To become a good journalist, we must read
Shim Kyu-sun, second from left in front row, poses with other winners of the 2016 Korean Journalists of the Year Awards in Seoul in this July 1, 2016 file photo. / Korea Times file
By Jin Yu-young
As a journalist's duty is to deliver news to the public, the ability to communicate clearly is significant. To write well, however, journalists must also read, as books give us insight into the world and serve as a written record of the past, present, and future.
According to Shim Kyu-sun, the former managing editor at local daily newspaper Dong-A Ilbo and currently a visiting professor of the Department of Communications at Seoul National University, books and our attitudes toward them have a profound impact on those who are pursuing a career in journalism.
In an interview with The Korea Times, he explains how books are an important part of becoming a good reporter.
“Reading a lot of books not only expands our knowledge, but also improves our ability to communicate (both in terms of speech and writing), analyze material, and examine current trends. These are skills that every journalist must have,” Shim says.
He also recommends that we share what we have read to our family and friends. As part of a journalist's job is to summarize large amounts of information into a single article, even a casual explanation is relevant to the training process. By doing so, we learn to recognize main ideas and practice the reformulation of information in our own words.
Shim talks about the changing landscape of the journalism industry: while journalists in the past wrote on a vast range of topics, current journalists focus on a more specific field. Therefore, he advises journalists to read books related to their specialties all throughout their careers to be knowledgeable experts and have a large fundamental base of knowledge.
Being a good journalist does not entail reporting only domestic issues. Shim states that he “hope[s] that journalists with international experience will read lots of books on major world events.” Such books can teach them a global understanding of investigation methods, journalism ethics, and how to handle external power dynamics.
“The most important thing that books teach us however,” he says, “is passion.” As someone who has always dreamed of becoming a journalist, Shim emphasizes how passion can be the deciding factor in success. Even throughout setbacks during his learning curve, his consistency and dedication were the agents behind his 34 years of experience. Shim continues to inspire aspiring journalists by teaching university students the methods and mindset to becoming a skilled reporter. His encouraging words and advice motivate these students who will be the next generation of journalists in Korea and abroad.
Jin Yu-young is a Korea Times intern.