Journalist is someone whose main occupation is conducting or coorperating to draft and compose the editorial content of a newspaper. While journalism is a field and have a lot of types such as investigative journalism, watchdog journalism, yellow journalism and new journalism.
On February 13th 2008, I had done my on field assignment which need me to follow and observe a journalist on how they works. My journey started at 10 o’clock when I reached at the NSTP office at Jalan Riong, Seremban. Mr. Izawan, Harian Metro’s journalist just arrived and introduced himself. He mentioned that he had to stay back yesterday, editing some news as what had been required by the Harian Metro Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
The first thing he do after he entered the office is read all the newspapers. Harian Metro, Kosmo, Berita Harian, Utusan Melayu, New Staits Time, The Star are provided to them. They compiled all the newspaper in one place. He also will read all the memo and fax and updated coming event. Because the office is the branch section, there was only one leader for Berita Harian and New Strait Times while for Harian Metro, Mr Izawan himself.
I had been informed that there will be a Press Conference at Wisma Negeri. As we reached there, the Press Conference had started. We gathered among all the journalists from various types of newspapers. The sweetest thing was when the Negeri Sembilan’s Menteri Besar announced the dissolve of Dewan Negeri and Parliament. All the journalists said that my appearance on that day bring good luck for them as they were questioning this matter all the time. I also have the opportunity to eat with the senior journalists and they give a lot of advises regarding journalists world.
I wonder how he will write the news since we do no not have enough information. Then he explain that his member from Kosmo will e-mail him all the details regarding the press conference. Actually I thought that a journalist from one agency will not have a good relationship with others journalists, but I am wrong. Sometimes they also exchange and share any public information among them.
At the afternoon, Mr. Syarul Derauh, a stringer (part time journalist) have a phone call saying that there is a death cause by the nursery. I take the chance to follow him with his photographer.
As we reached there, they introduced themselves and their intention for interviewing the parents. The death was a six months baby. In the beginning, the mother seems not ready to revealed all the information and scared if the news appeared in the newspaper. But the journalist keep asking by using his own approach until we have the complete content to make a news. It also suprising me when the photographer also success in persuading the parents involved to take a picture as a proof.
After we return back to the office, he straightly write the news. What I can said that it is very difficult to make a news lead. They usually write all the content first and follow by the news lead. After he had settled writing the news, he e-mail it to Mr. Izawan, Harian Metro’s leader to recheck. After he satisfied with the news, he will e-mail it to the editor at their headquarters. If there were no any problems occur, they can end their work around 8 or 9 p.m. Being in this field is very stressful. Therefore, they will stick any words regarding or related to them or other staff at the wall such as “Leman Serik” the headline for Kosmo was being used as one of the staff named Sulaiman Salleh. They work happily although they were in pressure.
I was very grateful because not only met with one journalists, but more than three. I also had the opportunity to eat with the senior journalists. The photographer also gave me some tips to capture a good picture. The news that we covered together also appeared in the next day newspaper.
