ANAEL: JOURNALISM ROCKS!

Reader Anael tells us why journalism matters - and why it means so much to her!

Anael says:
Journalism is everywhere. It is the thing that shapes our world, and the thing that can report news as fast as the speed of light, worldwide. We have all heard of journalism, but do we really know what it is? Journalism comes in so many forms, from newspaper reports and magazine articles to blog posts and historical profiles of the great people who have come before us. We can all choose the area of journalism we are most interested in, our strongest point. Every featured post you see on the Evening Standard newspapers are just one tiny feature in the big world of journalism. How can we get involved, leave our own prints in the sands of time? Here is a short step-by-step guide to get your journalistic juices flowing!

1. Before you start, it is worthwhile to explore the different areas in journalism. There are many simple fields but there are also many technical ones which are used in more specialised areas. The two simplest themes are PRIMARY MOTIVATION and HUMAN INTEREST. Primary motivation stories are stories which connect people to each other and to issues that matter in their lives. It can also be described as a story which exposes facts that are hidden or unknown. Human interest journalism is definitely my favourite field, though, because you as the writer, are putting other people at the heart of the story and making them feel involved and accepted in the journalism community.

2. When you have decided on your favourite field, it is helpful to look at some examples. If you are stuck for ideas, it can help very much just to look at the world around you. Think about these things: what would you like to change/ put right in the world? Are there things about your community which could be highlighted? Are there things you have noticed that others may have missed? Note down inspiration and ideas in case you forget!

3. Get into character and make contact with your inner journalist! If there's something you feel readers would enjoy, take action - often journalists interview people, but if that's not possible just observe the subject and take notes.

4. Every journalist has a different writing style, so make sure it is somethings others will enjoy. By all means throw in facts and statistics, but remember it has to be entertaining and intriguing too. If you know you'll be writing more on the subject, finish your article on a cliffhanger and add suspense to leave your reader on the edge of their chair, wanting more. My style is debate style writing, and shortly I'll be writing about whether people believe in ghosts or not. I'll make sure I show both points of view!

5. Before you post anything online or publish anything for others to see, be aware that some people may not like what you have written. That's OK, but be sure you have read through your work and checked your facts. Is it something you are happy for everyone to see? Is it going to offend anyone?

I have just started a blog and am running a competition where readers can comment on whether they believe in ghosts or not - most comments will be added to my blog if added before 20th March 2017. For more info, click here!

Cathy says:
Great blog - as someone who worked for a long time in magazine journalism, I found this fascinating! Would YOU like to help shape the world around you with words and ideas? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!