Journalism is one of the most reputed and glamorous jobs we can take up. It can earn us quite a reputation and fame and present to us many opportunities to make a positive impact on the life of millions of people. As well left an indelible mark on the heart of many people as said by Henry Robinson Luce was an American magazine magnate who was better known as “the most influential private citizen in the America of his day”. He launched and closely supervised a stable of magazines that transformed journalism and the reading habits of millions of Americans. He said that
I became a journalist to come as close as possible to the heart of the world.”- Henry Luce.
So If we are looking forward to making a rewarding career in journalism than, Here is this 3 Necessary Traits which will help us in becoming a Successful journalist
Integrity:
In order to be a great journalist, the foremost thing we require is a “Strong Ethical Core” and Integrity. These qualities help in reinforcing the trust of the audience that makes us succeed as a Journalist. The core components of every story which everyone from the audience to the chief editors takes into account is the Fairness, objectivity, and honesty build into the structure of every story.
As a journalist, it is our primary duty as a responsible journalist to report and educate the masses with the most accurate as well as reliable information. Owing to the integrity of this profession if we are placed in a scenario where trust could be compromised we must always step aside from it. One of the good ways to acquaint ourselves with the ethics of journalism is to read and practice the Society of Professional Journalist’s Code of Ethics.
Analytical Mind:
Incapacity of a journalist we will be always faced with situations and circumstances where we have to take a step back and analyze cases or Stories based on facts and evidence without being much overwhelmed and influence by the emotions which can cloud our thinking. The analytical approach towards such things not only helps in critical thinking but also helps us in working with a clear mind, which in turn helps us in making sound judgments. Critical thinking skills and sound judgment are very crucial when it comes to reporting.
Apart from above, we may have strict deadlines to meet, but as a journalist, we should hone these skills to report Stories with precision and in its authentic form by verifying all the information we have at our hand.
Communication Skills:
Nothing is more vital to journalism than communication skills as journalism is all about reporting and communicating the right things to the right people at right time. No matter we got our hands on a very hard-hitting story, if we as a journalist fail to communicate it efficiently it all goes in vain. These skills are to be used consistently, on a day to day basis to interview sources and to form in-depth stories and reports. Therefore it is a necessity to have at least a bachelor’s degree in communication or a bachelor’s in journalism, besides some form of experience an internship. Apart from this as a journalist, we are required to possess High technical writing skills along with source attribution and High proficiency in English grammar.
For instance, we can take Eric Malling’s name whose resonates strongly with many Eric Malling was one of the most hard-hitting broadcast journalists on Canadian television, incarnating the image of a truth-teller and covering numerous investigative stories which covered everyone from political leaders to notable and sometimes notorious newsmakers in a variety of industries. He got all this limelight owing to his refined communication skills as he knew what to ask, how to ask it, and when to depart from his prepared questions.
Conclusion:
If we have the above-mentioned traits or if we can develop them in the course of the time then surely, a bright career awaits us in the field of journalism.