ASPIRING JOURNALISTS

As the saying goes, many roads lead to Rome – and the same is true of journalism

Helpful personal qualities

Personal strengths are at least as important as grades or technical know-how

Quality Why it is important

Curiosity Without a genuine interest in people, topics and contexts, there can be no good stories.

A flair for language For precise, clear and creative writing – even under time pressure, depending on the medium.

Critical thinking Don’t believe everything – instead, question, contextualise and report neutrally.

Organisational skills Conducting research, scheduling interviews, meeting deadlines – structure is essential.

Resilience & flexibility Irregular working hours, changing topics, crisis reporting: this job is not a 9-to-5 role.

Empathy & tact

Particularly important when interviewing those affected or in difficult situations.

Training content for aspiring journalists

Gaining media literacy in the fields of cultural and environmental journalism by learning the journalistic craft in

Research

Text types

Stylistics

Media law

Practical workshops

Photography & film

Curiosity about topics and a love of writing

Thousands of articles, posts and features are published every day. Most disappear again straight away. What remains is journalism that is thoroughly researched, written in an accessible way and relevant to people’s lives.

Specialisations and further training in journalism

Field / Further training Brief description

Data journalism Analysing large volumes of data and visually presenting information relevant to journalism. Particularly in demand in the fields of investigative and business journalism.

Science journalism Communicating complex scientific content to a broad audience – e.g. from the fields of medicine, technology or the environment.

Investigative journalism In-depth research, often into political or economic malpractice. Requires legal knowledge and perseverance.

Local journalism Close to the action: topics from local authorities, neighbourhoods and regions. Ideal for those starting their careers.

Online and cross-media journalism Working with digital formats such as podcasts, social media, videos and blogs. Increasingly essential for modern newsrooms.

Specialised traineeships Many media organisations offer traineeships focusing on specific topics (sport, politics, culture, digital).

Journalism training Seminars, webinars and workshops, e.g. on interview techniques, media law or storytelling – also available as part-time courses.

Master’s degree programmes In-depth study programmes such as ‘Digital Journalism’ or ‘Media Management’ for careers in journalism or editorial work.