Journalism my profession

A story is not a story until it is written, shared, discussed and debated (My role as a journalist)

image from Social Score Media

A few days ago, l met this other man and as we were talking l told him that l was a journalist. His first words were “Oh you one of those who lie”. Honestly he is not the first to say that and l bet he is not the last. People have these wild stereotypes about journalists that just piss me off. Not that l blame them though because before l joined this profession also, l used to have my own ideas about it and believe me l never thought l would be called a journalist one day.

Growing up, just like many people out there, l had my dreams and aspirations of what l wanted to study and the profession l wanted, but l grew up and started facing reality. Destiny led me to a totally different path. I remember clearly well that l used to tell my family and friends that l wanted to study law but well guess what, l ended up studying journalism and media.

During my 1^st year at National University of Science and Technology (Nust) as a journalism and media studies student, I did all my school work not because l wanted to but because l felt pity for my parents who paid my fees and l did not want their money to go down the drain for nothing. My heart was not in it and you know when your heart is not involved in what you do, every little work you are given always seems too much for you.

It is amazing what time can do because as time passed by l started developing interest for the profession. I started understanding more about journalism; somethings l was just ignorant about. Now l am into this profession for real. It feels like l was born to be a journalist. I have always loved writing and which better profession than journalism can be an ideal platform for me to explore my writing skills? Which better profession than journalism can help me reach out to a very wide population through my writing?

Now lm one of those people who get frustrated when l tell people that lm doing journalism and they say “so you are one of those who lie.” Come on, journalist do not lie, they tell it like it is. Journalists actually aim at informing the public about almost everything that is of public interest so that people can make informed decisions. I agree as human beings there are instances that we make mistakes but we always strive to verify information before publishing it. Just think of the world without journalists, think of the world without people who follow up on government policies and inform the public. How will it be in this world if people are not updated on developments that happen around them? Just #ThinkingOutLoud………