13 Things Only Journalism Students Will Understand

Telling people you’re a journalism student can garner a mixed response. Some smirk, some are in shock. However it’s not all hacking-into-peoples-phones and being morally and ethically incorrect for the sake of a story; some of us just love to write, some of us love the news and what’s happening in the world, and some (me) just watched far too many noughties rom-coms with a sassy female lead that just happened to a magazine editor living it large in NY.

Here are 13 things that only journalism students will understand (and trust me when I say they will) 

1.) YOUR NOTES APP IS YOUR MOST USED APP

What do you love most about your iPhone? The 13 mega-pixel camera? The fact you can now stalk your boyfriend on Find My Friends? Or is it the simple but extremely affective notes app? For me it’s the latter. (And maybe the second option shhh) what’s great about this little app is that it’s easily accessible. I can be sat on a crowded train or even on the toilet merely minding my own business and if I have a sudden brainwave I can just whip out my phone and BAM! Noted down!

2.) YOU’RE OVER THE AWKWARDNESS OF MEETING UP WITH A RANDOM STRANGER AND TALKING ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL LIFE FOR AN HOUR OR SO:

“Hi, I’m Joey! I’m here to talk to you about that time you had a screwdriver stuck up your arse for a day.”

3.) YOU’RE USED TO APPROACHING COMPLETE STRANGERS FOR VOX POPS.

Let’s face it as journalism students we’re pretty much thrown in the deep end. I vividly remember my first ever seminar at university and we were told to go out and conduct VOX pops. Erm, excuse me? Go speak to a random stranger? Sorry my mum said not to speak to strangers.

4.) YOU’VE MOST LIKELY QUOTED YOUR FRIENDS MUM IN AN ARTICLE.

Sometimes it’s about who you know not what you know. Then again, sometimes you just can’t physically VOX pop again.

5.) YOU RESENT (AND QUESTION) HOW EASILY BETTY SURAEZ LANDED A JOB AT MODE?

Like really Betty? How did you do it!

6.) LITERALLY CRINGING HEARING THE SOUND OF YOUR OWN VOICE WHEN TRANSCRIBING INTERVIEWS:

Bloody hell do I really sound like that? Oh god.

7.) YOU ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF HALF THE CONTACTS IN YOUR PHONE BOOK.

Laura Jones? Who? Wait… Was she the girl I spoke to about construction work on Oxford road? Or was it the one I spoke to about having a threesome on a beach?

8.) YOU HAVE A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH WRITING.

Writing is a bit like a boyfriend. You can find it extremely satisfying, typing away a worded stream of consciousness; a bit like an orgasm. But then it can also be very annoying. Especially when you have the dreaded writers block.

9.) YOU’RE PRETTY MUCH USED TO PEOPLE HANGING UP AS SOON AS YOU MUTTER THE WORD “STUDENT JOURNALIST”’

Me: Hi yes I’m just wondering if I could ask you a few questions, I’m Joey a student journo-

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Them: *hangs up*

Me: Rude.

10.) LISTENING TO YOUR FRIENDS TALK ABOUT THEIR PROBLEMS AND SECRETLY THINKING WHETHER THIS WOULD MAKE A GOOD ARTICLE

“Keep your professional and private life separate” I tell myself as I transcribe my friend telling me about her recent diagnosis of an STD.

11.) COFFEE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

It comes to something when the barista in your local coffee shop doesn’t even ask for your order anymore. It’s only when I’m armed with a laptop and freshly brewed coffee that my day officially starts.

12.) YOU ARE ALWAYS PREPARED:

As journalism students we often find ourselves going from city to city for interviews. Dragging our highly expensive cameras we rented from uni onto a crowded and sweaty train all for an interview. With that being said us journo students wouldn’t dare go to an interview without obsessively checking the batteries of our cameras or taking notes prior. Some call it paranoia we call it organised.

13.) ITS HARD TO DEFINE WHAT EXACTLY YOU WANT TO DO:

Ok so you want to be a journalist? Which sector? News? Lifestyle? Music? Do you want to become an editor or producer? Journalism isn’t exactly a norm job. You can be a music journalist, sport journalist, news journalist. The list goes on.

Can any of you journalism students relate to this list? Let us know in the comments!

Featured Image: https://pixabay.com/en/desk-smartphone-iphone-notebook-3076954/