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Student journalists want what’s best for this industry, so use us!

Posted by Dave Lee on 21 March 2008 at 10:36
Tags: Student Journalism

I had an intriguing chat with a leading news reporter for the Lincolnshire Echo on Wednesday. She asked what I wanted to do with my career, and I announced, slightly embarrassed, that I wanted to be sent to some grotty horrible corner of the world to report on human suffering.

What a weird wish!

Yet, to my surprise and, ultimately, my delight, this reporter shared the very same dream. Not because we revel in human pain or discomfort, but because we both viewed this sort of journalism as the most noble form of what we do.

Yesterday, I conducted a quick poll. A quick poll consisting of one journalism-studying friend. She agreed: If the editor of her favourite news outlet (be it a newspaper, TV station or whatever) asked her to fly to, for the sake of example, Iraq, she would. Straight away, without hesistation.

How many of us would do this? So far I’ve asked two people, and both have said yes. And, if you include myself, that’s three out of three. 100%. Help me expand on this figure.

In an era of ‘churnalism’ dictating the news agenda – allegedly – is it the fault of the new breed of journalists that reporting is in such a bad state? Or are we just not given the wings to do what we dream?

It’s five years since we invaded Iraq. You already knew that. But have you seen this coverage from the New York Times? Proof, if proof were needed, that online journalism has incredible power to really tell a story — if done right. Sure, TV can provide pictures. Radio can give audio. Print can provide words and images.

Which medium can use all of those? Online. But that’s besides the point.

What I really want to stress is our challenge to the journalism industry:

Use us. We’re more than willing.

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Tags: Student Journalism

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1. Jared Silfies |  21 March 2008 at 16:38

   If I were asked the same question I’d say yes in a heartbeat with my bag packed before the end of the conversation.

   Journalism, true journalism, gets under your skin. It feeds you and there’s a certain type of high you get when you’re interviewing someone about just about anything.

   Maybe I’m a bit too idealistic. Maybe I’m wrong and bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ideals will fade with time, but I’m going to work as hard as I can to keep the industry afloat.

2. Martin Stabe&hellip |  21 March 2008 at 17:55

   Willing or not, sending an inexperienced young journalist off into an extremely hostile environment is a really, really bad idea. The kind that gets journalists killed.

   No responsible editor would “use you” in this way.

3. Matt Cutler |  24 March 2008 at 18:12

   Dave: agreed.

   I think there are so many good opportunities open to students looking to break into the industry for your exact reasoning: we are willing to do it.

   I’ve been perusing many of the entry-level jobs and have come across quite a lot that would involve relocating abroad, perhaps not to the extent of going to a warzone, but nevertheless proof that we are willing to go places where many others wouldn’t.

   We may be pawns for the bigger picture but at the end of the day, life is for living, regardless of what industry you go into.

   http://mattcutler.blogspot.com/

4. Hannah Gurney |  7 April 2008 at 23:02

   I would also do it in a heartbeat. I agree with what Matt Cutler said about ‘life is for living’. Isn’t going to the other end of the world and seeing things no one else will ever see really living? Ok so perhaps it is a ‘bad idea’ to send an inexperienced journalist out to an area of conflict, but can I just remind you Martin that we are not in nappies? We are adults and we can take care of ourselves, if we’ve chosen to go out to an area of conflict then I’m sure we wouldn’t choose to go into it blindly.

   After recently spending a week at a local newspaper and rearranging press releases I believe that true quality journalism deserves a degree of risk taking.

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