Being a journalist offers so much career diversity
Journalists play a vital role in informing people of what is happening in our world, and working as a journalist is meaningful, rewarding, and challenging. You’ll experience ups and downs but it’s all worth it in the end when you manage to get the story you’re after. What you may not realise is that journalism is a diverse job that offers you plenty of career opportunities. Browse through the vacancies on Job Mail to discover the exciting jobs you can pursue as a journalist.
What are the duties of a journalist?
A journalist is responsible for carrying out investigations with the aim of gathering relevant information. Once they know the facts, they put together the information so that it can be easily shared with a wider audience. Your investigation may include reading documents and carrying out interviews. Double-checking facts is an important part of the process. While facts are at the heart of the story, you’ll also need to have an engaging writing style and know how to write eye-catching headlines.
Education
A Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism is an excellent foundation for your career as it gives you the credibility and skills you need to make it in this industry. You can further your studies by completing a postgraduate qualification in journalism.
Skills needed
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Writing capabilities
At the core of a career in journalism is your writing capabilities. Be on the lookout for opportunities to develop and show off your writing skills.
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Critical thinking
Critical thinking is vital for this career as you’ll need to analyse information and put it together in a cohesive story.
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Self-motivation
Motivation and passion for your job are essential if you want to be a successful journalist. These qualities are required as you’ll have to overcome challenges to uncover the facts for more difficult stories.
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Verbal and written communication skills
You’ll need to be able to communicate effectively when you’re interviewing people to gather facts. Putting the facts together in an engaging story requires superior written communication capabilities.
Employment opportunities
When you’re working as a journalist, you can find employment with newspapers, magazines, and broadcast networks. You can also find positions where you’ll be producing content for digital platforms. You may find yourself working in an office or travelling to dangerous destinations. Diversity in the career of journalism means it’s easy to find opportunities that match your skills and preferences.
Take a look at some of the opportunities you can pursue as a journalist:
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Content Marketer
Put your writing skills to great use as a content marketer. You’ll be responsible for creating videos and articles with the aim of raising brand awareness. The content you create will play a role in creating a relationship between customers and the brand. Creating social media posts and emails can be another aspect of this position.
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Copywriter
Are you good at persuading people? A career as a copywriter may be the right choice for you. You’ll be tasked with creating content for advertisements and online platforms. The trick is to use a few words to convey a convincing message.
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Editor
Editors oversee the publishing process and they work together with writers to develop content strategies. Once the writers have produced articles, the editor is required to check the content for errors.
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Grant writer
Do you have a heart for community work? You can put your writing skills to good use by working as a grant writer. In this role, you’ll be helping non-profit organisations to get funding so that they continue with the great work they’re doing.
With so many exciting opportunities out there, it’s easy to see why a career in journalism is a popular option. Launch your career as a journalist by finding employment opportunities on Job Mail.
My daughter just completed her third year in juornalism Rhodes university..where or how can she find suitable employment.we live in kzn
Hi Kish,
If your daughter has not registered her CV on Job Mail, follow this link: http://bit.ly/2Lk3C0b.
Once she’s registered, look for jobs that suit her skill set at http://bit.ly/2mFMBPB and apply for them!
Alternatively, set up a job alert to receive the latest jobs in her field via email at http://bit.ly/2LxITpe.
We hope she finds employment soon!