Investigative Journalist Career Strategy - Essay Example

Investigative Journalist Career strategy by Investigative Journalist Career strategy While I was in the internship preparation class, it occurred to me that the long road I was walking through to meet my career was fast approaching its destination. Ever since that day, I thought of the course my career will take. After a lengthy period of thought and self-assessment, I settled on being an investigative journalist in the future. I made this decision after careful consideration of a number of factors that ultimately convinced me that I should settle for nothing less than an investigative reporter. Following my interest in uncovering lope holes within governing institutions and interest groups, this sort of journalism seemed very appealing to me as I offered me a chance of serving the society with the truth. Fortunately, I had a repetition of being very curious, in my case my curiosity exceeded everyone else’s, this came along with courage and a stubborn attitude to find out the truth (Edwards, 2014). I aspire to work for a national media station as an investigative reporter because I am a good observer. My observational skills are especially good because in my quest to find the truth about anything, I examines in detail. Over time, I have set a record of uncovering irregularities and misappropriations in a number of places I have been to. I have made most of my findings public and notified the relevant audiences motivated by the fact that making it is in the interest of the public. In my Opinion, it is only just and fair to expose violations and major scandals that interfere either directly or indirectly with the well-being of the public. Consequently, I am highly motivated by investigative reporters because I believe when they expose violations and information sort to be hidden, they play a part in healing the society of social evils. As a young citizen, I have a personality and character that best merge to take up investigative reporting. As earlier noted, I am characteristically very observant and often collect details along with the implications of what the details point to. Additionally, I believe I am just, therefore in any case that comes to my attention where some people or organization are engaging in peculiar activities I get deeply concerned. Many are the times when I am limited to obtain information vital to solve or clear a situation for unjust party. Finally, I have very low tolerance for parties that withhold valuable information of public interest. This is because I hold strong believes that all have a right to information and not what only some influential or powerful individuals would want them to know. I believe that from the consistent show of courage that I have presented in the past in uncovering events that only demand nothing less of bravery bests prepares me as an investigative reporter. As an aspiring journalist, I am aware the career demands a journalist with self-discipline and logical thinking. Fortunately, I have little to worry about because in as much as I have a high tolerance for taking risks I exercise caution especial with legal matters and issues that might send the wrong and unintended message. To avoid an eventuality where one of my story may ever result in negative implications I have learned over time to exercise discretion to limit the possibilities of getting distorted information from respondents. However, several factors may hinder my best performance as an investigative journalist. Among the hindering factors, include lack of patience. Unfortunately, I have very low tolerance for delay; this is especially negative as the whole profession revolves around having to wait for lengthy periods to obtain and analyze uncovered findings. During the documentation of the story, at times the sources may disappear while the intended records may always take longer than expected. Another limiting factor is lack of prolonged experience in research and uncovering information. On many occasions, I find it very hard to persuade informers to reveal sensitive information, as I have not perfected the necessary skills to extract sensitive information. In order to make a good investigative reporter I shall need to address a number of issues to that to limit my competence in this particular field. First, I need additional and increased exposure to information extraction situations to develop better skills of acquiring vital information. Additionally, I will need to obtain the necessary media permits to appear as a genuine and a professional reporter and hence easier earn the trust of my interviewees in the hunt for information. Lastly, I will need to widen my geographical coverage to that I will be able to interact with a larger sample space and consequently have added and diversified experience in data collection techniques (Anderson, 2014). Nevertheless, my early commencement of press activities to this point has been rewarded handsomely. I have won on several occasions’ school trophies after representing my school at journalism-related contests. Additionally, in the recent past I have been invited on several occasions to share my experiences with different high school students aspiring to become journalists. My lecturers also speaks about me with the highest regard. They especially admire my reporting skills based on the short experience I have had, they agree that it reflect skills of a reporter who “will definitely make it”. On the other hand, I was given an opportunity to better my skills at one of the nations’ leading media houses. The director one day at a public presentation saw me report a story and watched a documentary I had made. He later gave me full scholarship at my university and promised me of a job as soon after graduation. From the rewarding opportunities I have had in the past from people who see a good and young reporter in myself, I believe that those are good indicators that the career I am aiming to do is best suited for me. I find great joy when I receive such rewards because they make me love investigative journalism even more. They motivate me to try even harder and focus more on developing the skills necessary to become a better journalist. Therefore, I believe that my current course is driving me to a destiny of becoming a very good investigative journalist. This is because until now all the skills and methods I have used to make stories have come from the skills I learned in class. Therefore, my current course is directing me on the right track, and there are minimal chances of failure provided I follow it. Over time, I have developed strict observance on a regular method of getting my work done. I have adopted a culture of operating with deadlines and strict observation and examination of the people I source information from and the information they provide me. Additionally, I exercise extreme caution, as I am aware the information my line of profession provides comes along with consequences, to the people it relates to and myself in an individual capacity. Therefore, as I am aware that all my findings come along with implications, I make sure that I am fully convinced of the validity and reliability of the information I provide. To add on that, as said earlier I exercise self-discipline and strictly follow the ethics and regulations of my profession, that is to say I know the “do and don’ts “of this career. To begin with, investigative reporting is agreed to be a critical approach where scrutiny is focused on anomalies and serve to bring the truth to the surface. Secondly, it is reporting that deals with important stories, which serve to bring the common good to the public. Thirdly, this endeavor comes from the reporters’ own initiative where they chose what is important to report. In most cases, the job entails deep research and long periods of patience after which careful analysis of the collected is done. Careful analysis is aimed at capturing valid and reliable information that can be relied upon, as this information is sensitive in nature. Finally, investigative journalism entails exclusivity where important findings are shared with the public that would else have been hidden from their knowledge. In my individual capacity when I start this career I will be tasked with a number of responsibilities, both those am good at and other that are accordance with the regulations of my career. First, I will be charged with a task of collecting information in the field. The second responsibility will be critical analysis of obtained information to guarantee its accuracy. The third responsibility will be to maintain confidentiality as it is a key element of my career. I will exercise discretion of the stories I am working on along with the sources from which I get my information. From the experience, I have had at the national media station, where the managing director is my mentor; I have had time to examine how well I was doing. In the course of my mentorship program while working with renowned media professionals, I acquired important skills relevant to my field of interest. At a certain point, I along with my group members did online marketing where we used investigative documentaries to attract attention on both Facebook and Twitter. We learned a number of lessons from the activity. However, apart from sharpening my skills of observing and leaving no details unexamined, I added other skills of good research methods, improved reporting techniques and widened my general knowledge. It is also important to note that from the mentorship program to the media station, I gradually corrected my weakness of impatience. This achievement came after I learned that all great stories came after long periods of waiting and tolerance. The work experience have made me tougher and improved my problem-solving capabilities, this came along with the necessary means I required to handle better difficult situations. Through repeated practice and observation, members of my group have noted great improvement in my performance of investigative reporting related tasks. Although in my group at the media station I started at a bad knot, our group supervisor have continually spoke about me in the highest regard. In the group presentation and weekly tasks he pointed out, I was “a very good part of the group if I was not the best”. While I was working with the group I sourced my motivation from the pain I saw people go through in the hands of influence a powerful individuals. That observation always kept me motivated to acquire more knowledge and skills so that one day I will have a change to help the society by uncovering truth hidden from them by powerful individuals and organizations. In preparation of my career, I have made sure that I spend most of my time in observation. This move will enable me develop the necessary skills needed in the hunt of sensitive information. Additionally, I have all the documentaries I come up with examined by experienced investigative reporters who help me to correct any step I may have gone wrong. On the other hand, I will continue taking my educational program with seriousness. I will make an effort of not only making grades in theoretical examinations but struggle hard to perfect my practical skills that are the most important in my line of profession. Additional I will undertake utmost caution during my career adventure in that I will set a clear line between my self-discipline, the demands of my career ethics and my will to share the truth with the public for their common good. References list Anderson, CW 2014, The Sociology of the Professions and the Problem of Journalism Education, Radical Teacher, 99, pp. 62-68, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 12 May 2015. Edwards, H 2014, Journalism: the Other Information Profession, Refer, 30, 2, pp. 30-32, Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts, EBSCOhost, viewed 12 May 2015. Read More