Recently, I had someone tell me, "Journalism major, eh? That's still a thing? People still want to study that?"
As a college sophomore currently majoring in journalism, I had to defend myself and all journalism majors out there. Yes, journalism is alive and well. But I understand why people are having mixed feelings about journalists nowadays.
The media has, unfortunately, taken a route that is made millions of people not trust any source. Recently, Denzel Washington said, "We live in a society now where it’s just first. Who cares? Get it out there. We don’t care who it hurts. We don’t care who it destroys. We don’t care if it’s true. Just say it, sell it." The basis of journalism, especially hard news, deals with breaking the news first. It is what our textbooks teach us to be a source that people want to go to daily. Whether or not the news is true depends on the journalist and company's ethics.
However, I want to say that not every aspir
ing journalist wants to live to those standards. When people complain, they complain about the same unethical news sites and don't look at the sites and reporters that work to provide the audience with the most accurate news possible. When people complain about there not being enough coverage, please realize many journalists don't get paid enough to be traveling and sometimes risking their lives to get that news. It's out there. I've seen it. There are journalists in every part of the world covering some of the most dangerous topics, but because they are freelancers, their work is not appreciated by anyone. There are smaller news outlets providing news that isn't focused on the Western World.
Know while I personally don't want to cover hard news, I will always defend journalists because we are not a dying species. It may not pay well, but to many, it is a beautiful career to tell stories and to capture ideas. Please do not mock our career because just like an aspiring Neurosurgeon is working towards a Ph.D., an aspiring political journalist can work towards the same degree.
Writing is a beautiful form of expression and for some people, it is their outlet to express themselves. It is a job for introverts and extroverts. It is a career that will never die, and that is growing each day as people realize what audiences want to read.
Stay beautiful and alive my fellow journalists. We are still one of the most important careers out there. Don't let anyone tell you other wise!
