J: is for Journalism

Beketele Hlanze

Beketele Hlanze African students are inspired to be journos whilst the continent is in dire need of doctors and honest politicians

Whenever I read the quality traits of a journalist, from career choice books the word “inquisitive” always came up, I wouldn’t use it to describe myself. Instead I’d rather say that my curiosity is naturally inquisitive. An accurate and fitting description for anyone who is passionate about journalism and is a dedicated media practitioner, in the first week of journalism lectures this term under the course title “I read what I like” part of the answer as to why as student we would want to be journalist in the future. Was that journalist are tools of knowledge, they find knowledge then report back it to the consumers. This is where the inquisitive curiosity comes in, the will to find knowledge leads to the eagerness to find interesting knowledge that is desired and anticipated by the consumers. This applies for all sectors of journalism, economic, political, tabloid, hard news even climate/weather journalism. One of the things that make this field interesting is the method of finding and reporting the knowledge, in the beginning of the year we were taught the technique of immersing. In layman’s terms this is eavesdropping but as journalist it is an imperative tool of investigating. There is a sense of freedom that can be attributed to journalism that isn’t enjoyed by many professions, accountants, creative freedom. Noted there are constraints such as accuracy and moral code. But those limits help to sharpen creativity. An inquisitive curiosity means that as journalist, one questions, analyses and interrogates what ever information or knowledge they find out. This quality transcends into daily life and is very effective in making informed decisions.

It is for many reasons that one would be steered away from practicing as a journalist, more than once I’ve been laughed at, because the general consensus is that journalism does not pay. Given, very few professions can compete with an accountant’s salary. It is enough imbursement if one can, against all economic reason have the opportunity to practice in a field that one is passionate about. The support from family to go into a job that is perceived by many to be based on lies and deceit and is seen to be dangerous. Is all the more reason why journalism is the perfect career path for some of us. Journalism allows one the opportunity to have a socially appealing voice as a social commentator. Meaning that one can impact, positively, the live of those who don’t have the voice or the means to voice their grievances on socio-economic/political issues. It might not be financial power but through journalism ones social influence is an endless well.