(no subject)
I have been doing a lot of thinking about newsrooms versus communications departments. And this is all after having left a six year career as a journalist to try something different.
I can’t help but be sentimental about my first love. I think I have learnt all of life’s survival lessons from being a reporter on the ground.
Firstly, it has taught me financial literacy where before I would not know what price earnings ratio is or which valuation is aggressive, cheap expensive. Secondly, the job has taught me how to write accurately and concisely and the same time, having fun with the English language and looking at data with a creative eye. Thirdly and perhaps what is the most endearing aspect about being a journalist is the network one builds. You need to know your sources and your sources need to trust you to give you the scoop. This takes time but when they take you into their wing, their handphone and home numbers will be yours! And sometimes, it is not just sources that you need to build but your own journalist friends in the other media as a lot of contact sharing goes on and they will be the first to alert you if there is a job opening in their company. And fourthly, journalism teaches you to question. Question the truth in your source’s statements and even in the way you question them to trap them into an answer. Yes, we are like lawyers in a courtroom - we do have warped questioning tactics but we are only after a fair story.
Newsrooms also thrive on high adrenaline. You never know when there will be breaking news. And the people you meet in the newsroom. Everyone has a character, an ego and a past to hide. It is one of the most colourful places to people watch.
And what have I learnt from being in a communications job - sucking up to people and that in turn, teaches one politeness and subservience. A far cry from the life's lessons one picks up from journalism.
You will always be my first love, JOURNALISM.
I can’t help but be sentimental about my first love. I think I have learnt all of life’s survival lessons from being a reporter on the ground.
Firstly, it has taught me financial literacy where before I would not know what price earnings ratio is or which valuation is aggressive, cheap expensive. Secondly, the job has taught me how to write accurately and concisely and the same time, having fun with the English language and looking at data with a creative eye. Thirdly and perhaps what is the most endearing aspect about being a journalist is the network one builds. You need to know your sources and your sources need to trust you to give you the scoop. This takes time but when they take you into their wing, their handphone and home numbers will be yours! And sometimes, it is not just sources that you need to build but your own journalist friends in the other media as a lot of contact sharing goes on and they will be the first to alert you if there is a job opening in their company. And fourthly, journalism teaches you to question. Question the truth in your source’s statements and even in the way you question them to trap them into an answer. Yes, we are like lawyers in a courtroom - we do have warped questioning tactics but we are only after a fair story.
Newsrooms also thrive on high adrenaline. You never know when there will be breaking news. And the people you meet in the newsroom. Everyone has a character, an ego and a past to hide. It is one of the most colourful places to people watch.
And what have I learnt from being in a communications job - sucking up to people and that in turn, teaches one politeness and subservience. A far cry from the life's lessons one picks up from journalism.
You will always be my first love, JOURNALISM.