Journalism, as a field, has been around for quite a while now. Like every other field today, journalism is filled with highs and lows that not every person can withstand.
With that being said, what are these highs and lows that can make or break a reporter?
Pros
1. Constant Opportunities
As the saying goes, it’s hard for a reporter for a major news network to face a dull day while on duty. Depending on where you work, you’ll get a variety of cases to work on, ranging from accidents one day to covering elections in your area on the other. Also, you’d get to cover other areas of interest such as sports, politics, lifestyle, etc. With this much versatility, it’s hard to find an opportunity to get bored.
2. Opportunity To Learn And Meet New People
As a reporter, you’ll meet people from almost every aspect of life. Reporters get the opportunity to interview both famous and normal people alike. Not only does this make most reporters experts at communicating, but it also helps them understand the people around them better.
Furthermore, being a reporter is mainly about being in the middle of the action. Whether it be a local fair or a sports festival, reporters get the opportunity to experience it firsthand and learn about cultures, traditions, and festivals.
3. The Privileges
Most reporters get press cards that allow them to access most, if not all, events. This access isn’t only limited to events in the city such as a fair or festivals, but it also gives other social benefits such as early access to released movies and theatre premieres, not to mention the ability to report on an event right from the site.
Cons
1. Not Lucrative Enough
It is a widely accepted fact that when comparing the amount of work journalism requires and its compensation; the field suddenly doesn’t seem worth it anymore.
This, of course, doesn’t mean highly successful reporters don’t get much pay. They do get compensated accordingly, but then again, that goes for almost every other field out there.
2. Stress and Long Working Days
Working days for a reporter can be quite long given the amount of research that goes into a story and the subsequent process of breaking the story down for the public and conducting interviews.
Sometimes, reporters also have to travel widely in search of stories; that, combined with the fact they also have to meet stringent deadlines, makes reporting a highly stressful job.
3. Endangerment
Reporters have to risk their lives more often than you’d like to imagine. For example, a reporter may have to cover a warzone, riots, or even face violent threats if he/she happens to be a crime reporter. Sometimes, the effects of a story on the reporter may even persist far into the future. A prime example of such a case is Kathleen Scruggs, a reporter who covered the Atlanta Bombing Incident. The consequences of the incident directly influenced her death after more than five years. Learning more about Kathy Scruggs life will paint a clearer picture of what reporters may have to face even after an event has transpired.
