Tips for Aspiring Journalists

If you have doubts about thrusting yourself into the wonderful, unpredictable world of journalism, Emagister knows how to end your doubts.

The digital era might be hurting journalism in its traditional form, but the passion for writing will never end and writers will always find their way to come through.  As long as the world has news to report and requires someone to report it, journalism will never die.

Follow your curiosity!

Some people are just naturally curious, and intent on getting to the bottom of things.

As Walt Disney said:

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

If you have a natural thirst for knowledge, constantly asking “why?” in your head then this profession it may be the best thing happened to you. You could actually start asking “why” to everybody about everything, without fearing to be kicked in your b side (at least most of the time).

It takes a sensitive and yet inquisitive type of person to get information out of people. As a journalist, you will get to ask all those questions that pop in your head out loud! And keep always in mind that millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.

Get out of your cubicle!

Being a journalist allows you to work remotely.

Generally, a freelance job can offer you a lot of flexibility for work hours and time commitments.

If you really want to satisfy your wanderlust, leave your cubicle, start working as a freelancer and write for a publication like National Geographic, Lonely Planet or Sunset. You have the freedom to write from home, the beach of Belize or, why not, the Sahara Desert. You can draft articles for adventurers like you, spin travel tales into magazine and newspaper-worthy articles while, in the meantime, living the best time of your life!

Now prepare your backpack and off to cover stories all over the world!

Get inspired!

Be prepared to embrace your inner wild child and go out of your comfort zone.

Journalism will introduce you to new places, exotic foods, arts, culture and the best part of all: people. All kinds of people!

Some of them will really challenge your perspective on life, teaching you what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes. Learn new things will be an everyday task for you and discoveries hide around every corner.

As a journalist, you learn what works, what doesn’t and why. You learn to understand what makes people laugh, what piques their interest and what tugs at their heartstrings. Challenging yourself and nurturing your motivation, inspiration and reflection.

The words you speak become the house you live in!

Of course, a love of writing is key to a career in journalism. If you’re a natural born storyteller, you’re in the right place.

A journalist is someone who needs to write. Constantly taking notes, writing in a journal or in a napkin, and using the written-word to process your thoughts and feelings,  as a journalist your vocabulary will grow and you will develop a knack for finding the perfect combination of words, always knowing how to use them to entertain and even persuade the masses.

Also, let’s not kid ourselves, you will have the opportunity to say “just Google me” when someone asks to see your work!