Is it a glamorous lifestyle filled with freebees, or ethical principles and a crusade for the truth? Many reasons drive aspiring journalists into the profession, the key is to find one and truly believe in it. All of us who use professional media are the shapers of society. It’s a privilege as much as it’s a job.
Coming from Poland, country where democratic structures are relatively young and people still learn how to exercise great power of the free media, I appreciate even more the British tradition of transparency in the press as well as on television. A student on a work placement in the foxnews.com, Audrey Bright, says that god wanted her to get into journalism. I am not so sure about that, I am more likely to believe that god wanted journalists to have media outlets like the BBC.
Although in general media in Britain are perceived as free, they are not free of all the restrictions, no matter if imposed by law, editors, political or economical factors. Journalists in Britain and all over the world are often struggling to put their message across. One specific feature of that struggle is that it will never be over. After one obstacle another will appear. It is endless, like Sisyphus in hell, constantly pushing his huge boulder up to an unreachable hilltop. Maybe not that rewarding, but isn’t it an exciting challenge?
The thought about becoming a journalist has been in my mind since I realised that being a lawyer scenario isn’t any close to Ally McBeal. And even before that I had been attending after school workshops for young journalists simply because I enjoyed writing for no good reason. It is only when I entered higher education I understood why it remains one of the great careers of all-time. As a student I have been trained not only to think like a journalist but also about journalism. One of my favourite aspects of the profession is media ethics. The code set by the industry, its strengths and weaknesses, but also principles and motives of individuals.
I have had my ups and downs. Believing in the public service very strongly one day and questioning the sense of being a puppet in the hands of powerful corporations the next. Janet Malcolm in her book, The Journalist and the Murderer, wrote: “Every journalist who is not too stupid or full of himself to notice what is going on knows that what he does is morally indefensible.” Some practitioners find themselves trapped in a morally defined cage, and start to wonder if often controversial methods of news gathering are purely pursued in the greater interest of the public right to know.
Last year I travelled across Eastern Europe to Russia through Ukraine and Belarus. First, in Kiev, at the Independence Square I took part in a ceremony in memory of journalist Heorhiy Gongadze. Hundreds of people were holding candles to mark the 7th anniversary of his disappearance and beheading. The posters read: ‘Ukraine, Aren’t you ashamed of this?’ Gongadze crusaded against official corruption. His killing triggered months of protests against then President Leonid Kuchma, and eventually lead to the Orange Revolution.
It was a very touching event and made me think a lot about the purpose but also the power of journalism. And there was more to come. In fact I was heading to Moscow to write an article about a life and death of a woman that I have always admired, Anna Politkovskaya. I didn’t find out much about her as Russian state secrecy and a lack of accreditation from recognised media organisations were obstacles too big to get over.
I met Tony Halpin, Moscow Bureau Chief of the Times. I asked him if he still believes in journalism as a defender of freedom and truth, he said that if he didn’t he wouldn’t be sitting in Moscow struggling with Russian state bureaucracy and hard-to-get officials. He said he would be in London working as a PR for much more money.
With my mind set, major doubts disappeared. But, it is still a big mission to accomplish – getting into journalism for real. Although I have had a few or more pieces published it is really hard to convince editors that your writing is not only worth printing but also a wage. There must be something that makes me stand out from the crowd of nearly thousands of people applying for the same dream job. Good degree, good start, nice portfolio and lots of placements – better. But, to find a particular area you enjoy with lots of scope and endeavor to become a specialist, that’s the key! Since I was ‘lucky’ enough to be brought up in Eastern Europe, I think it would be wise to use this.
Many critics claim that there are less and less foreign correspondents who are experts in their area, who would have language, knowledge and background to report from particular region and to explain not only what was happening but to explain why it was happening. And like in every business it’s about spotting a gap in the market. And, to be truthful, there are journalists out there who practise ‘hotel journalism’.
Fascinated by war journalism, I would like to reach a point in my career when I will be able to see it for myself. To report conflicts, question the war and military logic, with respect to the rights of the enemy, with as much emphasis on understanding the roots of war as possible. For now, the last thing I want is to be one of those young inexperienced correspondents who are facing war not ready enough to deal with such a huge challenge and stress. The road into journalism has many twists and turns, but I cannot think about more challenging, exciting and meaningful future.
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