What are the key skills for a journalist?

During a class on the challenges of media technology, students analyzed the question: what are the key skills for a journalist?

Image by Freepik

On 29 November 2024, at the lecture Educational challenges of media technologies, we discussed the most important skills a journalist should have in the digital age. The discussion was based on the text by B. Glowacki: ‘Internet as a Source of Information for the Journalist – Breaching the Truth versus Media Ethics’, published in the journal Media Studies in 2015.

Key questions in the discussion

Firstly, the students considered how journalists can maintain objectivity and impartiality in times of rapid information flow. Then, they discussed what technological competencies are necessary in a journalist’s job to meet the demands of today’s media. Furthermore, they discussed how journalists can effectively verify information in an era of disinformation and clickbait. Finally, they considered how technologies such as artificial intelligence can be ethically used in journalistic work.

What are the key skills for a journalist? Students’ reflections

Students shared a number of insights, which can be divided into three main areas: skills, technology and ethics.

The skills of a journalist in the digital age

1. Preserving humanity. It is important to remember in journalistic work that it is the human being who gives information to another human being. Example: Radio Krakow’s experiment with artificial intelligence instead of presenters, with an interview with the late poet Wislawa Szymborska.
2. Creativity. Standing out with your own personality, which attracts readers.
3. Verification of information. Attention to the veracity of facts, e.g. in sports statistics or internet data.
4. Objectivity and impartiality. Presenting different points of view and giving voice to all sides.
5. Adaptation to changing technology and society. Ability to use social media to promote content.
6. Ability to edit content quickly. In the face of a deluge of information, publishing valuable articles first is key.
7. Responsibility and reflection. Admitting mistakes and being aware of the consequences of misinformation.

Technology in journalism. What are the key skills for a journalist?

1. AI as a tool. Artificial intelligence can speed up processes, but requires vigilance to avoid errors and damage.
2. Information gathering and presentation. Digital tools make it significantly easier to access sources, but increase the responsibility to check them thoroughly.
3. Variety of sources. Access to PDF books or online data is a huge asset, but requires appropriate filtering.

Ethics in journalism

1. Clickbaits and desperation for audience attention. However, striking a balance between attractiveness and integrity of content.
2. Protecting privacy. Therefore, deciding what is newsworthy and what violates someone’s privacy.
3. External pressures. For instance, political or commercial pressures that may affect a journalist’s objectivity.
4. Integrity versus commercialisation. In other words, choosing between authenticity and personal branding.
5. Legal and social implications. Consequently, loss of audience trust as a major problem resulting from dishonesty.

In conclusion, the discussion highlighted the complexity of a journalist’s work in the technological age and emphasised the need to combine traditional journalistic values with modern technological skills and an ethical approach.

Bibliography

Głowacki, B. (2015). Internet jako źródło informacji dla dziennikarza – mijanie się z prawdą a etyka dziennikarska [Internet as a Source of Information for the Journalist – Breaching the Truth versus Media Ethics]. Studia Medioznawcze [Media Studies], 1(60), 21-31. https://doi.org/10.33077/uw.24511617.ms.2015.60.566