ANSWERS TO JOURNALISM AND ENGLISH

ENGLISH FOR JOURNALIST ASSIGNEMENT
NAME: PHILEMON KOGANYO
REGISTRATION NO: AIJI/O3858P/2014
PHONE NO. 0702252929

1. Explain the term journalist.
A journalist is person whose job is to collect news and write about it for newspapers, magazines, television or radio.
He is a person engaged in journalism; especially a writer or editor for a news medium. He is writer who aims at a mass audience.
A journalist is also a person who keeps journal.

2. What are the qualities of a good journalist?
Information of current affairs: In present time, life is so much complex so one should have complete information and awareness about his/her surrounding issues. Lack of information can put you back in this field. He/she should have awareness about his region, county, culture, geography and must have good interest in National and International affairs of his/her county.
Good writer: Everyone knows how to write but writing according to the demand of department is little bit difficult so a journalist must have extraordinary writing skills which come via experience. One should know how to write a news article or column. Being a journalist, one should not wait for the mood to write.
Good translator: Translation skills to translate the content in required language is also necessary. He/she can write and understand the concerned language for example being a Pakistani Urdu to English. A journalist of any international News Agency needs good grip on English. Learning other different languages is also very helpful for a journalist to gather more and more views about any issue.
Deep study of language and literature: Studies polish the attitude of a person. Study enhances the speaking power and good behavior of a person. Study of different books also increases your vocabulary and gives many options of words about any condition so a journalist must study he language and literature deeply.
Deep analysis: Deep analysis means observing the different issues with full concentration. Not only observing but also saving it in our memories. A good observer can be a good journalist. Writing news is like making a sketch of the incident. This skill gives you the power to better understand different skills of your surrounding.
Positive thinking: Positive thinking and a restful mind helps the journalist to understand different issues more accurately. For a journalist it is very difficult to work without it. Positive thinking automatically solves your different issues. Restful mind is necessary because a journalist also have to face certain problems and become depressed, so in such circumstances a restful mind is necessary to take right decisions.
Curiosity: Curiosity is present in every person but real thing is its correct use. Curiosity is very necessary for a journalist because it helps him/her to know different sides of news. Even a tiny incident can help a journalist to fetch a big story behind it only because of curiosity about that incident. This quality is compulsory for those who are working in crime department or investigation department.
Honesty: It doesn’t suit a journalist to be one-sided. This is totally against the respect of that profession. One should only provide the fact without his personal views about any issue. It is one of the basic rules of journalism. Journalists report should not reflect his/her support to any regional, political or religious party.
Good memory: It is necessary for a journalist to have a good memory. One should only remember all the important points of news. Weak memory makes you dull. One can be a good journalist if he/she has good memory. Weak memory will decrease the value of your news because forgotten part is tried to be fulfilled with others and this will affect the factness of the news.
Determination and strong will: It is the basic rule of success in every field of life. You can’t achieve your goal without determination. When you lose it you fail.
Resourceful: Resourcefulness gives a person the ability to be able to always find solution to difficult situations that can sometimes be a dead end.
Interpersonal skills: It is extremely important in order to be a good journalist. Even if others consider you to be a shy person you must change that right away when speaking to someone in order to obtain information for your work. At times during press release where a journalist will ask and be asked questions in which he/she must respond in a respectful professional manner.
Prioritization skills: This helps to keep journalists from missing stories and to keep everything organized so that being overwhelmed does not destroy them.

3. Why is English language important for journalists?
Simplicity: The main task as a journalist is to help people understand what is happening around them; in their village, in their county and the world. Most readers or listeners will not have your knowledge of language so you must simplify it for them. You should be able to examine the most complicated issue and events then translate them into language which your audience can understand and this is English. If you fail in this people will stop buying your newspaper or tuning in to your radio or television station. A journalist would have failed in their job.
Main language: For many journalists today, English is the main language used for newspapers or magazines, radio, television or the internet.
Development in technology: As journalists they cover lots of areas with the help of developing technology hence with English playing a major role in sectors including medicine, engineering, and education which in my opinion is the most important arena where English is needed.
Fluency: It is very important for a journalist to be fluent in English because of his/her daily interaction with the general population. Using good English in print media makes it easier for the editor, gives more status to the journalist and ensures less error in final product.
Qualification purposes: A journalist with an expansive vocabulary and a flair for the language is definitely more qualified and makes a good first impression. Moreover his/her writing is thought provoking and interesting to read leaving no room for misunderstanding or unintentional double meaning.
Role models: A journalist is seen as a role model for many and they hold in their hands the power to improve and maintain the already existing standard of English in their country and change the way the world sees them.
In broadcast media: Since there is no or very little editing on the basis of language, the journalists need to speak English fluently a clear and even-paced tone is required for the best communication. These journalists have a lager responsibility as television is an important part of many people’s lives, including the illiterate.
International language: As journalists, they have to know English because it is globally spoken by most countries in the world. It is the international language and is one of the most spoken in the technology world and since journalists travel far and wide, theys therefore need to be conversant with the language.