Mentoring in Journalism

This past weekend, I attended the 23rd Annual Arkansas Black Student Association Conference hosted by Arkansas State University. Many of the speakers at the conference referred to mentoring. So many of the speakers had achieved a high status in their career field. Now they were giving back to the next generation.

It seems that every young professional should have a mentor. A mentor will not only help the mentee learn how to get further in his/her career, but will always check in on the mentee to support and correct the mentee. Young journalists can learn from those already in the field. A young journalist with a mentor can avoid some of the pitfalls that accompany being young, being new, and being apprehensive. Even just talking to a seasoned veteran can be a source of encouragement.

Young journalists should look for a mentor. Additionally, since mentoring is a two-way street, veterans should find mentees to take under their wings. Both will get a rewarding experience from the interaction.

The Non-Negotiables of Journalism

I recently read a feature on Patti Stanger, the matchmaker from Bravo's "The Millionaire Matchmaker." During the interview, Stanger said that everyone has non-negotiables. In the dating world, these may be that your date has to be so tall, that your date has to like dogs, or that your date must have a good sense of humor. Then, it occurred to me. Journalists should have non-negotiables as well.

One non-negotiable may be that you won't write a story that will harm someone. Another may be that you will only keep sources anonymous if the source explicitly asks that his/her identity be kept secret. Most journalists will find that their non-negotiables correspond to their ethics.

Below I have included a link to the Code of Ethics from the Society of Professional Journalists. I have also included the Policy on Ethics in Journalism from the New York Times to show codes of ethics in the workplace. Lastly, I posted the link to the feature on Stanger for those who are interested in reading it.

The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics: http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

The New York Times Company Policy on Ethics in Journalism: http://www.nytco.com/press/ethics.html

Feature on Stanger: http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/10/18/patti-stanger-millionaire-matchmaker-interview/?icid=main%7Chp-laptop%7Cdl2%7Csec1_lnk3%7C178642

Media Convergence and the Young Journalist

The world of journalism has seen a change. In the past, journalists trained for jobs as newspaper reporters or magazine designers, television reporters or producers, or photojournalists. One person wrote the story, one person took the photo, and one person put stories on the web. Now the different forms of media are converging, journalists need to have knowledge and experience with print, broadcast, and internet media. Learning various skills with all these forms will make a young journalist more competitive.

Note to Self: Journalists Should Have A Good Sense of Direction

Yesterday, I travelled to Little Rock to conduct an interview. My interview was scheduled to happen during the VIP reception within the two hours before the concert. I left early enough to get there on time. I also borrowed a GPS for the trip. However, a GPS is only as good as the user. The address was on Highway 161. The GPS did not have Highway 161 as an option. To make a long story short, I got lost. Well, I got as lost as you can get with a GPS. I knew where I was. I just didn't know how to get to where I wasn't.

Luckily, I had my contact's phone number. She had gotten lost as well. She passed her phone to someone who knew the directions. I paid as close attention to her directions as I could. When she hung up, I gave myself a pep talk and drove onward. Yes, I had to turn around because I missed the correct exit the first time. On the other hand, I was able to give my friend great directions so she could join me for the concert.

And for my interview: It went well. It was my first interview in person. Suprisingly, I wasn't that nervous during the interview. I got two interviews under my belt now. I can't wait to see where life carries me. I just hope GPS recognizes how to get there.