My ambitions as a journalist

I remember watching interviews on TV and admiring an anchor’s ability to bring out the personality and values of their interviewees. I also remember loving reports that uncovered injustices or crimes: the product of investigative journalism. I liked the idea of being a part of that.      As I learn more about journalism through my courses, I am realizing that there is much more to it. I am embarrassed to admit that I use to think that all news channels were objective and that I didn’t realize the ideological filter they use. I dislike channels like Fox News and think of their journalists as puppets. I think they offer irresponsible journalism that does not posses integrity. To me journalism is a medium of information powered by human intellect and passion. Everyone can give news, but only people who have love for journalism can do it responsibly and with just the right words to have the desired effect on the audience.      My goals in journalism are very specific, for I know I want to work with Spanish speaking networks and practice my profession in Spanish. I want to start from the bottom, as a reporter. I believe this dignifies a person and makes one value every one who contributes in news broadcasting. I love the idea of researching and uncovering facts to provide them to the public, whether it be to benefit a community, a city or the entire nation. This is why I would love to do some investigative reporting in my career.      I also ambition to host a news program. I would like to have the privilege of reaching thousands of people and share with them analysis of the issues of the time. Some issues require more from journalists than a mere mention of facts. An example of this is the issue with the Mosque near ground zero. Most news channels dedicated themselves to mention the turmoil around this controversy and that just created more hostility. This issue required journalists to educate the public in the most objective way possible about Islam and their practice of Sharia law. I envision a change in journalism that would provide more space for educating the public and I envision myself working under this system.     I think journalism will undergo significant changes, given the technological advances of today and the rapid expansion of the internet. I am excited to see what the future holds for this profession. Hopefully journalists take advantage of the internet to provide more variety in journalism. And hopefully people learn to appreciate objective journalism and learn to separate it from entertainment. Not that journalism has to be boring, but its focus shouldn’t be on entertaining the viewer, but on disseminating important information.      These are some of my goals in journalism and although I know this is a competitive profession, I believe I have what it takes to reach them.