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  • Essay / The Skills of a Great Journalist - 1246

    The stories in which journalists report, create conversations at a family dinner or a topic at the pub with friends. Without journalism, what would we know? It is thanks to journalists that we can know what is happening on the other side of the world, from the comfort of our living room. As journalists, we are public watchdogs, representing those who are absent and answering all their questions. Journalists develop over time their ability to identify what will make good news. In finding my own reporting, I struggled to find stories that would be of interest to the public. When reporting information, we often classify it into categories (Harcup, 2009, P43). This list helped me look at the different categories considered news. However, I needed to develop my skills in finding good news. Some news is not always new (Harcup, 2009, P44) and finding my own story, which was not already covered, was difficult. I consulted local sources who could provide me with information that had not been published or was of interest to the press. Journalists use their sources daily to contribute to the writing of new articles (Harcup, 2009, P60). I thought contacting a source, such as my municipality, would provide me with a story. This decision worked out well, the board provided me with a story, which I followed up with an interview with a board member and reported in my original story. Also looking at Leveson's quote, the press becomes essential in uncovering the stories that need to be reported. Although some stated simply to fill space, some are actually informing the audience with information that could benefit themselves or those the story is about. In our journalism studies, we learned about vox pops and put them into practice on the streets.... ... middle of paper ......ps resurfaced in the news. Overall, in my first few months of my journalism degree, I learned the different attributes of being a journalist. Regarding Leveson's quote, I believe that in some way we speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. With the tragedies occurring on the seas and the wars at home, I think this accurately reflects this quote. However, when it comes to opinions on more minor matters, I believe we only hear from those we are willing to speak with. I think there are many journalism skills that will develop over time. This could include, for example, developing a sense of a good story and improving interview techniques over time. Finally, I believe that a good journalist is one who uncovers a newsworthy story, but writes it in a way that will appeal to the entire audience. Not all journalists should be put in the same bag.