Journalism

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Rocker Chic
King For A Couple Of Days
Rocker Chic
Age: 31
Gender: Female
Posts: 2001

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June 1st, 2008 at 11:29pm
What are your thoughts on journalism in general? Do you think it's all made up of lies and dirt, or do you feel journalism makes an important contribution to society?

I'm very much so considering becoming a magazine journalist myself, but must admit, some aspects of the journalism world make me weary. I don't want to be associated with the type of writers who destroy repuatations, but at the same time, is it really wrong when these writers write their opinions, or the truth?

I need a little help, lol. I've wanted to be a journalist for a while now, but would like some feedback on what you think of the world of journalism.
lyrical_mess
Falling In Love With The Board
lyrical_mess
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Mibba Blog
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:41am
Journalism is very important. In a way, what we see in the news gives us an opinion or a view of whats going on. And you can choose to agree or disagree with that opinion/view. Being a journalist is an important job.

But theres a difference between the page 3 journalist and the one covering the election. There's going to be cheap yellow journalists writing for the National Enquirer and there's always going to be honest people who can contribute something to the world.
Matt Smith
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Matt Smith
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Mibba Blog
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:53pm
I think it all depends on the type of journalism, or the institution for which you work.
I once wrote a speech criticising tabloid journalists, it's too long to post here but I posted it at my LJ.

I generally find tabloid journalism quite distasteful. But serious, 'grown up' journalism is a vital thing. When people go 'I hate the media, blah blah', I think this comes as part of an ignorance of what the media actually is. The media is, to put it bluntly, everything through which information is communicated, which includes you and I. And journalism is crucial for that.

A lot of people see journalism as an exciting career, but I know that, at least in Britain, it isn't an awfully well-paid career. So I suppose that is something to consider too.
Ol' Blue Eyes.
King For A Couple Of Days
Ol' Blue Eyes.
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Mibba
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:33pm
As Bloodraine stated, I think it all depends on the type of journalist. I consider tabloid journalists the most useless people in the world, but real journalists who actually report news and such are actually indispensable.
Addison Dewitt
King For A Couple Of Days
Addison Dewitt
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June 3rd, 2008 at 12:25am
Does anybody think tabloid journalists get paid more than the decent ones...? Cuz that somehow was brought up with my friends today, you know, they may feed people crap and write the most bogus shit ever, but do they get paid more?

*Isn't planning on ever going into journalism because you gotta interview people*
Ol' Blue Eyes.
King For A Couple Of Days
Ol' Blue Eyes.
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Mibba
June 3rd, 2008 at 06:27am
I always suspected that tabloid journalists were paid more, simply because their magazines sell much more than newspapers and such. It's sad, I think, because you don't even have to have half a brain to be a tabloid journalist, just very sneaky.
Rocker Chic
King For A Couple Of Days
Rocker Chic
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June 3rd, 2008 at 02:20pm
I think there are entertainment-related magazines that can be respectable, though. I like Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly, and People. Not saying everything they report is true, but at least they aren't "trashy" like Star and OK! magazine.
Ol' Blue Eyes.
King For A Couple Of Days
Ol' Blue Eyes.
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Mibba
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:13pm
Poette:
I think there are entertainment-related magazines that can be respectable, though. I like Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly, and People. Not saying everything they report is true, but at least they aren't "trashy" like Star and OK! magazine.
I really think the Rolling Stone has been going downhill slowly. It's getting less and less informative, in my opinion. I used to be able to read everything in it, but lately I just feel like I'm wasting my time.
Love
King For A Couple Of Days
Love
Age: 36
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Mibba Blog
June 4th, 2008 at 04:34am
To start with, you yourself have to decide what kind of journalist you want to be - one who writes for a gossip magazin or one who maybe writes for a serious newspaper. Also, I think that most journalists do their work good. Those who just write about what they found on parezhilton.com or however its called are no journalists to me. I have worked as a journalist every now and then at a very big regional platform and trust me, there are lots of very good quality journalists (; and you can be one, too, you just have to apply for a quality newspaper or magazin or whatever media.

I think journalism and the media in general is very important nowadays because 1) it's an information medium and 2) it's a controlling body and the mouthpiece of the people. That way they can point out their opinions and share them with for example politicians. the public opinion is very important for politicians because they need the people's support. The media, and hence the journalists in their articles, carry this public opinion.

If you want to go into journalism I have some tipps for you.
1) Do work placement. as many as you can get. it's never too early for them. especially when wanting to become a journalist that's the best you can do. and keep all of your pieces of writing you release!
2) If you want to go into journalism you don't neccessarly have to study "journalism". I have made the experience that newspapers etc usually aren't looking for journalists. they want people who have studied a specific subject so they have good knowledge about what they write. It's not helpful for an article that should have good quality when the writer has no idea about what he or she is writing.Therefore, they prefere a political scientist writing political articles for their platform instead of some random journalist.
3) Online journalism is very popular and generally still kind of unknown and carries a lot of chances for you.
Rockaway Beach
Jackass
Rockaway Beach
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June 16th, 2008 at 12:12pm
Something you might find interesting;

Franny.
Falling In Love With The Board
Franny.
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June 17th, 2008 at 07:49pm
Journalism and journalists are important to today's society and will be in the future as well. It's up to you to decide whether you want to be honest in your pieces or be the negative type and try to destroy careers. There's always going to be one side and the other side so pick one and stick with it.

I may be biased because I'm on my way to becoming a journalist, but I think it's a great profession. It's quite free because depending on your interests and what you write about, you pretty much get to do it. But as other people have stated, it's not a high paying job at first but it's very satisfying. I've contemplated and written pieces about tabloid-type news as well as real issues and I'm thinking I'll stick to the latter, but it really depends on what you're more interested in.

Don't let the media world depress you now, it's people like you, the new fresh minds, who will decide what kind of news the future media will spread.
Skippy.
Falling In Love With The Board
Skippy.
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Mibba
June 19th, 2008 at 06:03am
Being a journalist would be the best. Good luck.
Pretty Like Drugs
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Pretty Like Drugs
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June 19th, 2008 at 06:21am
Poette:
but at the same time, is it really wrong when these writers write their opinions, or the truth?

No, but libel is wrong. Besides, if you're cunning enough, you can still deceive by telling the truth. And it's true, opinions can destroy people if they're coming from highly influential sources. I personally don't see the merit in reviews; sure, sometimes they give the gist of things and can steer people away from a particularly awful movie. But opinions are subjective, and not everybody thinks the same way. There's plenty of examples where records or films have been poorly received by critics and still experienced massive success.

It all depends on the organization. Does it possess an ounce of social responsibility and care about the affects its content will have on its audience? Or does it view itself solely as a business enterprise out to make a profit? At the risk of sounding lame I'll quote Spiderman's uncle and say "With great power comes great responsibility." Only sometimes, it's more profitable to ignore that responsibility.

There's certainly bad journalism, some EXTREMELY unethical journalism, but don't forget all the brave writers and photographers that risked and sacrificed their lives in order to expose the horrible truth ie. the happenings during Pinochet's dictatorship in Chile. I'm an aspiring journalist too, only I'd either write for a lifestyle or music magazine so it's not as hardcore, as, say, political reporting.
Emily-Cool
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Emily-Cool
Age: 33
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November 4th, 2008 at 05:13pm
I think Journalism is VERY important. I am going to Uni to study it, and I am currently doing an a-level in it.
I don't think it's a bad career at all, it's all I ever want to do.
Princessrochelle__x
Geek
Princessrochelle__x
Age: 33
Gender: Female
Posts: 102
November 6th, 2008 at 10:24am
well journalism isnt bad unless you tell the truth about the story that your writing up as a journalist
howeer it is a bads thing if a story is over exaggerated..
the media has so much control over peoples lives its unbelievable
it has control over peoples fashion and consumerism, changes peoples identities, changes the morals of society, it can also make people break down because of the nasty stories that have been printed about them
also it changes our opinions on everything
putting it into perspective the media can be bias and we will most likely follow this bias, unless, you can see past the media and make an opinion about something about something by yourself and be individual
Micro Sheep
Falling In Love With The Board
Micro Sheep
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November 6th, 2008 at 03:18pm
i think journalism is like advertising. the process of creating the things is great, but the result is not always so interesting.
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