What is IT

IT is part of the modern world. Like it, or not, journalists who want to be at the top of their game need to learn a few tech skills to do their job better. The sheer amount of data the digital sphere produces every day makes it impossible for reporters to do their job right. That is unless they know how to utilize the power of the:

  • Internet;
  • Big Data;
  • Their computer as a whole;

Programming

Here, we will take a look at a few of the most essential tech skills every modern journalist needs.

Coding

Some basic understanding of programming languages goes a long way. Knowing how to write in Python will help any journalist to:

  • Extract data from numerous web pages at once;
  • Access public records through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs);
  • Arrange the datasets in a way they can use in their content;

Some newsrooms hire developers to produce tools their journalists can use. The reality is, however, that it is much faster and cheaper for the journalist to learn to code themselves. In that way, they can adjust the tools they use according to their wishes and needs.

Data Analytics and Visualizations

Big data is all around us. The digital world produces thousands upon thousands of terabytes of information every day. A tech-savvy journalist knows how to gather and analyze these huge data sets and uncover the stories data tells. What is equally important, data visualization helps reporters tell their stories. Due to the sheer amount of information people are exposed to constantly, their attention span shrinks. Visualizations such as info-graphics help journalists engagingly tell complex stories. In many cases, they are the only way to present some complex ideas and results of data analysis to the general public.

Social Media

Platforms like Twitter and Facebook are the perfect way journalists can get their stories across. Working with those, however, is not as easy as it may seem. More and more reporters engage in training courses to learn how to utilize social media for their purposes. There are several crucial aspects to social media. Knowing when and what to post is one. Adherence to community standards is another. A good journalist has to engage their audience appropriately as well. 

Cybersecurity

Modern newsrooms work almost exclusively online. It comes as no surprise that cybersecurity is a vital aspect of the education of everyone working there. A journalist who knows about cybersecurity will offer better protection to their sources. They use a variety of methods such as chat and phone-call encryption. Encryption methods find an application in video calls and email communications as well. Studies show many journalists to this day do not pay enough attention to cybersecurity. The reality is such that the next generation would have to invest much more interest in the matter. It is all about the way we communicate in the digital world.

Adaptability

Few could argue the most crucial skill any journalist could have is being able to adapt to changes in technology. New developments happen every day. People invent novel tools and data analytics methods. A journalist has to be able to learn in real-time to stay at the helm of their career.

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