Most Important Skills for a Journalist at CNN
Matt, a CNN journalist, emphasizes writing as "the bedrock" of journalism, highlighting the need for clear communication of complex information; the ability to be "very well read," absorbing writing styles from high-level sources, is equally crucial for success in the field.
Writing, Communication, Reading, Journalism, News
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Matt Meyer
Journalist
CNN
UC Santa Barbara
Political Science, American Studies
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Communication and Marketing
Video Highlights
1. Strong writing skills are fundamental for communicating complex information clearly and concisely.
2. Being well-read helps journalists gather information and improve their writing style by learning from accomplished writers.
3. Journalism encompasses various forms, including video editing and photography, showcasing diverse skill applications within the field.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
What's cool about journalism is that it takes so many different forms. People who are great video editors or photographers can be great journalists by applying those skills to news.
In my case, I'm a bit more of a traditional journalist. My primary job is getting information from the world and then making it available to people online or on TV. Writing is the bedrock of most journalism jobs that take this form.
I always tell people who are starting out to focus on their writing. That is the foundation. You need to be able to clearly communicate a complicated or emotionally charged idea.
You need to find a way to directly and clearly explain that information in writing. That will be the bedrock of anything, including people who talk about the news on TV. A lot of their job is writing too, which people don't realize.
On the other side of the same coin is being very well-read. It's important for journalists, especially those starting out, to read a ton of news. You pick up information that informs your stories.
When you read people who are great writers, it seeps into your own writing. That's the best way to improve: read people who are doing it at a high level.