 We didn't have a television set at home until I was 10 years old. So when the colored TV landed a space in our living room, it immediately became a part of our family. It was the center of attention. My horizon widened when it arrived. Suddenly, I was opened to the reality that we live in a huge, huge universe. I witnessed historic events in our country through the news -- elections, people power, papal visit, devastating disasters, high-profile crimes, and many more. I've developed a keen interest to news and current events. I've always wanted to be in the know of everything happening around. TV Patrol, 24 Oras, CNN were part of the daily grind. This prompted me to major in Journalism back in college. But right after graduation, reality forced me to take a different path. Read: On Chasing Dreams and Impacting My World. After spending almost a decade working in a non-media related job and after completing my other personal goals (80 Before 30 challenge), I felt I needed to go back to an old dream-- back to mainstream media. |
The nature of my new work comes with great challenges and profound responsibility. To quote veteran journalist, Jessica Soho, it's a job "I wouldn't want even my worst enemy to be in."
So, what exactly I do at work? I choose and write the news stories to air. I'm also in charge with the production, making sure that the bulletins and breaking news are sound, fresh, fair, and accurate. It should be glitch-free -- both in content and in form.
My job is to let the viewers understand even the most complex stories and to write scripts that are comprehensible to everyone -- from top ranked officials to the grassroots.
From the menu of stories that is happening within the day, in and out of the country, I should be able to pick the most recent ones regardless if its politics, weather, consumer stories, showbiz, or sports. The point is to update the viewers what just happened, what will happen, or what is happening.
Compared to online and print media, the news that are delivered on TV go through an intricate process. There's a video requirement to every news story that goes through a technical process. In a few weeks that I've worked in the newsroom, I've come to respect the people working behind the camera even more.
My job is to let the viewers understand even the most complex stories and to write scripts that are comprehensible to everyone -- from top ranked officials to the grassroots.
From the menu of stories that is happening within the day, in and out of the country, I should be able to pick the most recent ones regardless if its politics, weather, consumer stories, showbiz, or sports. The point is to update the viewers what just happened, what will happen, or what is happening.
Compared to online and print media, the news that are delivered on TV go through an intricate process. There's a video requirement to every news story that goes through a technical process. In a few weeks that I've worked in the newsroom, I've come to respect the people working behind the camera even more.
I'm still learning the ropes. There's still so much to know, so many TV jargons to understand. But I'm expected to perform well while learning the trade.
Despite the challenges, I'm making the most of every minute I spend inside the newsroom. After all, I live my dream in that chaotic room full of news-junkie people.
At 30, many people my age may have already found their niche in their own professional career. Mine may have come a little late, but still I'm glad I took the leap.
Of course, pursuing this path comes with a trade-off. Future travels will have to be put on hold for a little while. But somehow, I'm grateful I've explored our country first before I got into this job. It makes more sense writing about familiar places and more heartfelt telling the situations of the people I've seen firsthand.
At 30, many people my age may have already found their niche in their own professional career. Mine may have come a little late, but still I'm glad I took the leap.
Of course, pursuing this path comes with a trade-off. Future travels will have to be put on hold for a little while. But somehow, I'm grateful I've explored our country first before I got into this job. It makes more sense writing about familiar places and more heartfelt telling the situations of the people I've seen firsthand.
Storytelling doesn't end when traveling takes the backseat. It goes on... just through a different platform.