If you’re considering getting your journalism masters, it can help to learn about the profession in advance. By reviewing some of the concepts that make up the general philosophy for this profession, you’ll be better prepared to succeed in your new career path. Here is a quick overview of the principles that every professional journalist adheres to in their day to day lives.
Accuracy in Truth
You will never know all of the facts surrounding a given event, but you should always be as truthful as possible. A journalist is obligated to report the truth as they know it at a given time, and they must also issue corrections with the updated truth as new facts emerge. This helps build trust in your readers.
Report From an Independent Perspective
It should never seem as though you favor one side over the other. Your goal as a journalist is to report unbiased news to the public, allowing your readers to form their own opinions. When you seem to report consistently from one perspective, you can appear to be a spokesperson rather than a true journalist.
Report With Compassion
As you earn your journalism masters, you’ll undoubtedly learn that sensationalism sells. While this is true to an extent, it’s also important to remember that the people reading or viewing your reports will develop emotional connections to your stories. Especially when you’re reporting on particularly heinous or violent crimes, it’s important to write with sensitivity and compassion. As a rule of thumb, the more devastating a story, the less you should deliberately sensationalize it.
If you’re considering getting your masters degree in journalism, take a look at the comprehensive program School of the Art Institute of Chicago has to offer by visiting https://www.saic.edu/.
