Print Journalist
Wielding the power of the pen!
Their job allows them to interact with a multitude of people. Make contacts with important dignitaries and celebrities, exercise creative and literacy freedom and above all, today even have a multitude of career options.
History is witness to countless occasions when the ‘pen has actually been mightier than sword,’ as the saying goes. Journalism is one such field that puts to use this might. Epitomizing the freedom of speech, most journalists write about and report events across the globe, as and when they happen with accuracy, truth and fairness, laced with analytical deductions and sometimes a call for writing, believe in the free exchange of ideas and want to bring to light some existent social evils, then print journalism may be just your cup of tea!
Qualities
Essentials to make it in the sphere of journalism are excellent written and oral communication skills, integrity, confidence, powers of observation, analysis and an interest in people and events, a competitive spirit, accuracy, creativity, curiosity, persistence and patience. These apart, good analytical skills, researching abilities, updated general awareness about world affairs and latest events, the ability to work under pressurizing deadlines, team spirit and the ability to take constructive criticism well.
Qualification and training
Journalism is offered in many institutions at the graduate level. However veterans advice that it is best for fresher’s to do their honors in another sphere of liberals arts from social work, literature, geography, political science, management, commerce or even law, so that they can have more holistic view of the subject of journalism when they enter the field. Besides the qualities mentioned above, a post graduate degree of diploma in journalism or one in mass communication and journalism suffices to make a foray here. The course work taught at institute offering these courses enables aspirants to master verbal and written communication, learn the operations of computer software’s like word processing, computer graphics, desktop publishing, photography, media ethics and laws like libel, defamation, privacy and copyright, which are vital.
Job profile and career prospects
When starting out it is important for aspiring journalists to least have some published work in hand. These may range from articles or reports written by them, published in their school/college. Journal to those published in local and national newspaper or magazines. Most new comers, here start off as trainees in the field, working under a chief reporter or an editor. Print correspondents may be employed by newspaper houses in varied capacities from that of a correspondent, journalists, reporter, and features writer to a copy editor. depending on their area of interest, specialization and experience they may go on to become an political correspondents, sport correspondents, legal correspondent or even business correspondent or even business correspondents. Their day’s work would involve submitting story ideas to their boss, working on assigned or selected stories, fixing up appointments for interviews on tape, phone or in person. Besides these, they can also travel to cover events, research stories from internet, library, press archive and other sources and discuss their work with sub-editors, the chief reporter and the editor. This apart, they are also seen at times taking photographs, keying in their stories on the computer and following up on its publication.
Pros and cons
Print journalists certainly have lots to feel proud about, were their profession is concerned. They wild the power of the pen, are known by their bylines and well respected by society. Their job allow them to interacts with multitude of people, make contacts with important dignitaries and celebrities, exercise creative and literacy freedom and above all, today even have a multitude of career options. These range from broadcast journalism, public relations, advertising content writing to social work and politics. Yet the sphere is also one that is bound by stiff deadlines, competition, pressures taxing work hours, lower salaries than in the corporate sector, a good amount of traveling and work shifts including evenings, weekends and other holidays.
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