Job search
Journalism involves investigation, photographing and all-purpose information exposure in the media. The job is fascinating due to the power bequeathed to the journalist to notify the public on the latest happenings. It involves collecting first-hand information, and penning down the information in newspapers or magazines (Trotman, 2005).
Radio and TV are significantly exciting careers to devote my time. Journalism must unquestionably be the oldest vocation due to its many dimensions, including word of mouth. Its numerous dimensions can also include nonprofessionals.
Communication skills and technologies used in the job
The job calls for objective and impartial means of passing across information. I would love to specialize in print media, a division which is the most common in media (Seema, 2005). Having proper communication skills improves the chances of a job-seeker to be recruited or be promoted. Media in the form of words, for example, newspapers and journals, is easier for the public to store, thus requires more specialized care.
Print media have several advantages over the other available media technologies. It coerces less production costs and is in general cheaper than broadcasts on radio and TV. They offer more elasticity and create room for changes (Seema, 2005). Advances in technology have significantly enhanced the swiftness and value of results. Modern technologies which are used in the job include telephones, radio and telex.
The telephone makes it easy to communicate with respondents who are miles away. The thousands of television channels in the globe always update us in the latest breaking news. TV creates a visual impression, necessary to create greater impact through more effective communication.
The computer is principally the supreme equipment essential in this field. Its purposes range from preparing slides for news broadcast to the basic input of information before printing. Photographs can be scanned, and significant headlines are selected to increase sales. Video, audio, and teleconferencing are necessary technologies for the job (Seema, 2005).
For storage of data, diskettes, audio and visual cassettes come in handy. This is particularly necessary to be used as future references and necessary evidence to document. The communication capacity of some equipment, for example the optical disc enables storage of large data quantities.
Importance of communication in the job
Interpersonal skills involve transmission of information understood through common language and symbols. These skills are necessary in the job to ensure that the process is not just about transmitting a message across, but rather communicating with the recipients (Trotman, 2005). Efficiency of communication will determine success in the organization. The perception of quality that the customer gives will determine their devotion to the organization.
Small-group communications are necessary to reduce tensions in the job. Shifting discussions from the task at hand to personal relations balances the demands of completing the job and nurturing group unity (Gupta, 2003). This group usually has around three to ten members who collide to form some clusters representing common goals.
Computer-mediated technology is relevant in the job to aid in computer conferencing. This is done through the sender encoding text messages which are relayed in the computers of the receiver. This technology is used to break down communication barriers through providing means for storing, processing and transmitting information. It supports open discussion and exploration of information.
Proper public communication is crucial in the job. Accurate and timely delivery of information to clients is necessary to ensure that the targeted population supports the organization in achieving their goals. The functions of the organization in the community and government are handled by PR managers. Press releases are properly scrutinized, and the mangers must be ready to put in irregular hours to ensure efficiency (Trotman, 2005).
Intercultural and national communications are necessary, ensuring and fostering tolerance between the cultures. The values and norms of different generations need to be understood to avoid controversies and display of information which is not widely accepted.
E-mail, cell phones, instant messaging, and texts are used in the job to make communication faster, easier and cheaper. Reaching interviewees through messages and phone-calls and communicating with correspondents who are miles away. Communication between more than two people across shared software is achieved through instant messaging.
The use of these technologies involves considerations of care and costs. They cannot be blindly implemented in the organization without consideration of the institutions requirements. The technologies are used by qualified personnel for administration and management, while the other members off staff perform their other duties like reporting. Technologies are of immense use in marketing and monitoring occurrences in the society (Gupta, 2003).
Online information sources
The web deeply increases interaction in journalism, judging by the rapid growth of online journalism (Trotman, 2005). Wikis are especially common in the job but are only acceptable up to a certain extent. It involves participatory reporting and crowd-sourcing to facilitate collaboration between the users. The necessity of online data sources cannot be valued, as there are several sources which will post the most recent information validated by the media association.
Social networking sites
The employees are encouraged to join social networking sites like twitter in order to be abreast with current information, and to monitor easily topics grabbing world discussions. The organization requires employees to keep personal information confidential. Having personal data online may damage the organization’s reputations incase of any scandals which involve the employees (Trotman, 2005).
In this age of digital technology, blogs, podcasts and vodcasts are essential. A blog may be part of a website, or a complete website, and it is used to provide comments, describe events or augment video connections of news stories. The CEO has a blog through which company information is communicated freely and conveniently to the workforce.
Podcasts (iPod and broadcasting) enable the workforce to listen to audio messages at their own convenience. Information is thus stored digitally on the Internet. Video podcasts incorporate visual quality to serve the same objective (Meng, 2005). They are easily accessible in the organization and are part of the training process that recruits go through.
Conclusion
There are both oral and written media; hence the selection of appropriate technology for an assignment is necessary. Each technology has its own advantages and demerits thus considerable care must be given when choosing where to apply the available machinery.
Combination of technology is also helpful to increase accuracy of work, for example, a journalist may carry a multipurpose gadget which has a camera, TV, broadcasting and email functions (Gupta, 2003). Available technology must always be accompanied with staff that is well trained to handle them.
The communication medium must be reachable by both the dispatcher and the recipient. Effective communication is achieved when the skills and technologies put to use are accepted by the users. The attitude on the part of the sender and recipient must be favorable. The machinery used must be flexible and be able to save time. Distance and accuracy are also factored in the technology selection.
Secrecy is essential in the job (Trotman, 2005). There is several classified and official information which must not be communicated to the public. It is easier to maintain secrecy in written than oral communication. Modern electronic technology aids in secrecy, for example through coding written information.
The job search was a terrific learning experience, and proved insightful in learning the importance of communication skills. Tapping into the right resources and networks is essential to ensure that a job-seeker saves time and money in searching and securing a job. The larger the network formed the faster and easier it would be to be successful.
References
Gupta, V. (2003). Handbook of reporting and communication skills. New Delhi: concept Publishing company.
Meng, P. (2005). Podcasting and vodcasting: a white paper. University of Missouri. Web.
Seema, S. (2005). Journalism communication management. New Delhi: Anmol Publications limited.
Trotman publishing (2001). Journalism. London: Crimson publishing.