It’s one thing to become a journalist, but its quite another to become a good one. It takes more than ambition or a desire to be a great at this profession. Yitzi Weiner, Founder & Editor of Authority Magazine and CEO of Thought Leader Incubator, compiled and catalogued tips from many worldwide and known journalists across the globe in her article 59 Women In Journalism Share Their Top 5 Tips To Excel As A Journalist. The following are some of the points on which they all agreed: Read every day/get informed It was widely agreed that reading other peoples work was crucial. Reading is thought to be a useful tool for not only keeping up with whats going on in the world but also for improving ones own writing style. As a journalist, one must have a natural curiosity, and one of the best ways to be reliable is to be as well-informed as possible. Authenticity appears to be a benefit in this case. The suggestion was to be relatable while reporting something; one method to do this is to explore by becoming a first-hand source or by reading and comprehending. To be a competent journalist, one must also maintain an open mind. “Never stop learning. It is true that knowledge is power,” shared Suzanne Sena, host of Fast Profits with Money Morning and a former Breaking News Anchor on cables Fox News Channel. Learn as much as you can about your field and industry, your community, your viewers, your topics, she advised. Additionally, “learn new skills, new languages,” and most importantly, “learn from your successes and mistakes. Find a niche Finding a specific area and familiarizing oneself with a specific field is recommended. It does not confine you, contrary to common belief, but it does allow you to establish yourself as an authority in the sector and create a network of sources. Finding ones niche can be done by reflecting on ones hobbies and interests, acquiring a degree, or participating in research in a specific sector. Its also crucial to decide whatever journalistic field one wants to pursue, as there are many: investigative reporting, photojournalism, sports coverage, entertainment reporting, and watchdog journalism, to name a few. Be yourself but different What draws people to Trevor Noah, and what makes Oprah Winfrey so compelling? The goal is to do what other journalists do, which is to report news, but in a different way. You have to be yourself to appeal to your audience, whether its viewers, listeners, or readers, said Leslie Marshall, a political analyst, nationally syndicated radio talk host, and Fox News contributor. But you also have to be unique, she added, for example, if youre writing about immigration, what are you saying that is unique on the subject matter that attracts me? You have to ask yourself what distinguishes you from the next person on the line and what could keep one from turning the page, she suggested. “Be creative, break rules and go where no one wants to go” The majority of the journalists in the piece agree that playing by the rules makes it difficult to stand out. Being bold enough to take on difficult assignments and reporting in a unique and creative style on the side is essential for standing out in a crowd. Know your mission The expert journalists made it clear that their entire objective was to enlighten the public and hold community elected leaders or systems accountable, and they encouraged any other journalist to keep that in mind. The list is not exhaustive, but it can be argued that, like any other profession, journalism requires a certain level of discipline in order to excel. Journalism, according to Masterclass, is the process of gathering, compiling, and distributing unbiased fact-based news and other related information to the broader audience. Hard news, which focuses on breaking news, timely, or hard-hitting matters that are relevant and important (politics or business), and soft news, which focuses on lifestyle, sports, entertainment, culture, art, and human interest events, are the two types of journalism. According to Masterclass, the most frequent journalism work paths are broadcast journalism, which is journalism that is aired on television, radio, or the internet. Business journalism that keeps you up to date on the latest trends and developments in the business sector. Celebrities, films, music, festivals, and award ceremonies are all covered by entertainment journalism. Investigative journalism entails delving deeply into a topic of injustice. Rather than just reporting new data or happenings, opinion journalism highlights the writers point of view. Photojournalism is the technique of telling a story via photos rather than words or dialogue. Political journalism keeps people informed about whats going on in politics in a specific area, whether its local government, national government, or internationally. Sports journalism includes coverage of sports-related issues such as games, player interviews, and strategy discussions, as well as profiles of specific players, coaches, or teams. Journalists that work as watchdogs protect society from criminal actions and corruption, particularly within governments and economic organisations.
