WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A JOURNALIST?

I’d really love to write ever since I was a child. One day, my mother asked what I want to be.I answered her that I want to be a poet or a scriptwriter. She smiled. So, I thought my mother would be happy if I would become a writer. Since then, it was my ambition—to become a writer. As I grew up, I found myself in creative writing. I asked my elder sister what course should I get which would keep me to write. She said, mass communication. And I was like, “I will take that course in college!” So, I took BA Mass Communication in UP Cebu even though I got a Degree Program Available. I was so excited to enter my first class in college. It was Comm100 with Miss Belinda Espiritu. As she explained what our course is all about, I was like “Nooooo! This is not what I want. I took the wrong course. This is not the kind of writing (Journalism) I want to pursue.” Seriously, I felt like going out of the room. I was so stupid not to research about Mass Communication, then. Apparently, I was not that ready for college even though my age was. My excitement was just really huge. On the first Saturday of the school year, I cried to my mother. I told her that I do not want to write news. It was my first fear. She asked: “You want to be a writer, right?” Yes, but not in newswriting. Discussion on the introduction to Mass Communication during the 1^st semester was a relief, though.  But, as what my mother said, I cannot escape from where I am right now. That’s why, when I saw “Journ101” on my Form5 for the 2^nd semester I felt like “Let’s get it on!” I thought I would find it hard to accept the subject but I was wrong. Sir Jason Baguia encourages us how to become a better journalist someday by correcting our mistakes. He gives us brilliant activities. My fear was temporarily gone, then. He even let us visit the MuseoSugbo where Cebu Journalism and Journalist Gallery can be located. Cebuano journalists were of great number. I started thinking, “If these people were once Mass Communication students like me, then I can become a journalist like them.” Astonished by their achievements, I got interested to answer the question: “What it means to be a journalist?” To be a journalist, one must genuinely be interested with people. No matter how dirty that person looks like or how bad his odor is, deal with him. Who knows that he can be a good source? A journalist must be good at interviewing people. His questions should have sense. In order to do that, an ability to communicate easily, both verbally and in writing is important. He must have a sheer enthusiasm. They said journalism is tiring but a journalist must maintain his pure interest to it. He must be inquisitive, curious or downright nosey. He should have that sense of smell for news. He must be good at listening to what people say. A journalist must be good at researching a complex subject and explaining it in English. He can communicate well with other people from all walks of life. Every journalist must be eager to learn. He must work at speed and under pressure to meet deadlines. I know, I learn all about these qualities of a good journalist from my teacher. Good thing, I have my notes. Well, for me being a journalist means success. Mr. Webster may define success as the accumulation of material possessions or the attainment of a position of power or prestige, an accomplishment. But according to John Wooden, success is the peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable. I like it. I’m pretty that every journalist always takes the risk of getting good and right information making them feel satisfied. No matter what the result may be, printed or not, he owns the trophy.As what Cervantes said: “The journey is better than the end.”

I may not become the kind of writer that I’ve always wanted to be but perhaps God’s helping me to realize where I really should be. Until then, I can prove that being a journalist means success.