Text 5 what it takes to be a journalist

Ask anyone in the business what it takes to make a good journalist and you are likely to get the whole catalogue of human virtues in answer.

You will be told, for example, that journalists have to be curious, possess genuine interest in people and compassion for them. Naturally, journalists have to have a compulsive urge to write, be able to express ideas clearly, be avid readers. On top of this they should have a pleasant personality, be sincere, enthusiastic, dependable, dedicated and open-minded. Interpersonal skills, excellent writing skills, reporter’s instinct (‘nose for news’), broad outlook, and a great deal of responsibility is also essential here.

The uncertainty of the daily routine makes it difficult to incorporate family, hobbies, and any regularly scheduled plans; but those who detest the predictability of nine-to-five jobs are attracted to journalism because ‘no day is a carbon copy of the day before.’ Long hours and chronic deadline pressure can be significantly negative factors, too.

But opportunity for your word to reach a large audience is tempting indeed, and many find the initial low pay, uncertain and occasionally dangerous conditions, and chaotic schedule a fair tradeoff to be allowed to do what they do.

The type of work journalists do depend largely on the subject they cover. Another thing which affects journalists’ job is the outlet they produce news for: TV, the Internet, a newspaper, etc. For example, in print, these include editing, reporting, feature writing, sub-editing, photography, layout, illustration and graphics and a host of specialist jobs from drawing cartoons and compiling crosswords to researching background and commissioning artwork. In broadcasting, you could find yourself producing programs, writing scripts, reporting, presenting, interviewing, or even editing audio and video. Online journalism presents even more challenges. Even those who are not freelancers find that they may be required to work on magazines, web sites and multimedia presentations within the same company. That’s why journalists are to be versatile today.

New technology has brought to stage new media journalism which demands of journalists new skills and new flexibility. Print reporters find themselves summarizing their stories into a television camera. Videographers select images to be published in the partner newspaper. Both print and broadcast journalists look for the Web links to connect their stories to the worldwide audience. Smart phones, phones capable of surfing the Web, such as iPhones and BlackBerrys, provide new outlets and require new storytelling techniques.

Despite the revolution in technology, the basic skills required of every journalist haven’t changed. Whatever the medium, the skills of news-gathering and storytelling are essential to good journalism.

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• Organize into three groups to find in the text information about: (1) qualities a good journalist should possess, (2) skills that help to work effectively, (3) negative and positive sides of the profession. Arrange these skills and qualities in the order of priority you attribute to them; explain your choice:

• excellent writing, editing, research, leadership and interpersonal skills,

• ability to handle a heavy workload and stress,

• journalism education and journalism experience,

• knowledge of a diversity of political and social issues,

• ability to work to deadlines in a team with people holding diverse perspectives,

• willingness to travel extensively,

• willingness to take risks.

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