- Describe your sector in a nutshell.
Journalism includes gathering, analysing, and disseminating news and provides a vital service to the public. Journalists aim to provide accurate, timely, and unbiased information. The role includes interviewing, writing, researching, verifying news, information gathering and news finding.
- What are the different career opportunities/jobs available in your sector?
Locally the opportunities for journalists include the Gibraltar Chronicle, GBC, YGTV and Panorama. Within the field journalists can focus their work on sectors like features, politics, crime, environment etc, and mediums like print, web, magazine, TV/radio and photojournalism. There are also media related jobs in PR, copywriting, communications or marketing with further opportunities in businesses across Gibraltar.
- What’s interesting/fun about your sector/industry? Why should a young person want to work there?
There’s a thrill to finding a good news story, writing it up and having it be the talk of the town the next morning. Thrills aside, it’s a career where a young person could meet a cross-section of the community and hear their stories. Journalists are also present in many major developments, making it a career where no two days feel the same.
- What skills/qualities do you look for in someone wanting to join your sector?
Journalists need to be able to find stories, work independently and meet strict deadlines.
For print journalism a good level of writing is needed, knowledge of the local area and a good interview technique.
- What is demand looking like in your sector? How do you think this will change in the future?
It’s difficult to tell the demand as it’s dependent on the needs of each media outlet. Regarding any change in the future there will always be a need for journalists. The medium in which journalists work is changing, with more focus on online and social media which brings both opportunities and challenges.
- What is the approximate salary range can people earn?
This too is dependent on the media outlet and the person’s experience as journalism jobs range from junior reporters to editors.
- What career pathways are available for a young person wanting to join your sector? (University and non-uni routes)
There are many pathways to becoming a journalist.
Some graduate with BA Journalism degrees, others study an undergraduate degree in a different subject but then continue to postgraduate study with a journalism masters. There are also short courses and diplomas in journalism which are recognised. The NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) is a UK training scheme which provides courses.
Locally, media outlets can train promising candidates with no prior experience on the job too. Prior experience or training, however, is favourable.
- Any advice you would give to a young person wanting to join your sector?
Journalism is a job which requires commitment and news sense. My advice would be to bring a news story idea to any job interview with an editor. Also, be willing to learn and keep your ears open to any stories.
