I wanted to be a journalist, but why would I?

Since Monday, a huge portion of my social media feed has been dedicated to the signalled closure of Newshub, and what it will mean for the 300 staff who currently work there. Anyone who has anything to do with the media (which includes close to everyone, as consumers) should be concerned about this, even if you didn't tune in, or even opposed the work they did.

There's a lot of talk about what this will mean for the industry, and rightly so. It's important this conversation continues to be stoked until a solution comes to light. Watching from the sidelines as someone who is deeply interested in journalism and media, makes me once again revisit my decision not to pursue journalism at this point in my life.

I should premise this by saying I love the work I currently do in my current role at One Plus One. The work our clients do is important and they have interesting stories to tell. Heading into university, however, working in corporate communications was not where I was aiming. To become a journalist, either in radio or print, is where I wanted to be. For a while I was right on track, doing the hard yards in the 95bFM newsroom and at Debate magazine, running political debates and writing feature pieces on workplace bullying.

But what does this have to do with the price of fish? It turns out, a lot. As I wrapped up my time on the 95bFM news team in 2020, I balled my eyes out on my final show. Not just because I was sad to leave it behind, but also because the burnout was immense. Even in a volunteer student newsroom, the deadlines, the listener feedback and the desire to produce quality journalism are very much alive and kicking. Fast forward a few months, and as my newly graduated friends entered the workforce, a handful became journalists, with all of them soon to experience the unfiltered world of journalism.

To be a journalist now, at this point in history, is one of the most mentally and physically demanding jobs you could do. You're publically facing, even at a junior level. The commitment expected is far beyond a 9-5, with potential stories ready to break at every street corner. There are tight deadlines, and the pay is underwhelming. And as we're seeing now, job certainty is not guaranteed despite the societal need for a strong fourth estate. This doesn't even take into consideration the mental toll of specialised roles such as war journalism or court reporters. Many of us take for granted our ability to communicate because we do it constantly in one form or another, from speaking aloud to small bits of body language. Yet those who produce our news, whether it's hard-hitting or not, do it better than any of us, coupled with a worthy cause.

It feels like a small miracle that there is still a small handful of young people who are interested in becoming journalists despite all these hurdles. We are incredibly lucky to have passionate lecturers and student newsrooms to encourage this interest to grow. That being said, If you were in the shoes of a fresh-out-the-boat journalism graduate, how would you feel about your prospects? For myself, it all felt too much and left me to abandon a craft I love. Fast forward to today, and I see the toll these hurdles take on those who look to jump them day in, day out.

Removing, or even just lowering, these barriers is no easy feat, but it should be a priority, both at an individual and societal level. It may seem like a difficult task (it is), but there are so many ways, each and every one of us can help.

• By making donations or pay subscriptions for quality journalism, both mainstream and independent
• Visiting news sites instead of turning to social media for news updates
• Turning to more than one source for your news, allowing you to be more in tune with different perspectives on key topics
• Letting journalists know when you enjoy their work. Comment sections are there to have robust discussions, but they can also be there to say what you enjoyed
• Looking to help others broaden their news consumption. Many of those who struggle with what the Fourth Estate stands for need support in accessing information that will leave them well-informed.

I know I'm not alone in wishing for a stronger Fourth Estate. Outside of the societal repercussions, it's personal. We all want to be able to pursue careers that keep our minds buzzing. But when those careers come with a wide array of side effects, that decision becomes so much harder. I wanted to be a journalist, and I still do.