Journalism is for the flexible and disciplined

Gerald Andae was in Standard Three when he penned his first article. He wrote about a solar eclipse that he had just witnessed. Seeing the frenzy that the event had caused, he decided to write about it to keep the memory alive.

Even at this young age, Andae knew that writing was what he wanted to do. He later formed a writing club and became its chairman. The club had a small magazine that wrote about events in school.

“We would cover games, drama, prize giving days, and other special days in school, such as when the bishop visited us,” he says.

In secondary school and at university, Gerald was a member of the journalism club and was appointed as one of the leaders.

He says for any kind of journalist, whether radio, television, or newspaper, one requires excellent writing skills. Writing is something that keeps being nurtured. Twenty years after his maiden article about the solar eclipse, Andae is still learning.

“Anyone aspiring to be a successful journalist must read newspapers and magazines and watch news to keep up with current affairs. You should enjoy meeting new people and working under pressure as you mostly work with deadlines,” he advises. “You also need to have a passion and love for words.”

He says reading helps, not only to give your readers a well-informed story, but to also build your vocabulary. For a radio journalist, it helps one to have content, he adds.

Andae has a Master’s degree in linguistics, media, and communication from Moi University. He studied mass communication for his first degree.
He advises anyone interested in becoming a journalist to join a reputable college offering journalism courses and media-related studies.

While in college, he says, it is wise to participate in a journalism club and to contribute to the student newspaper or radio station, if there is one. Such participation helps to hone one’s skills.

A journalist must have the discipline and the flexibility to handle the long and odd hours associated with the job.

“Journalists often work on weekends, holidays, and late at night. That’s where flexibility comes in. Discipline helps in beating tight deadlines. You cannot afford to delay the printing of a whole newspaper or a news bulletin on TV because you handed in your copy late,” he says.

He also says a journalist should not be afraid to take risks. While people may run away from a catastrophe, a journalist runs towards it to get first-hand information.

Although one is required to be careful, you also need to be a risk-taker to get information for your readers.

Andae notes that the industry keeps changing and one is required to change with it. More technology is being incorporated in journalism. So a writer will be required to be information and technology-savvy.

“With the onset of digital journalism, we are supposed to give real-time updates to our audiences. That is why most media companies have websites which readers can visit for information,” he says.

For someone starting out in journalism, setting up a blog is a low-cost but rewarding practice, Andae advises. The feedback you get from the readers will help you improve your writing skills.

He says the journalism industry accommodates all kinds of writers.  One can specialise in any of the diverse fields of coverage, be it entertainment, sports, business, politics, features and so on. 

People trained in other professions can also become journalists as long as they have the flair for writing.

“The industry has trained lawyers, engineers, and even economist who have decided to become journalists. You just need to have the knack and passion for the job,” Andae says.

For those wishing to join television, he cautions that there is more to news anchoring and reporting than just good looks.

One needs to be free from bias when reporting, have stamina for the job, and acquire great communication skills. You should be able to hold a conversation with anyone about anything.

Currently, Andae is a business writer with the Business Daily, a publication of the Nation Media Group.