What makes a REAL journo?
What are the tried and tested main characteristics of a successful freelance journalist? Well, my remarks are all cliches and apply to other occupations, but here's my personal list. - Simon
Characteristic
Simon's remarks
Your short printed remark on how this does or does not apply to you
Persistence
Never taking "no" for an answer. Trying again and again. When you MUST, having a thick hide.
Love
of
accuracy
Your refusal to trust the internet, Wikipedia, gossip, other people's memories, or your own memory. Check and re-check and check again.
Reading
Enjoying your target publications, and studying EVERY issue.
Curiosity
about
people
Why do people do what they do? Why do people feel what they feel? Why do people hold their opinions, beliefs and biases?
Your
personality
Are you nice? Do you smile easily? Are you friendly? Truly interested? Polite? Otherwise people just won't open-up to you.
Hatred
of
bulls - - - !!
And a belief it's the journalist's duty to expose it, to tell the truth.
Wide
general
knowledge
Comes from a lifetime of reading, listening, learning, observing and absorbing - and simply being interested.
Persuasive
telephone
manner
Don't think about how to nick someone else's work off the internet. Phone someone and get your own fresh quotes. Have a friendly, authoritative, charming, persuasive and influential manner. Hard to make it in journalism without such a manner.
Speedy
accurate
research
skills
No one's got the time for you to work slowly and languidly.
Clear
specific
and
accurate
writing
skills
You don't need to be a Hemingway, but you do need to be able to write clearly and accurately. Essential to do well.
Critical
analysis
Ability to look closely at a person, topic or controversy and decide the essential elements and assess those closely.
Ethics
The journalists' Code of Ethics plus your own innate morality that guide you through a thousand ethical quagmires.
Self-directed
lifelong
learning
Formal or informal learning, or both.
Happy
to work
in a team
Unless you own your own one-person newsletter or you're a columnist or a rich publisher-owner, journalism depends on teamwork.