[Career review] “Journalism” by Cody Fenwick

In a nutshell: For the right person, becoming a journalist could be very impactful. Good journalists help keep people informed, positively shape public discourse on important topics, and can provide a platform for people and ideas that the public might not otherwise hear about.

But the most influential positions in the field are highly competi\ve, and journalists face a lot of mixed incentives that may detract from their ability to have a positive impact.

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Outline:

(00:10) Summary

(01:44) Section 1: Why journalism could be a high-impact career

(05:06) How many people are actually reading news articles?

(07:52) Some examples of high-impact journalism

(13:34) Section 2: Why having a positive impact in journalism might be challenging

(17:35) Section 3: How to pursue a career in journalism

(17:38) Getting started

(21:14) Pay and industry prospects

(22:24) Some key roles in journalism

(25:08) How to pitch your first piece

(27:32) Changing paths

(28:23) What is journalism like day to day?

(30:33) Section 4: How to assess your fit for journalism

(31:43) Want one-on-one advice on pursuing this path?

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First published:
September 19th, 2022

Source:
https://80000hours.org/career-reviews/journalism