Are you considering a career in journalism but not sure if it’s the right move? Here are five myths about the industry, busted.
1. Journalism is not sustainable
It has been said by some that journalism is dying, but we’d be inclined to say quite the opposite. Journalism is flourishing and evolving, particularly thanks to the likes of AI and modern social media. Traditional media is still out there for those who love to write in a more conventional way, but modern journalism embraces the modern, colourful world.
2. Journalism exploits
While some journalism indeed covers sad stories of loss, heartache or torment, not all journalism is exploitative or chases negativity. Currently, there is a particularly strong emphasis on clickbait, which appears all across social media. However, this only represents a very tiny portion of the world of journalism and the work that professional journalists do. Remember that for every story you read, there are numerous others covering the story from an entirely different angle.
3. Journalists twist words
People are wary of journalists, as they do not want to say something wrong and have their words misinterpreted. However, journalists carefully consider everything they report. They are bound by regulatory rules and won’t want to face consequences or backlash that may damage their reputation, or even worse, end their career.
4. Journalism is exciting
While journalism can sometimes result in a glamorous life, not all journalists get to live the luxury lifestyle and attend awards events and the like. Even those who have qualified from a sports journalism course at a reputable school like //schoolofjournalism.co.uk/journalism-courses/sports/, might still find themselves standing on muddy sidelines watching footy. The luxury is getting to write about something you’re passionate about for work, instead of doing a job you don’t care for!
5. Anyone can call themselves a journalist
Many people write for a living and can, by all means, call themselves content writers or bloggers. But the fact is that a journalist requires a certain set of skills and training which they cannot get unless they have qualified as such.