Writing and editing are foundational skills in journalism, as text is the basis for all news reports in both print and broadcast. Successful journalists are usually well versed in writing mechanics, grammar, and punctuation, and they’re skilled at writing concisely. Also, because journalists typically adhere to a specific style guide that governs factors such as structure and formatting, knowledge of the key principles of journalistic style is helpful.
Ethics refers to principles such as honesty, objectivity, and fairness. Regardless of their personal beliefs, journalists strive to be unbiased and indifferent. It’s important to uphold these principles as a journalist because they help ensure objectivity in reporting and can lead audiences to trust the information that the journalist reports. Digital journalism refers to tools and methods used to connect with audiences via a digital medium. Some basics of digital journalism are the abilities to include inline links within stories, transform video into GIFs, and report via live stream. Today’s audiences largely receive their news through internet sources, so approaching stories with this in mind can allow journalists to get their news out to more people and remain relevant.
