Making Headlines

Journalism as career

by SHRADHA BASNYAT

FROM ISSUE # 157 (January 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Have you ever dabbled in a bit creative writing now and do you have your antennas' (imaginary of course) high every time you hear something interesting? Are you inquisitive and have the 'nose for news'? Then, maybe a career in journalism is an option you can explore. A booming industry right now [there are about 2-3 daily newspapers coming out soon, in addition to the many media houses here], journalism is a field which has a deep dimension to it. Whether it is a glamorous TV job or a hard-hitting, tough job reporting news for a national newspaper or television, this sector has lots of opportunities.

WAVE talked to Kamal Aryal, mass communication teacher at Campion Academy, Rabin Kumar Acharya, principal of Campion College and Geeta Neupane, a student of mass communication in Kantipur City College and a news reader at Music and Headlines FM.

What does it take?
Being a journalist is a full-time career. It isn't your ordinary 9 to 5 job. Rather, it requires one to be fully committed to work anytime, anywhere in any condition. A journalist can one day be dining in a five-star hotel and the next be sleeping on a hard chair after working all night. One has to be willing to take off or make sacrifices in one's personal life whenever there is hot or interesting news. Rabin Kumar Acharya says, "Passion is the key, without it one cannot succeed," which is completely accurate in this field. A media person's ears and eyes have to be open at all times. One has to scrounge for stories, be interested about both national and international news.

In any employment route you take, one has to be persistent and motivated; a successful career in this sector means one has to have both these qualities and a lot more. This job is arduous and one may have to face a lot of rejection.

Requirements:
There are a lot of colleges in Nepal where one can study mass communication. Some colleges like Campion College only allow students to take up mass communication if they have taken it in +2. Also, in Nepal, even those who have passed with second-division can take up this course. Mass communication courses in Bachelor level can be finished in three years. However, solely taking mass communication does not mean one can qualify as a journalist. Some may be lucky enough to have the natural talent to write brilliantly. If one's creative writing skills is top-notch getting involved in print media will be a lot easier and many media houses take writers who haven't even majored in mass communication, if they are good enough. One also have to the ability to think outside the box. 

Besides print media, if one gets involved in broadcasting in radio or television, having the ability to communicate well, having the fluency and the ability to present oneself in a confident manner is essential. One also has to be aware of the world around them. Knowing national and international news is very important.

Scope in this industry:
Geeta Neupane says, "The charm of this industry is the vast scope it has." In print media, one can become a reporter or even an editor. But, journalism isn't just limited to print. There is an increase in job opportunities available in this field with prospects in writing material or presenting for broadcast media, such as films, television and radio. Mass communication students will also learn various forms of communication and can later, even be involved in advertising and production as well. Another way to expand one's horizons in this field is getting involved in photojournalism.

Things to be aware of:
Journalism is a very competitive field. Media is becoming more and more influential in the world today and a lot of people are getting into this sector. One has to be able to handle the pressure and be determined enough to dig out the best stories. One also has to be ready to start at a very junior position and work up the career ladder. Another thing to watch out for is the pay. Those who get into the industry thinking they will earn enough dough need to re-think your options! Pay is minimal until one gets to a certain level of respect and prestige. In Nepal, media is improving a lot but in many respects there is room for improvement, so one has to be mentally prepared to work hard for very little pay.

Ethics is a BIG deal in journalism. Spreading news to the world is a huge responsibility for which one has to employ high ethics at all times. One has to always be able to verify facts and have reliable sources. One also has to be able to report facts objectively, without letting personal biases and attitudes to come in the way.

Some aspects of the job:
One can either work as a freelancer and approach a magazine or a newspaper editor or a television producer with ideas for feature articles. Or one can work a beat in a certain newspaper or magazine. Working a beat means covering a certain area, or topic. A beat could be anything from local crime, to national news to movie reviews or sports.