7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Pursuing Journalism
Now at the tail-end of my journalism degree, I’ve come a long way since the first-year student who went in with just a passion for writing and an uneasiness about sharing it. There were times that I was convinced I was in the wrong degree, and others where I felt I had found where I truly belonged. Countless interviews, exams, posts, presentations, and research pieces later, I can honestly say I’ve gained a diverse set of skills that I know I’ll be able to apply to my future career, wherever it takes me. But looking back, I believe that with some knowledge on what was to come, I could have avoided a lot of the uncertainty that came with going into it so blindly. If you’re thinking about pursuing journalism, here are some things you might want to consider.
1. Be prepared to step out of your comfort zone.
To put it boldly, introverted tendencies won’t get you far in journalism. As harsh as this sounds, it’s a lesson that I needed to learn quickly. I remember sitting in one of my first ever lectures and being told quite bluntly, ‘you can’t be shy. You can’t be scared to speak up. If you can’t speak up to your peers here, how will you ever speak up in newsrooms, conduct interviews, appear on television?’. It can be terrifying to put yourself out there, but journalism isn’t something that can be done in a bubble. It requires assistance from your peers, your editor, and your sources; not just your writing ability and research. The reassuring part is, as with all things, it gets easier the more you do it. After the first couple of times you approach strangers on the street for their opinion on the new railway station being built in the neighbourhood (and deal with confused/ dirty/ annoyed looks), presenting in front of your whole class almost feels easy.
2. As a journalist, you will be told ‘no’. A lot.
This hit me quite fast when we were pitching news ideas in a circle in class, and our tutor responded to mine with, ‘this story has been done before. What’s your next idea?’. Of course, the first time, it stung. But a large part of creative work is knowing that the potential for rejection is always there, and learning to become desensitised to it. The truth is that not every pitch is a good pitch, and that’s fine. Though it may be difficult, learning to hear ‘no’ as something helpful rather than hurtful can make you a stronger writer and begin to better understand what works and what doesn’t. Outside of the newsroom, sourcing interviews can also be tricky. For every 10 emails I sent out for an assignment, I would usually get one-two responses, more often than not declining the interview. Understandably, official sources and spokespersons are more likely to accept interviews coming from publications than from students. But in any instance, it helps to keep in mind that not everyone wants to be interviewed. If a particular voice is crucial to your piece, following up with phone calls, and being consistent in your approach can help, but sometimes it’s best to move on and try again with a different source.
3. Do your best whenever, wherever.
If you’re like me, your favourite writing happens in a particular situation. It may be in your room or study, first thing in the morning or last thing at night, your favourite music playing or complete silence. It can be tempting to begin associating this as the only time you’re able to be in the zone and get good work done. But unfortunately, this is very rarely possible as a journalist. Learning to work with your editor over your shoulder in a busy room can be difficult, but it is necessary. With the time restraints given for most assignments, stretching out the writing until you’re in a state where you’re most comfortable isn’t an option. Keeping in mind that your piece will most likely be chopped, rearranged or edited after you have submitted it, not everything you write has to be 100% your favourite work. But as you get more used to writing under pressure, it might just begin to feel effortless to do so.
4. There are a lot of technicalities involved.
Accustomed to a more creative approach to writing, this is one aspect of journalism I was quite unaware of. Firstly, there is a heavily ethical approach to journalism and each country has its own set of official guidelines and rules to follow. It’s important to be aware of these as they should act as the foundation for your work, and help you understand the direction you want to follow as a writer. There are also varying journalistic styles that differ from publication to publication, regarding specifics such as capitalisation of certain words, spelling differences, choices in grammar etc. In each piece of work, too, there is a structure to follow depending on the content. From hard-news stories to book reviews, there are differing elements to include and in different orders, which you’ll have to put in the time to learn if you’re looking to write broadly.
5. You need a passion for stories.
Despite the technicalities, journalism is in essence, storytelling. Your job as a writer is to communicate a story that will spark intrigue in readers, but it’s impossible to do this if you don’t have it first yourself. That’s why it’s vital for you to have an interest in what you’re writing on, and to be willing to put in the work to do the story justice. Even though journalism may at times seem as a simple relaying of information, a truly gripping piece will always stand out when the writer has committed to acting as a voice for those involved, whether that’s a person, a community, an animal, or even a place. The best pieces are those done by people who care.
6. You might not make a lot of friends.
Another word of wisdom from my tutors has been that journalism is one of the loneliest professions to follow, given the nature of the job that is so highly committed to pursuing and publishing stories. There is a tendency to fall into ‘interview style’ relationships, where one is always digging for information, whether subconsciously or not. Along with this is the obligation to tell the truth, which includes about large institutions or those in power. But journalism is not PR, and regardless of the number of front-row show tickets/ restaurant bookings/ gallery opening invitations you might receive (and then stop receiving) from those who are hoping you’ll only have good things to say, maintaining your journalistic integrity will mean sometimes hurting people’s feelings.
7. It isn’t for everyone.
Journalism is a profession that asks for 110%, and requires much more than just a knack for writing. It can be exhausting, exhilarating, nerve-wracking, and stimulating, but regardless of what it is to others, it matters most what it is to you. Succeeding in this field will mean doing a lot of jobs you’re not interested in doing, especially if you’re looking to be hired at a large publication, and your fuel will burn out fast if you’re not completely into it. Like all jobs, it’s not for everyone, and that’s ok.
ABOUT ROUMINA PARSAMAND
Roumina is a journalism and finance student from Melbourne, Australia. She is a filler of journals with words and drawings, and an obsessive reader. Always happy to chat books, pet dogs, and drink tea. You can find her on Instagram at @nami.reads
