Raconteur

By Lea Marie Magtira

One of the Greatest Decisions

“Journalism will kill you, but it will keep you alive while you’re at it.”  – Horace Greeley 

As I took up Journalism as my course, I’m aware that variety of reactions from the people I know arises. Some said I won’t get so much money from it.  Some said it’s impressive I picked Journalism over other courses.  But honestly I don’t care what other people will think about what I've taken up. For me I’m absolutely sure that I wanted this. Journalism keeps me going. Through Journalism I've discovered places I've never been before. I saw places I never imagined I would reach; I saw and encounter personalities I only once watch in the television. I witnessed events that I've never seen before. 

I realized that being a journalist-in-the-making opened up my mind that we are entitled to the first-hand information in the society. I feel lucky that I had the privilege to know data and information that are given to us student-journalist.  When I took up Journalism I knew that there are a lot of things ahead of me. I also know that I need a lot of patience, determination and perseverance so I will be a credible journalist someday.  I’m conscious t o the fact that I had a lot of things, strategies and techniques that I need to know and figure out myself so that I can apply it and make the good use out of it as a journalist in the future. 

I’m also aware that a lot of people these days under estimate the role of the journalists in the society.  We can say that due to the boom of the Social Media we thought that everybody can be a journalist, everyone that has Facebook account, Twitter and other social media account can be a journalist and be a source of information. But little did we know that not everything we saw in the web is true and authentic. Then there comes along the role and distinction of a journalist that studied for about four years, we verify facts, we make sure that the information that we obtained is true and correct. We make a thorough and depth research.As a third year Journalism student, I know there are so much more things I need to learn, there is a share of stories and articles I need to write. A lot of person I need to interview and get quotations. There are a lot more coverage I need to attend, listen and comprehend the things which are being delivered by the key speaker.  There are more places I need to reach to acquire information. My professor once told us, that there is no story worth dying for. I totally agree with that statement. I just think that the quotation I cite in the beginning of my column means that being engaged in Journalism has its own perils and perks as well. 

Perhaps at the end of the day, I know that deciding to be a journalist in the future is one of the greatest decisions I've made. I wanted this with everything that I am. I know that to be a journalist is what I truly desire.


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