Sheer Tyranny

A year into the trade of journalism and I think I have a pretty good idea of what it entails. 

Jumping up at 5pm when the call comes in that an accident has occurred, an hour away, is common. Forget having a social life! But the excitement is still there and the thrill of finding something out that no-one else knows is the best part of the job. 

One of my colleagues who has worked at the Essex Chronicle for 35 years delighted upon finding an old article written by a female journo 60 years ago. And what a gem it is. 

Incredibly satirical and constantly damming on the profession, none-the-less you can tell the old hack loved her journalistic career. 

She begins; "Journalism is the square peg of the glamorous professions. It really has no such business to be included in such a series." 

And how true! The journalists we see on TV everyday are pristine; good-looking women, domineering men who host their own TV shows (Piers Morgan comes to mind), the broadcasters who sit in a warm, cosy studio, reading from a script.

But is that the reality? They don't show the trudging through mud in tiny heels and a little dress (yes that's me). They don't show knocking on doors down a whole street trying to find out a name, to always realise you started at the wrong end and 300 houses down, you get the information as easily as breaking eggs. 

The lady (I don't have her name) goes on to exclaim at those who think journalists are well paid!!

"If you are lucky enough to persuade some unfortunate newspaper to give you a chance you are in for a good five years of solid grind which will wear the bloom of your complexion, the soles from your shoes and rob you of your trusting nature for life."

I had rather rose-tinted glasses on before I joined the world of journalism. Having been to both magistrates and crown court on countless occasions, I am now accustomed to criminal practise, the amount of re-offenders we have in the justice system and just how much money is wasted on actually convicting un-doubtable criminals. 

I have covered "mother's meetings, council meetings, school speech days, inquests, weddings and funerals.

"All this time your earnings will be little more than a pound (okay that has gone up slightly but still in context), for remember, you are being trained at no cost to yourself for the toughest, most exhausting and most demanding job a woman can tackle. 

"If you don't believe it is quite like that, hang on to your girlish illusions and quit journalism. But you can't leave it- it has taken hold of you?"

This article was written when very few women were part of the journalism industry. Undoubtedly there are many more today. More to charm information out of the many male politicians, firemen and police officers. But the most demanding job a woman can tackle? I would not like to say that is the same...

"You will either be rushed off your feet or know maddening periods of inactivity when you expect to be fired any minute.

"You will learn to smile nicely at the news editor when he comes along with a fatal slip of paper five minutes before you are due off," she says and this is still the case. She finishes her piece revealing that she committed her "final folly" of marrying a newspaperman and her great fondness for her job. 

"Then you will never be released from the tyranny of the front page. You have heard this all before and you are still going to be a journalist? You lucky girl. You'll do."

How to Begin?

There is a lot of debate at present as to the longevity of Journalism (in particular print journalism). For budding writers, like myself, this poses a question over how and indeed, whether, to enter into the industry. 


Some would say that writing a blog, such as this, would be a suitable and easy path into a Journalistic career. By showing that you have a commitment to writing, that it is something you enjoy in your spare time, some would say is enough to show to a potential employer. Perhaps even the content of your writing is irrelevant and some of the most famous current writers have made their name by writing controversial comments that have got them noticed.


However, on talking to a few professionals within the industry (David Randall, Keith Howitt), it would appear that to even hope for a chance of working on a paper or magazine, you need to have basic Journalist skills, that can only be taught and proven by the NCTJ qualification. To gain this, you have to pay for the privilege. This can be anything from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds! 


Does this guarantee you a long and fulfilling career? Certainly not. We can predict that print journalism will carry on decreasing in it's popularity and that many people will gradually turn to the internet and other technological advancements to gain their knowledge. And we can learn and adapt with this technology. So why should we have to take extra courses to attempt to secure ourselves a job within journalism? Probably because anyone can write down their opinions, anyone can write a blog and it's hard to stand out when there are tonnes of other people wanting the same result as you. It would once again appear to be money that judges who can get the furthest in their quest for the perfect job.