Are you thinking about having a career in journalism? Look no further, following an event at Royal Holloway Careers; Penning the Future provided an environment for professionals to advise aspiring individuals. A career in writing can range from journalism to an author or a reviewer. The advice I give in this article is gathered from interviews with Keith Wallace; a travel journalist for the BBC and senior producer for The Travel Show and Jade Taussig who is one of the directors of a new news platform, We Are The News. Gaining insight into this profession is highly valuable as an increasing number of students and young people are pursuing or thinking about pursuing journalism as a career (Nelson, 2023).
When asked how Keith Wallace gained his current position he explained that after completing university he was not entirely sure about his next steps. Not until he stumbled across a postgraduate journalism course in Portsmouth. After one year of studying, he was left with a plethora of skills that would set him up for a career in journalism, Wallace expressed the significance of completing a journalism course and NCTJ as they provide you with all the skills you will need in the industry. Shortly after graduating with his new qualification Wallace gained a job at a local radio which he suggested was a great way to get involved with media, might I add it sounds like a great way to build confidence. Although much emphasis was put on the significance of completing a journalism course Wallace provided other routes
such as being a runner and a good one of that. Keith expressed the importance of having an excellent runner on hand to provide the hot drinks, charger, or assistance when needed but equally the skills to know when to stay on the sideline. This seems like an excellent way to observe the industry in action and develop relationships with those on the front line, who could be potential references for future jobs. Having connections and contacts can be a great way to thrive in this industry. Once in the industry certain challenges are expected, as with anything. Wallace reflected on the effects of COVID-19 where multiple people were discharged and finding work was extremely challenging, Wallace was unsure whether the industry was ‘back to normal’ from the effects of the pandemic as he further mentioned the rise in social media being increasingly used to gather information. The rise of influencers and video content on social media has, in a way, dominated certain written news and reviews. However, despite this Wallace mentioned that if writing provides you with a sense of satisfaction and achievement then all you should do is keep writing, as simple as that. If you are a keen writer or a student with essay deadlines then writer’s block will come as no surprise, Wallace provides a simple remedy – create space. Step away from the work and allow your mind to create distance. Wallace mentioned experiencing writer’s block many times although his career does not allow much breathing space due to the fast-paced nature of his work. However, he still recommends distracting the mind and not causing unneeded stress as a sure way to overcome writer’s block. He mentioned that if your mind retains the original thought or emotion you want to convey then the words will soon enough present themselves. Jade expressed a similar remedy to writer’s block, creating the distance can allow for a more successful outcome. We have all experienced sitting at our desk staring at a blank piece of paper which can create a tunnel vision of thoughts that are most of the time not remotely good.
Likewise, my conversation with Jade was both enjoyable and enlightening to learn about a different type of journalism. Jade mentioned that her goal with this new platform is to limit the amount of fake news which is becoming increasingly prevalent in modern society. With social media acting as a news agent for many individuals it is concerning how easily it is to spread false or harmful content. Jade states that this website is a community involvement whereby individuals can submit articles on an array of topics, aiming for multiple perspectives on one agenda to provide a coherent ‘full picture’ of a story. Most of the writers are university students which can give a sense of credibility due to the skills needed by university students to research, cross reference, and back up their arguments, therefore making fake news more difficult to stumble across. Jade disclosed her profession also as a psychotherapist which she noted to have influenced her approach to journalism and writing as she aims to prioritise autonomy and individuality within a person’s work. This platform enables people to be the boss of their work, moving away from the traditional format of journalism with editors. Although editors can of course be incredibly useful to correct grammatical errors, it was noted that editors can influence the angle at which articles are explored or change the wording of the content which may lead to a misinterpretation of how the articles ‘should’ have been read. In essence, it can lose its authenticity. If you want to
learn more about this incredible opportunity and publish your work on We Are The News then Jade encourages individuals to simply get in contact, she expressed an array of new opportunities for anyone wanting to get involved. Jade elaborated on the autonomy aspect and the boss of one’s work through the support of donations, with influencers being prevalent in this era it is common for authors and journalists to be more than just their work. Being the face and personality of your career is becoming more important, therefore if your audience likes you and your work then you can open yourself up to raise donations to be more of a freelancer with your work. Although my time with both Keith and Jade was limited it was great to get to know them and their work, getting advice on the industry is a great way to
decrease your anxiety about your future and to test if this is something you would like to do as a career.
Image Credit: Madeline Sidgwick