6 skills I acquired after 13 years working in the newsroom!

Being impartial, transparent and inquisitive are among the important qualities that one who is involved in the field of journalism must possess.

However, to create a successful career in journalism requires more than that, hence a journalist needs to learn and refine so many skills, especially in today's digital world.

In fact, the acquirement of these skills should also be made all the time and it should never stop.

Other non-journalistic skills - social or people skills, are also important if one wants to seriously consider building a lifelong career in journalism.

Here are skillsets (which I could think of now) that I've acquired during my 13 years as a journalist and later as an editor.

1. Leadership skills

I currently lead multiple units overseeing different roles which include news editors, reporters, news anchors, content producers and production managers. In cultivating a high performing team while managing daily operations, it is crucial for me to apply good communication skills and empathy to enable me to customise my approach for each team member and address any issues effectively.

2. Management skills

Working in a 24/7 newsroom with a rapid news cycle can get too overwhelming, especially when I am in the position where I must make many critical decisions quickly, while also leading the day-to-day operation. After 13 years in the journalism and broadcasting industry, I’m grateful that I am able to harness my journalistic and management skills such as negotiation, communications, delegation, decision making, motivation and problem-solving.

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