Two weeks ago, I was assigned to write an article about “back-to-school hair styles.”  As much as I wanted to be attentive, I wasn’t.  I began to question my perspective on becoming a journalist. Although it may seem stress-free to combine new facts and topics in order to provide news for the public, it takes a lot of effort. So here’s a question to ask yourself: How do you become a better journalist?

For the last three years, I have been in the same journalism class. We work as a team to get everything done but this doesn’t mean we’re the best at what we do. Every journalist always has a goal line to achieve. Whether it’s to enhance their use of diction or constructive criticism, there’s always room for improvement. There are numerous skills necessary to succeed when it comes to writing. You must be fervent about knowledge and learning new techniques.

Journalism is an astounding industry to enter. There are many kinds of journalist working in different fields, from broadcast news anchors to radio reporters; however, this takes effort and motivation. There are basic rules to writing but there is so much we can learn outside of the classroom that is equally important. Communication skills are mandatory for a journalist. Broadcast journalism revolves around verbal communication skills. Regardless of which media you’re entering, the demonstration of excellent grammar and spelling needs to be presented.

Here are some tips that could contribute to you being a better journalist – whether you are a Talisman staffer or a ninth-grader reading our paper or the first time:

1. Always try to be original and creative when writing. Publishing unexciting articles will not impress whoever is reading them.
2. Make sure you always proof-read your articles out loud. This can save a lot of energy when it comes to editing. Accept change and opinions when it comes to peer editing. Every article will not be perfect and there will be changes made.
3. Consistently communicate and interact with your editors and peers.

Communication skills, creativity, proof reading and accepting change are just simple ways to become a better journalist. These skills can add to being a journalist and becoming a better writer as an individual.