7 Work Life Keys to Survive the Brave New World of Journalism

The Brave New World of Working as a Journalist

So what becomes of the journalist now that the internet has essentially become king? The media landscape has not just changed, it’s just been transformed into a multi-dimensional, exponentially growing, holographic exchange of ideas.

It’s nearly impossible to determine the future of news gathering and dissemination, but the times call for a radical departure from the way things have been done. (Check out yesterday’s post on Deconstructing the Brave New World of Journalism) After all, the competition is fierce due to our 24/7 global marketplace. Plain and simple, it’s a battle for attention.

In my career, I went from broadcast Tv news, to national radio, to print and onto the Internet. Now my career resides in all mediums. My love for reporting, curiosity about the stories that needed to be told, and my tenacity, have kept me alive as a journalist.

Here’s what I’ve learned now that I operate within the ranks of the freelance journalistic community, as I continue to strive for better work life balance in a 24/7 world:

1. The rise of the Niche Ninja: We’re operating in an on-line 24/7 sensory overloaded news landscape. There’s always a need for general assignment reporting, but having a niche (even within a niche) will help you rise above the rest. It might make you the go-to person for that topic by content aggregators in your field and media looking for expert commentary.
2. Personal Branding: Be authentic and purposeful when expressing your identity as a journalist. Vint Cerf, often referred to as the “father of the internet” made the following statement at a recent conference on Innovative Journalism which was covered by the BayNewser, “Journalism is going to become all about branding. [Branding] is one of the elements that will help you compete against all the other sources of information that people are exposed to.” Creating talking points that distinguish your journalistic experience and niche from others, can help in the pitching process.
3. Cultivating creative content and connections on-line: Jeff Jarvis, CUNY professor , digital media guru and author of What Would Google do? writes about the importance of developing your on-line presence. “The more public we are, the more opportunities there are to learn and create value,” Jarvis wrote in a recent BusinessWeek article adding that  ”…helping people create, helping their creations to be found, and helping people connect. That will be the secret to social success.” Jarvis wasn’t specifically writing about journalism, but I think it applies to this career, as much as any other.
4. Developing Value Velocity: If you are a blogger, you might post once a week or daily. I’ve often found myself on a radio, tv and writing or blogging deadline on the same day, until I developed “VV”. It’s a step beyond time management. Once a week I identify the value of the items on the agenda for the week by code. Here’s the breakdown: the amount of valued time necessary for a project, the financial value of the project (RIO), and the impact or exposure (local, national, personal niche) of the project. If a project measures up to all three codes, that means it rises above the rest as it is likely taking me in the direction of my niche along with financial security. 
5. The Myth of Perfection: No brainer. If you strive for perfection in an always-on world, you’ll be left at the train station, ticket in hand as you watch the info-express trains speed by you. Investigative journalism requires time, effort and patience. I’m not suggesting skimping on any level, but get your content out there. I have taken days to write a blog.  But there comes a time when you have to stop and let it go. I’ve often found that in my agonizing attempt at perfection in the pitching process, I’ll sit on a story only to see it break a few days later by someone else. Pitching takes time, blogging takes time but as Jeff Jarvis has said, “We are never a finished product, we are an ongoing process. Be prepared to make mistakes.”
6. Avoid Writers Remorse: Not every opportunity is for the taking. We can’t say yes to everything. Life happens and so does “writers remorse.” This is another one of those living-in-the-moment lessons, but it’s valuable. Focus on the story that is in front of you instead of worrying about what the competition is doling out. If someone beats you to the punch on an idea, remember this – there’s no such thing as a new idea – only the lens through which it is uniquely birthed. Look for another angle.
7. Cultivate Work Life Resilience: I’ve been writing on this topic for years and it applies to journalists perhaps even more so today. We sit at computers, talk on the phone, and research till we are blue in the face. Stopping is not an option on deadline. That’s why making use of downtime becomes crucial. Develop your own personal de-stressing routine and be consistent with cultivating that routine. Accumulated stillness goes a long way when the sh– is hitting the fan.