Journalist

What is a journalist?

A journalist is someone who investigates, gathers and presents information as news. This can be presented through newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the Internet. Journalists are trusted to present the news in a well-rounded and objective way.

What does a journalist do?

Journalism is a broad degree with many opportunities. In the different areas of the media (television, radio, newspapers, magazines, etc.), there are specialized tasks for journalists. Depending on the size of an organization, a journalist may work one or several of these tasks:

Reporters:
They are directly involved in gathering information. They conduct interviews, find sources and put together all the information necessary to write a news story. Reporters also present the information in written or spoken form in news stories, documentaries or feature articles. General reporters cover all kinds of news, but some may specialize in certain areas such as sports, politics or lifestyle. Some reporters may work on the staff of large news organizations, or as freelance writers, writing stories for clients.

Sub-editors:
Take stories written by journalists and put them into a form that suits the special needs of their particular newspaper, magazine or website. Sub-editors do not gather the information themselves, but concentrate on how existing stories can best be adapted to a specific audience.

Photojournalists:
Use photography as a way to report the news. They may cover events with a reporter, take photographs to represent a written story or attend news events on their own, doing both jobs. A photojournalist must carry photographic equipment with them, and must make instant decisions in order to capture important events at the moment they take place. Sometimes, they may be exposed to physical danger, crowds or harsh weather conditions.

Editor:
He is in charge of deciding what goes in a newspaper, magazine or news bulletin. He is responsible for the content to be written by journalists and makes all final decisions.

News editor:
He is the person in charge of all news journalists. They make all decisions about which stories to cover and who will do the work.

What is a journalist's workplace like?

Depending on the type of article being written, a journalist works wherever necessary to produce the story. The workplace can vary, whether attending functions and large events or knocking on people's doors. Writing the article after all the information is gathered can be done in a hotel room, a café, an office, or from home.