Writer's job guide : the journalist

Writers often craft compelling characters who find themselves in dynamic and high-stakes professions. One such profession is journalism, which provides ample opportunity for tension, drama, and rich character development.

Journalists are always in the thick of things, uncovering stories, digging for truth, and dealing with the pressures of deadlines, ethical dilemmas, and, sometimes, danger.

Why would you need a journalist?

Far from being a fantasy job, a journalist can serve many purposes in your story, making them an invaluable character type. Here's why a journalist might be essential:

1. Information gathering: Journalists are information seekers by nature. They excel at uncovering details that others might overlook or deliberately hide. If your plot involves mysteries, scandals, or the discovery of hidden truths, a journalist can play a critical role in advancing the story, just like a detective.
2. Providing external perspectives: A journalist's role is often to interpret and report on events. They bring an external viewpoint to the story, which can help readers see a broader picture. A journalist can act as a conduit between the story’s internal world (the characters) and the external world (the public).
3. Investigative edge: Journalists, especially investigative ones, often find themselves involved in uncovering corruption, deceit, or complex situations. Their presence in the story allows for deeper exploration of societal issues, power structures, or personal secrets.
4. Plot catalyst: Journalists frequently get swept up in the very stories they report. Their pursuit of the truth can lead them into dangerous or challenging situations, making them great plot catalysts for conflict, suspense, or moral dilemmas.
5. Moral compass: Journalists can also serve as ethical anchors in your narrative. They often wrestle with their integrity, their duties to their audience, and the ethics of reporting, which can serve as a critical point of conflict in the story.

By introducing a journalist into your story, you open the door to numerous narrative possibilities, from uncovering a hidden truth to exploring the consequences of that truth being revealed.

Useful skills and talents

Journalists are often portrayed as tenacious, quick-thinking individuals with a wide variety of useful skills. If you’re crafting a journalist character, consider these talents:

1. Research Skills: Journalists must be excellent at finding and analyzing information from a variety of sources, whether it's through interviews, public records, or databases. Research allows them to uncover details that may not be readily apparent, they are quite street smart.
2. Interviewing: A good journalist knows how to ask the right questions and put sources at ease to get them to reveal important information. This skill is invaluable in gathering both facts and personal insights.
3. Writing: Of course, one of the most essential skills for a journalist is their ability to write clearly and compellingly. They must be able to report facts in an engaging way, sometimes distilling complex information into easily digestible content.
4. Critical Thinking: Journalists are often faced with multiple perspectives on a given issue. A good journalist can evaluate these perspectives, weigh evidence, and present a balanced, unbiased view—or, in some cases, expose the biases present in others.
5. Attention to Detail: Accuracy is paramount in journalism. A small mistake can be disastrous, so journalists must pay close attention to facts, quotes, and the details of a story to ensure everything checks out.

By equipping your journalist character with these skills, you make them more authentic and capable of performing the tasks that are central to their role in the story.

Common character traits

The journalist’s character traits often help define their role in a story. Here are some common traits you might want to incorporate into your journalist character:

1. Curiosity: Journalists are inherently curious about the world around them. They want to know how things work and are driven to ask questions that others might not think to ask. This can make them relentless in their pursuit of a story.
2. Persistence: Whether chasing a lead, digging deeper into a story, or facing pushback from powerful sources, journalists are known for their persistence. They won’t give up easily, even when things get tough.
3. Objectivity: While not all journalists maintain perfect objectivity, the ideal journalist is often seen as someone who is impartial, neutral, and committed to presenting facts without bias.
4. Skepticism: Journalists tend to question everything they hear and see. They don’t take things at face value, and they are trained to dig deeper into claims, statements, and even their own assumptions.
5. Adaptability: The fast-paced nature of journalism means journalists must be flexible and able to adapt quickly. Whether it’s shifting deadlines or unanticipated developments, they must be able to roll with the punches.

These traits give your journalist character the necessary drive and resilience to face the challenges that come with their profession and the plot twists they encounter in your story.

What conflicts can a journalist bring?

A journalist is a natural source of conflict within a story, given their role in uncovering hidden truths, questioning authority, and seeking to expose injustices. Some conflicts that journalists can bring to a narrative include:

1. Moral Dilemmas: Journalists often face ethical questions about what to report, when to report it, and how to handle sensitive information. A journalist might struggle with whether to reveal a scandal that could ruin someone’s life or keep a secret for the greater good.
2. Corruption vs. Integrity: A journalist can find themselves torn between exposing corruption within a powerful institution and the risk of losing their job or facing retaliation. This conflict can create tension both in the newsroom and within the journalist’s personal life.
3. Pressure to Conform: Journalists may be forced to work within the confines of an editorial stance, corporate interests, or government influence. A journalist may struggle with whether to follow the pressure of their employer or stick to their own journalistic integrity.
4. Personal vs. Professional: When a journalist is reporting on something that affects them personally—such as writing about a tragedy involving a loved one—they might have to wrestle with the boundaries between their professional duties and personal emotions.
5. Dangerous Situations: Investigative journalists often find themselves in perilous situations, whether they are facing threats from dangerous individuals or working in war zones. The risk of personal harm can serve as a powerful source of conflict.

These types of conflicts give your journalist character complexity and the potential for emotional and narrative tension.

Who do they interact with?

Journalists engage with a broad spectrum of individuals, both in and out of the newsroom. Understanding these interactions helps you to deepen the relationships and dynamics in your story.

1. Sources: A journalist’s relationship with their sources can be one of trust, manipulation, or tension. Sources might provide confidential information, or they could be reluctant to speak. The dynamic between a journalist and their sources is often key to how a story unfolds.
2. Editors: Editors serve as gatekeepers in journalism. The journalist’s relationship with their editor can be one of collaboration, competition, or frustration. Editors can either support or challenge the journalist’s angle, creating a dynamic that can shape the story.
3. Other Journalists: In a newsroom, journalists often compete for the same stories, leads, and exclusive content. Rivalries or alliances can form, especially if journalists are covering the same event or chasing similar scoops.
4. Public Figures: Politicians, celebrities, business leaders, and other public figures can play an essential role in a journalist’s world. The journalist may seek their comment, challenge them with difficult questions, or investigate them for wrongdoing.
5. Audience: The audience—whether it’s the public, readers, or viewers—is always in the background. A journalist might feel the weight of their audience's expectations, balancing between sensationalism, accuracy, and ethical responsibility.

These interactions give your journalist character plenty of opportunities to navigate power dynamics, alliances, and conflicts with others, enriching your narrative.

Make them a friend...

A journalist can also be a valuable ally in a story, especially if they’re aligned with the protagonist’s goals. Here's how you can make a journalist a friend:

1. Shared Interests: The journalist might share a common cause or interest with the protagonist, such as uncovering corruption, solving a mystery, or righting a wrong. This can create a bond of camaraderie and teamwork, if you create great dialogues.
2. Supportive Role: The journalist could provide valuable information or resources that aid the protagonist, offering inside knowledge, sources, or access to crucial information.
3. Emotional Connection: A journalist character can also provide emotional support, offering a listening ear or giving guidance when the protagonist faces tough decisions.

Having a journalist as a friend adds layers of depth to your story, creating opportunities for cooperation and mutual benefit.

Or an enemy

On the other hand, a journalist can make a formidable enemy, especially if they are investigating or reporting on the protagonist. Consider these ways a journalist might become an adversary:

1. Investigating the Protagonist: If the protagonist is involved in something controversial or illegal, the journalist might pursue them as a story, leading to tension and potential conflict.
2. Exposing Secrets: The journalist could be a threat to the protagonist’s secrets, whether it’s personal, financial, or professional. A journalist who digs too deep could cause significant harm.
3. Contrasting Values: If the protagonist and the journalist have fundamentally different values—such as the journalist’s commitment to truth versus the protagonist’s desire to protect their reputation—this can create a powerful antagonist relationship.

A journalist as an enemy can introduce a lot of tension, drama, and a moral dilemma for the protagonist.

Avoid the stereotype

It’s easy to fall into the trap of creating a one-dimensional, stereotypical journalist: the overzealous reporter chasing headlines at all costs or the morally unshakable investigative journalist exposing corruption. However, to make your journalist character more interesting and realistic, avoid these clichés:

1. Avoid Over-Sensationalism: Not all journalists are hungry for sensational stories or willing to compromise their ethics for a big headline. Provide depth by showing their internal conflicts, dilemmas, and struggles with their profession.
2. Nuanced Morality: Journalists are often torn between the desire for truth and the pressures of their work. By showing their moral ambiguity, you make the character more engaging.
3. Personal Life Matters: Remember that a journalist is a person with a life beyond their work. They have family, friends, and personal struggles, which can humanize them and make them more relatable.

By avoiding stereotypes, you can create a journalist character who feels complex, multifaceted, and true to life.