While I had six years of school newspaper experience and two internships with weekly newspapers heading into the News-Graphic job, I really had no idea what exactly being a full-time general assignment reporter meant. I also had no idea there would be such high turnover in that other reporter position. During my three years, I easily saw more than 10 reporters come in and out of that one other position. Some lasted three days, others lasted three weeks. A few last three months, but none lasted as long as myself.
Placed in such a position, I often found myself "training" the new reporters. The managing editor at the time, who informed me he couldn't "teach" new reporters, often gave me the task of showing these new reporters around town, introducing them to sources and instructing them on the news writing process at the paper. At a paper with only two news reporters (me being one of them), I saw five rookie reporters come through that other position. Many of them brought several misconceptions about the newspaper business into the job with them.
Here are the five biggest misconceptions that the five rookies I worked with brought to the News-Graphic with them. Maybe some rookie reporters or individuals aspiring for a career in journalism will see these and learn from them. Readers should feel free to discuss these five misconceptions. I often found myself lecturing to these rookies and telling them to get rid of these misconceptions. Some listened, some didn't. All eventually quit or exited in some other manner.
1. Reporting the news is a nine to five job. This is simply not true, and it's a harsh realization for new reporters. The news doesn't stop happening every day at 5 p.m. and then start up again the next day at 9 a.m. Also, the news doesn't stop happening at 5 p.m. Friday and resume at 9 a.m. Monday. News happens all the time, and reporters must be prepared to cover night meetings and attend events on the weekends. If you think it's a nine to five job, you're going to be unhappy and will never make it in the field. Oh, and you will have to work holidays. News doesn't stop happening on the holidays, and newspapers are still published in print and/or online during the holidays.
2. Rookie reporters can write columns and editorials. Sorry, but as a first-year news reporters, you're going to be out there covering stories and not sitting in air-conditioned room writing opinion columns all day. Don't even think you're going to be writing editorials. There is a reason they're called editorials. Too many new reporters at the News-Graphic had this notion that hard work wouldn't be one of the job requirements. When they discovered that being a reporter required them to go cover city commission meetings late at night, they couldn't hack it.
3. All those college lectures about accuracy weren't important. Actually, those were the most important lectures in all of your journalism classes. You should listen and put those lessons into practice. Journalists' primary job is informing others about the news using factual information and quotes from sources. Always present both sides of an argument, always double check all your information (including the spelling of names) and always use more than one source in a story. Never assume anything. Your integrity is based on your accuracy. No newspaper enjoys printing corrections. Trust me, someone will notice your mistake and call the newspaper. No mistake goes unnoticed. People are more likely to call to complain about a mistake than they are to call to praise your work.
4. The news will come to me. I don't have to cultivate sources or call anyone. It's up to you to find the news. Nine times out of ten, the news doesn't just show up at your desk. If you don't possess interpersonal communication skills, or your shyness will prevent you from approaching people you don't know, then journalism isn't the job for you. Guess what? When you first start reporting, your sources will not trust you. Even after three years, some will still not trust you. The only way to build trust is to cultivate sources by calling them, visiting them, and simply just talking to them on a routine basis.
5. I'm perfect already. I know how to be a reporter. My editor will clearly realize that. Whether you're the best writer or the worst writer coming out of journalism school, you still have a lot to learn about interviewing skills, crafting good leads and knowing what makes a story and what doesn't. There will be a learning curve, whether you interned at the Boston Globe or the Jonesborough Herald and Tribune. I applied to the former and interned at the latter. You must be able to handle criticism, and you must realize that the editors above you possess experience and the skills needed to run a newsroom. It doesn't hurt to listen to them. In fact, you should listen to them. You will become a better reporter, and there is always room for improvement. Never rest on your laurels.
Posts
