Elevator Pitch:
Journalists research and investigate new stories. This may involve being present at events,
researching documents and sources, and interviewing experts or witnesses. They use the
information they have gathered to write articles, reports, or opinion pieces to share with a
wider audience or the public. The media that they produce must be concise,
understandable, and accurate, so journalists must verify and fact check the information that
they are releasing to avoid spreading false information.
Journalists may work at newspaper or magazine publications, or press agencies. They may
also work at radio stations and television companies. Some journalists might also work
online for websites providing news and information on current events.
Journalists need a general knowledge of current events and affairs, local, national, and
international. They also need to have strong researching skills to find the information that
they need to write and need to be able to communicate and socialise with others, as
journalists often need to meet with and interview people from a range of backgrounds.
Journalists need very strong writing and reporting skills. Having a degree in communications
is recommended for becoming a journalist.
Journalism interests me because I enjoy writing very much and I have an interest in politics
and current affairs. I would want a job in this field because I want to continue writing later on
in life, and journalism also gives me the opportunity to meet many different people without
having to stay in the same place for too long.
This has impacted on my subject choices next year. I have decided to take IB English
Literature HL to be able to improve my writing, researching, and analysis skills.
In the next two years I hope I will be able to enter some youth writing competitions related to
journalism and/or writing about current events. I also aim to have a deeper understanding of
local, national, and international affairs to prepare for the future.
