if you think you could make it somewhere without the graduating from graduate school there is a timeline you could follow. It is after you graduate from a four year college and months pass without any job offers, consider going back to school and getting better training. In high school volunteer at your school newspaper, local newspaper, or broadcasting station. After volunteering there decide if journalism is the career for you, and if so begin to study writing, editing, photography, and the history of journalism.

There are many different forms of journalism, and they all ask for different types of education. The first one being newspaper, which ask for a college degree for an entry-level position in the news department. Basic knowledge of journalism acquired in high school education is a great asset for these technical and artistic people, as it enables them to do their jobs more meaningfully. The second one being magazine, which advise formal training in magazine journalism, or a degree in advertising or business management. The third one is broadcast journalism and it is advise that while in college to get a job in the college radio and television station.

REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE There are certain requirements and experience that an editor is looking for to employ someone. For newspapers they would like someone who has good interpersonal communication skills and telephone etiquette are essential. Newspaper editors prefer someone who has participated in an internship during their college years. Also people who have worked on their college newspaper and other college publications, they leave a promising impression. For an editorial position in a major newspaper you should have at least 10-15 years in the field of journalism. For a position as a reporter 3-6 years will make you eligible, but to become news assistant you could have just graduated from college.

For magazines they want someone who has a typing speed of at least 40 words per minute is a must; experience in the use of computer terminals or word processors may be required. People who work on professional journals, such as medical, need considerable knowledge of the journals subject. Some business experience, basic secretarial skills, and good phone manners are basic requirements. Magazines prefer graduates in business administration or marketing and creative training. A magazine internship experience is the best qualification, and experience on college magazines and newsletters is also helpful to get employed.

2-5 years as editorial assistant, will lead to a promotion as assistant editor. Almost ten years of experience is necessary for promotion to senior editor. For a career in broadcasting journalism especially in radio requires a good voice quality. Must have considerable self-confidence and learn voice control techniques. They should also have good writing skills and the ability to handle deadline pressure, and must know how to improvise. Experience is the most crucial ingredient of a job search in broadcasting due to strong competition.

Most jobs are not advertised; insiders who have been working their way up earn them. Beginners should start outside metropolitan areas and after gaining experience move back to the metropolitan area. A few years as a reporter at a major station or news director at a small station lead to the position of network reporter or news director. DIFFERENT POSITIONS Journalism is a career that has so many different levels inside of a level for example. Inside of a newspaper they have a news department, which included a photographer, reporter, rewrite, feature writer, columnist, critic, researcher, messenger, city editors, section editors, editorial writers, and copy editors. Inside a newspaper-advertising department they have, copywriters, salespersons, advertising managers, and national representatives.

Inside a production department they have, production assistant, and production manager. Inside the circulation department they have, circulation assistants, collection managers, and circulation managers. OTHER INDUSTRIES Many people never actually become journalist until they realize their career is applicable to journalism. Like Law, consultants, elementary and secondary school teachers, government or industrial administrators, librarians, lobbyists, project managers, foreign correspondent, bureau chiefs, dictionary editors, program proposals coordinators, editorial researchers, journalism professors, greeting card editors, continuity directors and etc. In conclusion to have a career in journalism you must always be persistent very determined, because people will tell you that there are no jobs available that is a lie. There are so many jobs available that fall under the category of journalism.

Since technology has changed so much there are even more jobs available that fall under journalism but it has also made the journalism industry very complex but sophisticated. Journalism has come a long way since the days of commercial printers who single handed ly published news books and newsletters, and of radio stations that were one person operations from private homes. Well-defined jobs are decreasing in the world of journalism but there is still room for those who are innovative, creative, and aggressive. Reference Page 1. Everette, E. Dennis and Is mach Arnold H., Reporting Processes and Practices: News Writing for Today's Readers, Belmont CA, Wadsworth Publishing Co. 2.

Feller, Fred: Reporting for the Print Media, Harcourt, Brace and Jovanovic h, 19843. Ferguson Publishing Company Staff: What can I do NOW? Preparing for a Career in Journalism, New York NY, USA, Ferguson Publishing Co. 19984. web Kronenwetter, Michael: How To Write a News Article, Danbury CT, USA, Scholastic Library Publishing Co. 6. Seidman, David: Exploring Careers in Journalism, New York, Rosen Publishing Co.

2000 Table of Contents Section 1 Skills and / or Aptitudes page 1 Section 2 Education page 3 Section 3 Experience and Requirements page 4 Section 4 Different Positions page 5 Section 5 Other Industries page 6 Section 6 Reference Page page 7 J OURNALISmShawnt'e AvaloyCareer Exploration Period-5 January 17, 2005.