JournalismPakistan.com | Published February 18, 2013 | SAM
Join our WhatsApp channelAt JournalismPakistan.com we frequently get requests from students and other individuals interested in knowing how to get started in journalism, the basics of journalism and skills needed to become a journalist. Although we try our best to patiently explain the requisites, we usually end up frustrated because journalism is not something you get the hang of overnight. There are no shortcuts, no quick fixes and, most importantly, as in all professions, either you have it or you don’t; you can’t force it.
Also, there is this bizarre myth that journalism is an action-filled job. Well, most of the time it isn’t. Rather, it’s just plain hard, repetitious work.
Does it pay well?
Of course, it does, but for that, you have to be in that .005 percent of iconic journalists who reel in the big bucks. It has as much to do with personality, lucky breaks, being exceptionally enterprising and knowing your job well as anything else. Otherwise, think moderate to comfortable.
One young fellow informed me he wanted to be an anchor because he wanted to be famous. I wished him all the luck. After three years of struggling in a news channel, he now works at a hotel reception. That’s the way it is.
Journalism is not an easy profession.
However, the more you know about what makes it click, the better you are likely to be at it. One has to be dedicated, disciplined, patient, sharp, and enterprising and have a passion for the profession to make the cut. Otherwise, resign yourself to be confined forever to some desk in the newsroom if you’re lucky.
The financial remuneration might not be what you imagined, but you can get plenty of respect and recognition. Indeed that is the fuel that most real journalists run on.
But in journalism, as in everything else, there is a starting point.
In Pakistan there are five ways of ending up in journalism or ‘the media’ as they prefer to call it now:
a) You learn the job on-hand as an apprentice sub or cub reporter.
b) You get a Masters degree from one of the few local universities that do offer programs in Journalism or Mass Communication and cash in on it.
c) Your father, uncle, brother, sister or cousin are already in the business and put in a word for you with the editor/CEO, and you want to follow in their footsteps.
d) You are a direct government/political appointee aiming at a quick rise to the top.
e) You have been planted/embedded by the government, state/military intelligence agencies to promote their agenda and keep an eye on those individuals likely to cause a ripple or don’t agree with those aforementioned agendas.
One way or the other, when an individual enters the newsroom of any newspaper or news channel, he has much to learn.
Usually, despite all the degrees, political clout or directives, newcomers to the newsroom will feel like a fish out of water. They have no firsthand experience and, quite bluntly, know nothing about nothing.
That is why for the media to improve in Pakistan it is essential that journalism is taught at a much earlier stage than the university. High school would be a good start. In Europe and the United States there are some middle and high schools that have included journalism and mass communication in their curriculum.
The result of this has been that students have shown maturity, understanding, and capability far beyond had been expected.
Some schools not only have a bi-weekly or monthly newspaper but also weekly live news broadcasts.
To say I was surprised by the quality of work from 14-18-year-olds would be putting it mildly. I was impressed, really impressed by their output.
At one of the schools I visited, Gunderson High School in San Jose, I was amazed to discover that some 30 students had registered for journalism classes.
Not only were they learning the basics, history and associated technology and equipment, but were independently producing a weekly news bulletin and a newspaper called Paw Print named after the school mascot, a grizzly.
The students get the bulk of their journalistic knowledge from Miss. Allana Callaway, who pointed out that many of their students did their research and independently came up with story ideas for the newspaper and broadcasts.
The news bulletins are completely given direction, edited and broadcast by students as well.
“What we are doing is learning firsthand all the skills that we will have to put to use when we do enter the real world of journalism, and if not, at least we will have a perfect idea of how the media functions,” one journalism student said.
Another was quick to add: “Not only is it fun but we learn something new every time we film, edit, and broadcast.”
I wish we had something like this in Pakistan.
April 30, 2025: Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.
April 30, 2025: Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.
April 28, 2025: India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.
April 23, 2025: Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.
April 21, 2025: After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.
April 21, 2025: Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.
April 20, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.
April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?
April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.