Why Journalism is Essential

A young child writing (Photo courtesy of University of Nebraska Omaha)

In our society, knowing how to read and write is very important, and part of our daily lives.  Literary education is a vehicle for learning about current events and historical facts.  It is imperative for students of color and particularly African Americans to learn and understand figurative language devices like similes, metaphors, and hyperboles.

Our history in the new world was not humane for Africans. During slavery/captivity, we weren’t allowed to learn the skill of writing, let alone reading.  Enslaved people who were caught reading or writing would be punished in a variety of ways depending on the person who enslaved them.  

That’s why young Black people should advance their literacy skills and take advantage of the many different tutoring programs that are available.  We have many free resources other than school to learn more, such as going to the library or conducting research on the internet. 

When I was taking my journalism class, I received lessons about how to write better and more fluently.  I learned how to use transitional phrases to write more smoothly. 

In some articles, I was assigned to interview three people about a topic.  Interviewing various individuals for my articles taught me how to converse with people, and how to extract unique quotes out of interviewees so that it eased the pressure of writing.  If the interviewee didn’t speak much, I wouldn’t have enough quotes to use effectively.  I learned that the more quotes you collect, the easier it is to complete the article. 

I also learned how to divide my articles into different sections, including the opening quote or introduction, the middle part of the article that included details and information about why the reader should care, and the final part of the article.

While writing an article you learn how to creatively manipulate all of the parts of speech in the English language.  You are also required to explore and research history, social studies, and current events which also helps you gain knowledge.  Through journalism, I learned about the Poor People’s Campaign, the history of Russia and Ukraine’s relationship, and the importance of mental health. 

Being a journalist gives you the opportunity to express your feelings. You can write about anything you want and share your writing for the world to see. I posted my articles on TheWatotoSpeak.com for anyone to view. It makes me feel heard.  

Writing and journaling can also be exciting, especially if you write about a topic that interests you.  The part that I enjoy the most is creating captivating titles and compelling conclusions. 

In closing, writing is not a personal favorite. However I have learned that the more you practice, the more your writing improves. The process becomes effortless.