Journalist

Coming from Henry Grunwald, the Managing Editor of TIME Magazine and the Editor-in-Chief of Times Inc, nothing could describe journalism better!

Here's what we at mapmytalent know about Journalism as a career.

The definition of the word ‘journalism’ would take you back to the origin of the newspaper, where the profession of ‘journaling’ daily events, happening and announcements came to be termed as Journalism. In modern times, not much has changed and journalism still refers to the investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a mass audience. Given the power of mass media in today’s world, journalism is a much venerated profession. A journalist may find a role and position in any of the following media:

• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Television
• Radio
• Web-based Newspapers and Magazines

It is a profession that requires utmost levels of ethics and integrity. In news parlance, you will be tested to see if you have ‘a nose for news’, which essentially means whether you can look beyond the obvious and hunt for the truth. A journalist is also required to be an excellent writer if you are interested in print and online media. To be a successful television and radio journalist, you need to have an incredible verbal communication skills and a pleasing personality.

Journalists often develop an area of interest and make it their desired ‘beat’, or subject of reportage through their career. Most journalists at the start of their career try one or more beats to see which they enjoy more. More often than not, many news organisations assign specific beats to reporters so that they can test them better. Some of the most popular beats in the news world are the following:

• Politics
• Sports
• Business
• Defence and Strategic Affairs
• Entertainment
• Environment
• Technology
• Fashion

Have you ever seen a news channel blink? That’s because news never stops! Journalism is a demanding profession and it’s definitely not for the weak-hearted. It’s almost a round-the-clock job, where a journalist is expected to be aware and available for any news development. As a journalist you will be expected to respond quickly, think on your feet, be resourceful and most importantly be inquisitive.