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My experience working as a journalist







Working in the media is interesting because you get to work with experienced journalists, writers, and editors.Some of them are usually the main stars on television. When I was an intern, I got star struck because of seeing them in real life. It took me a while to get used to them but once I stayed in the same room as them, it became easier to get used to them as normal people.
I was an intern at a local station in Nairobi Kenya, I was so excited. I couldn't believe that they called me for an interview, I was so nervous at first but I somehow managed to make it through the very casual interview which took place on the balcony.The lady who interviewed me was from the HR Department and also my boss.Two weeks later I was called back to be an intern for the station, I was so excited, I couldn't believe that I got such an opportunity following so many rejections from broadcast stations.
I love working in the media it makes me learn something new every day about people and because it is challenging.You need to have tough skin when you are in the media otherwise you will not survive.Everyone is very ruthless and want to be on top,
You write a lot of negative news such as rape, murder, lynching, corruption, protests that sometimes it makes you lose trust in people.The news also makes someone very tough when comes to issues about death, this is because you write about it so much that your brain gets used to negative news.The editors also usually talk so casually about death.
But when you see your byline it is very satisfying to see your story published.
You are the first person one to know when a story breaks but sometimes the editor has to decide whether the story is newsworthy before it is published. If the story incites violence or has hate speech it is killed. Other factors that can stop the story from being published is if it has a possibility of causing defamation charges, the story has to be accurate.
You are always learning something new because everybody has a different life experience and stories.You will do a lot of research to have an idea of what you are about to write.If you are the editor, you are the agenda setter , you get to decide which stories will make the headlines and get people talking. As a  journalist, you will network with many people especially during press briefings. You meet journalists from other organizations and when you write someone's story you are always making new connections.
You also get to explore different places, for example, someone might ask you to interview them in a location that you have never been to, so you get to be in a new place.If you are a journalist people usually trust you with their stories and you get to write it in the angle that fits the story.However, some of the disadvantages include time management.You have to write the stories on time for it not to be killed. Sometimes interviewees cancel the interview so you have to look for other options.When you work for a broadcast media the equipment might disappoint you and you might have poor shots, sound errors or a video that is too lengthy.But when you're done with sharing the story you feel so accomplished.

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