To the young journalists

Being Frank/Frank Ameduri

The young man, looking eager and somewhat intense, sat in my office.

"I was just hoping you could tell me what it takes to be a journalist," he said. "When I graduate next year I'm thinking about going for journalism in college. I think it's something I'd like to do for a career."

He was earnest and clearly buoyed on a current of idealism. I wanted to be straight with the kid. I also wanted to know what he was made of.

"Well," I said, "apart from living barely above the poverty line, keeping unhealthy hours, being despised by half your community at any given time, balding prematurely and developing a nervous tick, what else about journalism appeals to you?"

He nodded, undaunted.

"I like the idea of being engaged with my community," he said. "I think newspaper reporters are providing an important service - keeping people apprised of important information that helps them live their lives and helps them do the important work that needs to be done."

I smiled. His answer was strictly old school.

Every true journalist can point back to a time when he or she made that very statement. I was 19 when I first said it to a young editor in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

I was carrying a reporter's notepad and a camera. I'd just stepped off my summer job as a hand on the Baca Ranch, and I wasn't ready for college yet. I wasn't thinking about money, really. I wasn't worried about how many hours I'd be working.

I eventually worked as the sports editor, staff photographer and circulation manager at the tiny weekly - all at the same time.

The hours weren't long; they were endless. I wasn't working as a journalist so much as living as one. It was great.

I've been talking to a lot of eager young journalists recently - I'm hiring to fill a couple of newsroom positions.

Some of the applicants have no idea what journalism is. They're just applying for the positions because they need work. The others, though, the ones who know a little bit about the history and meaning of this profession, the ones who knew they wanted to be reporters before they picked up the classifieds, are easy to spot.

They're a little cynical. They're a little idealistic. Many of them have already traveled outside the country - to work, not to vacation. They're serious people, but they also tend to have an edgy sort of humor, maybe even acerbic.

Contrary to the popular stereotype, some of them are liberal, some are conservative and some are apolitical. Some of them have journalism degrees, and some have degrees in other fields - some have not completed college. They all seem a little smarter than other people their age. They all have experiences more extensive than their peers, and they're always avid readers, with a basic knowledge of several subjects.

I guess that's what I'd say to that young man, or to anyone who is wondering what it takes to become a journalist.

It takes intelligence, curiosity, passion and experiences. To be a good journalist you must be a good writer, but not every good writer makes a good journalist. Good writing that lacks passion, accuracy or an eye for what is newsworthy is not journalism.

As well as a journalist I've also been a cook, a PR representative, a bellman, a hotel manager, an accounts payable clerk, a baseball cap manufacturer, a grocery sacker, an Air Force fuels specialist and a ranch hand.

It might seem as if none of that relates to my current job, but in fact, those experiences are more important to what I do than any formal training in journalism or writing I've had.

A journalist is just someone who gathers pertinent information and shares it with neighbors so that they can understand their community, nation and world, and live better in it. It's not a job as much as it is a way of life - a commitment to a philosophy that believes information is essential to democracy, and that sharing information is an important public service, even an act of patriotism.

Journalists have gotten a bad rap in recent years. The profession has been discredited as being the lap-dog of liberal extremists. High-profile journalists have made serious mistakes, either intentionally or inadvertently reporting inaccurate information. Because journalists show up at, and report upon, tragic events, we are sometimes seen as cold, ruthless people who long for and thrive upon the misery of others.

People often tell me they know I'm always on the lookout for sensational and shocking news - because that's what sells newspapers. The truth is, I'm not in the business of selling newspapers. I'm just in the business of reporting the news. I don't get paid by the paper, and I don't collect commission on advertising. I collect a modest salary to accurately report facts in the most timely manner possible.

Of course, the economic survival of the newspaper ensures I can continue to collect a paycheck, but it doesn't change any of the reasons I come to work every day. I could make better money producing press releases and propaganda slicks for a large corporation, but that kind of work just doesn't make sense to me.

Interviewing these young journalists has been a good experience. I'll hire a few of them, and many will go on to other places, other publications, I hope. I'm proud and relieved to know that they're out there.

As I've been writing this column, I've glanced from time to time out into the newsroom to see what the troops are up to out there. They've been busy on the phones, talking to legislators, law enforcement people, pet owners, coaches and fledgling musicians.

They've stopped to grab cameras and bolt out the door to capture images of news as it unfolded. In the corporate world, they're often overworked and underpaid, just like everyone else, but they keep plugging away. I'm very proud to be working with them. When it comes to maintaining a healthy democracy, it takes a lot of heroic acts from a lot of people.

In my mind, one of the most important battle lines is present in every small newsroom across the country.

To that young man who wants to know what it takes to be a journalist, I'll just say that if you believe that kind of work is important, if you believe shared ideas create liberty, and if you can write the ideas down in a way others can understand, you're already a journalist. Only hard work, experience, perseverance and 142,000 cups of coffee can make you a good journalist. Now get to work.