The journalism profession is constantly evolving, and there's a need for young journalists who are just stepping into the profession to brace up for the challenges in the field.
For undergraduates and fresh graduates, it's no longer just about waiting for a newsroom job or carrying a press card—it’s about taking initiative and developing a strategy to survive in the heavily populated profession.
Here are five essential principles every young journalist should hold close:
1. Start Writing and Building Your Online Presence
As a young journalist, don’t wait for a platform—create yours. Start a blog; post micro-articles on Facebook, X and Medium. Ensure that you publish consistently. As you do this, you are building a digital online presence. Your digital footprint is your modern-day portfolio. All you need to do is to build it with impactful stories. The more you write, the better you become at what you do. The more visible your work is, the easier it becomes for people – editors, recruiters, and collaborators – to find you and read about your work. Don't be intimidated by others; write your truth and publish it.
2. Embrace Truth as Your Armour
With the emergence of technology, misinformation and fake news are on the increase. For young journalists, truth is not just a journalistic ideal—it is your armour. It protects your credibility, your audience’s trust, and the integrity of the stories you tell. You must always verify your sources and check your facts. If in doubt, don’t post. Don't be in a rush to break any news; what use is breaking news filled with half-truths or misinformation? The more you commit to reportage of truth, the better it is.
3. Be unique in your writing and storytelling approach.
Develop a style that’s yours. Let your style be your identity. Create a style in your approach to opening a story, the flow pattern or the tone, and let it reflect your personality and perspective. The best journalists are not just reporters—they are storytellers whose works resonate with their audience.
4. Protect Your Integrity
There will be pressure—pressure to twist facts, pressure to receive a brown envelope, pressure to suppress truth and pressure to trade objectivity for mediocrity. Always remember that journalism is a calling rooted in public service. Once you lose your credibility, it’s hard to reclaim.
5. Master the Tools of the Trade
Finally, good journalism today demands versatility. As a young journalist, give yourself to learning. Learn how to shoot and edit videos. Learn how to write across formats. Learn how to post strategically on digital platforms and learn how to use tools like Canva, CapCut, QuillBot, and InShot.
Being able to use the tools makes you valuable and gives you control over how you tell your stories.