A journalist does not only write articles for newspapers and magazines. There are many sources of information now, and each needs “different” journalists. In addition, the profession itself is divided into many specializations.
A military journalist. His job can be not just hard, but even dangerous. Journalists who cover military operations in the media accompany the army, aviation and navy during combat operations.
Before being sent to a hot spot, a war correspondent receives training: he or she learns how to behave (for example, how to properly fall and which way to run in a critical situation), learns to defend themselves and help others by providing first aid, and so on.
A war correspondent must not only navigate quickly during combat operations, but also be able to document everything that happens on the fly – no comfy chairs and hot tea!
The importance of a war correspondent on the battlefield can hardly be overestimated, because the “degree” of news depends on how he or she presents information. A certain pitch can both increase the tension level and decrease it. Such work is not for everyone, and it is understandable. It is physically and mentally demanding.
Military journalists often work in dangerous environments, such as combat operations. Photo: Alexander Kots, Dmitry Steshin
Sports journalist. To become a professional sports journalist, the main thing is to love the sport you’re reporting on wholeheartedly. Sports journalists seek, analyze and evaluate information about sports events, interview athletes, coaches and members of sports associations, write articles and conduct programs about sports in the media (radio, TV).
Sports correspondents often try to do everything at once. They comment on soccer games behind the scenes, participate in sports news programs on television, write their own column in newspapers, and so on. When trying to set your work at a breakneck pace, you have to keep in mind that it is difficult to remain a universal professional. It is much more productive to choose one, the closest direction, and develop in it.
A science journalist can be called a conduit between science and people. It is he who takes information that is difficult to understand and presents it in a way that everyone understands. Science journalists can explain what information is worth trusting and why, and protect against false scientific information, myths, and unpleasant or dangerous misconceptions. They provide fascinating insights into the latest research and discoveries, upcoming experiments, and how biological and chemical processes work.
In addition to the fact that a science journalist must write competently, he must of course be knowledgeable in the field about which he writes. And not just knowledgeable, but to be a true expert in it. After all, only in this way can one understand all the processes taking place and be able to describe them in simple language.
Reporter. How it differs from the journalist? To understand the difference, you can compare the two professions to a police officer and a homicide detective. The latter is a more concrete example of the former. A reporter works with primary sources: he interviews, participates in press conferences or news events. Then he passes on the facts, information, and information he has gathered. That is all. That is, the reporter does not deal with the data later. He does not edit them, arrange or publish them.
A television journalist, or TV reporter, is a journalist who works on a variety of television programs and TV reports, both entertainment (such as shows) and informational (such as popular science programs). A television journalist seeks out topics for stories, writes news and reports, participates in the creation of television programs, and hosts television programs. As a television journalist, it is important to be active, outgoing, and hardworking. The ability to quickly navigate in a large amount of information and the ability to express his thoughts competently are also useful. Last but not least, a clear diction, presentable appearance and the ability to present themselves to the camera.
International journalist. Like any other journalist, an international journalist creates materials for the media. The only difference is that he does it on a global level, that is, he specializes in foreign news. He should not simply know the business well, but also perfectly know languages, understand history, culture, features of life, policy and economy of other states. The work of an international journalist is also a work on oneself that never ends. You always need to be aware of what’s happening in the world and understand the news agenda in order to do a really good job.