What advice would you give to a young EA interested in journalism as a path to impact? As a sub-case, what about a journalism career for someone who wants to report on niche topics like insect welfare, digital minds, wild animal suffering, etc.?
The single attribute most likely to make the difference between the success and failure of a journalistic career is the ability to bring in original reporting: hitherto-untold stories that editors want to commission and readers want to read. I’d advise that journalists wanting to write about the topics you refer to (I feel I’m better-placed to advise young journalists than young EAs) think about them in those terms. As an editor, I’m less interested in commissioning pieces on interesting topics than I am in commissioning original treatments of interesting topics — especially when those treatments involve new reporting.
What advice would you give to a young EA interested in journalism as a path to impact? As a sub-case, what about a journalism career for someone who wants to report on niche topics like insect welfare, digital minds, wild animal suffering, etc.?
The single attribute most likely to make the difference between the success and failure of a journalistic career is the ability to bring in original reporting: hitherto-untold stories that editors want to commission and readers want to read. I’d advise that journalists wanting to write about the topics you refer to (I feel I’m better-placed to advise young journalists than young EAs) think about them in those terms. As an editor, I’m less interested in commissioning pieces on interesting topics than I am in commissioning original treatments of interesting topics — especially when those treatments involve new reporting.
P.S. If you are asking on your own behalf, then: good luck!