What Type Of Person Thrives In The Journalism Industry According To A Journalist At CNN
Journalism rewards individuals with "passion" and "resilience," who are driven by a deep-seated desire to "tell stories" and possess strong writing and organizational skills. Success in the field hinges on a genuine enthusiasm for the work, coupled with the persistence to hone one's craft and navigate the demanding nature of the industry.
Passionate, Resilient, Strong Writing Skills, Organized, Persistent
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. Passion and resilience are key traits for success in journalism.
2. Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills are essential.
3. A genuine interest in storytelling and a belief in the importance of journalism contribute to thriving in the field.
Transcript
Q8: Who thrives in industry?
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry? I would say they are passionate and resilient.
There are many different jobs you can pursue if you enjoy communication. If you're a good writer, a good public speaker, or someone who's good at explaining or persuading, there are roles available with more typical work schedules that are easier to break into.
People in journalism are usually there for a specific reason. They are excited and invigorated by telling stories and breaking news, and they feel it's important. They believe in the cause of journalism.
It's not to say you should put that above all else; you deserve a healthy work-life balance and fair compensation. However, this industry does reward people who are there for a specific reason and are excited about telling stories.
This could be a specific topic they love covering, or if they're like me, a bit of a breaking news junkie. I find those people really succeed. Then there are the basic skills: being a strong writer, being organized, and being persistent. Being able to do a lot of writing and slowly improve at it, or whatever other skill you bring to the industry. Those are the people I see succeed quite a bit.