Do you always wanted a career in which every day is different? Then, look no further, a career in the media (newspaper) is the right one for you. Though, you'll have to invest long hours initially and the pay is also low. But, once you have acquired the necessary experience,  you should make a comfortable living. Don't worry about the low pay package you receive during your entry-level period as this is the time,  where you want to focus on gaining experience and honing your journalism skills.

Before, you jump into this stream make sure to know a few things about it. For starters, the hours are long and irregular. Don't compare this stream with your regular 9-5 job. It's a 24/7 hours job were you need to be aware of all the latest happening and remain updated. The internet advancement has made significant changes in this arena. Since, news are now available on demand to consumers at any time they want. Slowly but steadily, even newspapers have been adjusting to this new phenomenon. At present, the news served are more sensitive towards work/life balance issues; offering part-time work, job sharing and work-at-home options.

One things for sure, everyday in this field will be filled with excitement from covering a high profile event to the "every day" story you felt like you've done a thousand times. Frankly speaking, seeing your name print on the daily newspaper, will definitely give you a high and the satisfaction that you are providing information that can positively impact the lives of the community you are serving.

Here are some of the basic skills required for this job profile:
Tenacity – whether you get motivated by completing a deadline, beat the competition or to break a story, the perseverance to get a true story is important to become a successful journalist.
Communication Skills – you need to posses strong verbal and written talents. Besides, listening skill is also crucial for this job. Once facts have been gathered, reporting involves putting them into perspective to capture all sides of a story.
Attention to Detail – a journalist can only succeed in this field if he/she make sure that the information collected is true and correct. Organizational skills are also a must to maintain sources, to meet deadlines and to keep on top of ongoing news situations.
People Skills – journalists are considered as  wordsmiths, but they are supposed to manage network of relationships. The way you relate your colleagues, the society and your sources will vastly influence the quality of your stories.  For building strong professional relationships both empathy and persuasiveness must go hand in hand.