The death of newspapers has been greatly exaggerated, as has the death of newspaper careers.
Many journalists who left in recent years for Internet start-up companies saw their jobs disappear like a 386 computer chip. Investors wanted them to make profits.
So as we near graduation time, I think it’s appropriate to deal with journalism as a career. Newspapers will change, to be sure, but they won’t disappear.
First, journalism includes the basic skills of liberal arts — communication, writing and research. If you decide later that journalism is not for you, you will have skills that will serve you well.
A good journalist has three key traits:
* Talent. You have to be a skilled writer, able to read and write quickly. Writing with flair is a major plus, but good reporting will cover many writing flaws. If you love to write and couldn’t imagine taking directions from a non-writer, then journalism is for you.
The business is evolving into a multi-skilled job, so journalists are being expected to be conversant with audio, video and print. In my career, for instance, I have worked in radio, print and TV. Doing all three at once will become more common.
* Energy. A consultant once called journalists “adrenaline junkies.” That’s true, in that we love to chase a good story, then share it with the public. That immediate feedback is a great part of the attraction of the job. You can see the impact of your work right away. If you are easily bored, then journalism may be for you.
* Character. You need to be willing to learn, take direction and be immensely curious. You’ll quickly learn more on the job than all of your college training. If you like to be constantly learning, then journalism may be for you.
What are some of the drawbacks?
* Pay. Journalists like to complain about the pay, but it’s not all that different than other communication careers. But if you are talented in both English and math and can’t decide on a career, well, engineers make more than journalists.
* Hours. Journalists often work nights and weekends. When there’s a big story, it may mean long hours. It can be tough on family life. My first job as a police reporter in Springfield, Ill., involved working 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. I worked Saturdays and Sundays till I got on the city hall beat.
* Stress. There’s a flip side to the excitement of a news media job. Deadlines and stress. You need to find healthy ways of dealing with it or you can burn out.
* Limited participation: A journalist is a trained observer. You cannot become a participant in a beat you cover. If you really feel strongly about the environment or public affairs or business, then standing outside the door with a notebook or a camera will not be satisfying to you. You will want to be part of the action, not recording it.
Quotables
* Former President Harry Truman: “I have found out the best advice for your children is to find out what they want and advise them to do it.”
* Professor Joseph Campbell: “Follow your bliss.”
* Confucius: “If you find a job you love, you’ll never work a day the rest of your life.”
