Summary
From time management to professionalism, there was much to learn in six years
Hands-on experience as a student reporter helped in studies too
I started writing as a student reporter for The Telegraph from the age of 13. In the past six years, every new morning has taught me a bunch of new things. Seeing my byline in the newspaper was the biggest attraction and my urge to write increased rapidly.
Looking back on the journey so far, here are five learnings...
1. Writing flow
Writing on any topic at any time is the first skill I attained. This not only helped me get better at writing articles but also helped me in my studies. I've seen my friends struggling with writing skills, learning topics by rote before examinations — something I didn’t need to do because I was writing regularly. The writing flow came automatically. This also helped me boost my creativity.
2. Time management skill
The second-most important life skill I grasped in these years is time management and meeting deadlines. I understood how important it is to be on time and follow instructions. I missed a few deadlines initially and soon realised that would not do. I have trained myself accordingly since then.
3. Communication skill
Besides sharpening my writing tone and improving my vocabulary, being a student reporter improved my communication skills and made me a confident person. I learnt to sympathise with the subject and take control of a situation. The way one talks matters a lot in reporting, for example speaking to a child with special needs can never be the same as interviewing a celebrity guest. I learnt to be more compassionate, understanding and patient.
4. Professionalism
I had heard the word ‘professionalism’ quite a few times while growing up but I realised its true meaning once I started working as a student reporter. I imbibed this quality with time. I learnt to shoulder more responsibilities as time passed. Initially, I used to fumble while speaking to unknown people and was a confused teen but unknowingly my confidence level escalated.
5. Authenticity and accuracy of data
I got into the habit of verifying every information before writing it. As a student of Statistics, now I read a lot of texts and case studies where I get to see how important authenticity is while dealing with data. A very minor error can cause huge differences. The last six years taught me how important it is to research properly before framing an article, getting names right, choosing between what to write and what not to write and, of course, using lucid language. In other words, I learnt how to be more accurate and avoid mistakes.
Every obstacle and mistake helped me learn something new. These six years helped me develop my personality. I started understanding the world better as I got the opportunity to meet and speak to a lot of new people. My ideas flourished and I learnt to edit my articles according to the word limit, which helped me a lot during exams too. In a nutshell, working as a student reporter opened a new world for me with fresh opportunities.
Last updated on 10 Dec 2021
