Job Description
Journalist
If you've ever wanted to make a difference in your community, there aren't many careers where you can like journalism. In this post I will recap my daily responsibilities during my summer internship with KGET-17 News in Bakersfield, California.
A journalist is one who gathers information, whether via text, audio, pictures, video or any other way you could imagine. They then take this information and present it in a news-worthy form and present it to the public, either via a newspaper, television or radio. For my internship specifically, we aired our news on television. A typical day would see me being assigned a story then venturing into the city and finding valuable sources that could offer me accurate information on the story I'm reporting on. I would interview them myself and record the interview, then head back to the station where I make sense of the information given and write a script that I tape myself reading. I then take the video I shot in the field, any interviews and my script recording, and then edit it into a story worthy of being put on television. This job was exciting and fun because I could do something related to the job I've always wanted to do, and it was an opportunity to show other stations my skills being on television.
Three roles I would use to describe a journalist are:
- Investigator
- Storyteller
- Personality
I will describe why these roles best explain the responsibilities of a journalist below.
Investigator
A journalist must work like a detective in some ways, knowing which questions to ask to move an interview along in a swift and sensible manner and coax what would otherwise be hard-to-acquire information out of an interviewee. On top of that, a journalist must think outside the box to find a new lead if a trail goes cold and knowing which data is important, and which data is not if the story requires it. An example of this for my internship was when interviewing the public information officer of Kern County's public transport system about one of their buses that caught fire. It was a sensitive situation where I had to be careful with what I asked in order to get the information I needed.
Storyteller
A journalist must have exemplary storytelling ability in order to keep viewers' attention for the length of the story. If a journalist prepares a story in a manner that is sloppy or uninteresting, there is nothing that kills a story faster. Viewers want to see stories that will inform and keep them engaged, so the ability to tell stories that do both is very important for a journalist. An example of this for my internship was when I did a story about the victim of a drunk driver and how Mothers Against Drunk Driving Kern County had been helping her and her family throughout her recovery. The story was also sensitive, so it was vital to tell it in a way with respect to the family while giving the most information to the viewers watching at home.
Personality
A journalist must also be a "personality" with which viewers can relate to and "fall in love" with. As a journalist, the odds are you'll be on viewers' televisions for months or even possibly years. Because of this, it's important to portray yourself in a good light and be someone the public can connect with. The more they like you, the more they will want to watch you and your stories, and so it is vital to be a personality they can connect with. An example of when I did this was when we did charity work in the city. These charity events were opportunities to show people who I was when the cameras were off, showing them that I was a person who liked to have fun and talk and be friendly, and not just a face on television who disappeared when the cameras were off.
Hello, Justin. First of all, I admire your ability to put yourself on the air and be able to talk to smoothly and clearly. Personally, one aspect I have always struggled with is public speaking, so I can't imagine what disasters I would cause on air. Second, journalism is a very intense field of work off-air, where you have to be ruthless and well-connected to receive the latest news and present them before it is released to the public. Finally, I completely agree with your take on journalists having to be a "personality" on top of being a good reporter. My favorite journalists are differentiated by their charisma and ability to attract audiences. Anyways, thank you for sharing and good luck keeping up with this constantly fast-moving industry!
ReplyDeleteJustin, the words you used to describe a journalist really paint a detailed image for us reader's to comprehend what you are trying to describe. It sounds like you had a blast having the opportunity to be on the move at all times attending to valuable sources. The skills of a detective, storyteller, and someone with a charismatic personality are the true pillars of the best journalists.
ReplyDeleteI admire your passion for journalism, and your writing clearly illustrates that. I think people often forget all the work that goes on behind the scenes, so I enjoyed reading about the whole process that goes into journalism. It is clear that you understand your audience because you explain what viewers want to see. Thank you for capturing and sharing human experiences and stories!
ReplyDeleteI love the three categories of the job you've addressed. I think people often overlook how important one's personality is to professional success. I also love your to-the-point and concise writing style, which indicates that you will indeed make a great storyteller and journalist
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you showed the background to what we take for granted when we put on the news. I also like how throughout the whole description there was a big emphasis on reliable information which is very important in this increasingly opinionated world.
ReplyDeleteHey Justin! The way you described journalism made ma realize that it's not as easy as people think it is. I am so used to just looking on google or a reputable online source for all of my research needs, on the other hand you need to go out into the world and find what sources would work for you. I think my social anxiety at times would not be great in any of the roles you mentioned and it takes a specific type of person to thrive in that environment. Glad you were able to live out the job you've always wanted!
ReplyDeleteHey Justin! I think these skills that you addressed are great, specifically personality. I think it is not only essential in journalism, but also in life to make sure you are who you say you are even when the cameras are off. I think you being generous enough to help charity and give back is amazing. Great job!!
ReplyDelete