Two cents after graduating from j-school

if someone asks me should he/she follow his dreams or keep the passion on the side, my answer would be: do it on the side.

it has always got me wondering when i came across people who did not major in journalism during their college years - he/she could be a journalist without a degree, did i really need one back then? it's painful sometimes, but it's done so all i could do is march on. as a journalist.

to be honest, i may have chosen to major in economics or finance if given the chance to choose all over again. and perhaps, keep writing on the side or blog it out although nobody really come to this site anymore.

it's been close to four years since i've been a journalist, including my four months internship at the oh-so-glorious national news agency. i love my job, i really do - nothing beats producing a clear, accurate and insightful article that adds value to the readers and society, and on top of that, gets a pat on the back by your boss/editors. but to be completely truthful, i hate it as well.

i hate the current state of journalism where journalists are not taken seriously and compensated well enough for the demanding nature of the job. we are expected to deliver high-quality news in a ridiculously short amount of timeframe and the readers or society at large, are merciless if a mistake is spot. true, a journalist is the first gatekeeper of an article before it was submitted to the editors and sub-editors, but would the mistake have occured if the journalist wasn't so overworked and had to complete the task in a tight deadline?

would be nice if people in the profession is given a pat on the back after a day of running around for news and doing all the reporting to deliver the latest news to the readers and society. i also hate that the media is being used or thought as a tool to legitimize something - be it a business or brand.

some time after, it is very difficult to not get jaded about it. the people you meet, the events you go to, the articles you write... but i have been fortunate. extremely fortunate to have worked for publications with brillian editors who are not afraid to teach and mentor, to land a job before i even graduate, and to go from one job to another.

soon enough, it will be half a decade into my career... i'm not too sure if this is the one, but it is definitely closer to the sort of journalistic career that i aspire to pursue. again, great team, great work culture and great boss. but i'm just generally tired - sure, i get excited and feel accomplished after writing a solid piece but it always come crashing sooner than i think.

so should you get a degree in journalism? i don't think its an absolute necessity - especially when the syllabus are unable to keep up with the current tasks that are required of a journalist nowadays. nobody taught me about social media or SEO.

but one great thing about graduating from j-school is, nothing beats meeting like-minded people and hanging out as a bunch of cynics that were frowned upon in college. but that's just me and that is definitely not why you should get a degree in journalism. also, having a degree doesn't make you a better journalist, it just gives you the know-hows of manoeuvering in a newsroom - writing headlines, house styles etc. what makes you a good journalist are critical thinking skills and constant reading. read, read, and read. read whatever the fuck that there is and expand your mind. having a Twitter account helps. lol.

in a more serious note, a good, long break would help me to gain a fresh perspective on things. now, about my upcoming backpacking trip...