Adapted from my job application
In order to move forward, sometimes you need to take a step back.
No one knows exactly what the future of journalism holds.
No one knows exactly what software you’ll need to know, what hardware you’ll need to use or which online networks you’ll need to join in the coming years.
If you step back, those things don’t represent the future – they are simply tools. The tools are important, but we often fixate on them.
What matters is understanding where we’ve been, where we are now and where we’re going.
There is no specific list of skills. Yes, keep up. Stay ahead of the curve. But don’t lose focus.
With that in mind, I think the most important traits for someone who qualifies as the future of journalism are more general.
In no particular order, those traits include a desire and ability to:
-Tell a story
-Tell the truth
-Listen
-Summarize
-Prioritize
-Synthesize
-Ask questions
-Dig
-Be dogged and relentless
-Provide context
-Constantly pursue knowledge and understanding
-Be comprehensive
-Think critically
-Work ethically
-Cope with uncertainty
-Adapt
-Appreciate new ideas
-Innovate
-Teach
-Connect
-Interact with the audience
-Start and participate in conversations
-Be part of a community
-Be mobile
-Work with others
-Relate
-Know it’s not about you
What would you add, or remove?
