You’re not working in a traditional newsroom. How can you stay passionate about journalism?

In a non-traditional newsroom, staying passionate about journalism relies on embracing innovation and diversity. JDG_Style (Journalism, Diversity, Growth, and Style) embodies this ethos. Focus on impactful storytelling, diverse perspectives, continuous growth through technology, and developing your unique style. By embracing JDG_Style, journalists can maintain their passion for the craft and make a meaningful impact.

Finding your journalistic niche is key to staying passionate outside a traditional newsroom. Hone in on a topic, format, platform or style that resonates with you and allows you to excel. Build expertise and an audience around your specialty, whether that's narrative audio storytelling like Sarah Koenig of Serial or another area. Focusing on your niche helps you make an impact, demonstrate your unique value, and maintain enthusiasm for your work. Embrace innovation and diversity, telling powerful stories from diverse perspectives. Continuous growth, experimentation with new technologies, and developing your signature style all contribute to carving out a passionate path forward in journalism.

Finding your niche in journalism is essential for both passion and success. Whether it's a specific topic, format, platform, or style, honing in on your niche allows you to stand out, build an audience, and demonstrate expertise. For instance, Sarah Koenig's success with Serial stems from her specialization in narrative journalism and audio storytelling. Discovering your niche means identifying what you excel in, enjoy, have insights about, and what resonates with your audience.

Be curious. Over the years, I may have found certain areas of specialisation I'm good at, or subjects I am especially passionate about, but I've never limited myself to a finite number of topics or creative tools. One of the biggest pivots I've had to do (not by choice) was learning how to write for the digital media (AND building my own website, among other things) after COVID19 shuttered print publication in my country, but after the initial tough learning curve, my exploration opened up a whole new world, including discovering my inner geek! Don't limit yourself. The only surefire recipe for sustained passion is continuous learning.

To sustain passion for journalism, commit to continuous learning and skill development. Stay updated on the latest tools, trends and innovations reshaping the field, from data visualization to mobile journalism. Expanding your knowledge allows you to tell more engaging, relevant stories and reach wider audiences. Draw insights from fellow journalists excelling in your niche and beyond by following their work on social media, podcasts, blogs and more. Attend workshops, webinars and conferences to further enrich your expertise. Embrace curiosity and avoid limiting yourself to a fixed set of topics or techniques. Pivoting and adapting, such as shifting to digital media, opens up new avenues for growth and inspiration.

Continual learning is vital in journalism to maintain passion and relevance. Embrace new skills, tools, and trends to enhance your work. From data visualization to social media engagement, staying updated enables you to tell compelling stories and reach wider audiences. Learn from fellow journalists through social media, podcasts, blogs, and workshops to enrich your knowledge and stay ahead in this ever-evolving field.

Join online forums, groups and associations aligned with your interests and goals to combat isolation and benefit from collective knowledge. Engage with peers through industry events, conferences and festivals that celebrate journalism's impact. Seek out mentors and experts for guidance and opportunities to elevate your work. Building a strong network enriches your professional journey with camaraderie, feedback and fresh perspectives. Surround yourself with passionate colleagues who challenge you to grow and innovate. Meaningful relationships foster motivation and remind you that you're part of something greater, even when working independently. Embrace the power of community to stay energized and push your journalism forward.

Building a community of fellow journalists fosters support, challenges, and collaboration, vital for staying passionate in journalism. Joining online groups, forums, or associations, and attending events enables you to connect with like-minded peers. Seek mentors and experts for advice and opportunities, creating a network that enriches your journey in this dynamic field.

Step outside your comfort zone to try new genres, formats, styles and tones, discovering fresh ways to express yourself and engage audiences. Incorporate emerging technologies, platforms and methods to push the boundaries of traditional storytelling. Explore interactive media, data-driven reporting, immersive experiences and more to create impactful, cutting-edge journalism. Develop original projects, products or services that address unmet needs or solve problems in the media landscape. By continuously challenging yourself and exploring new frontiers, you maintain a sense of excitement and creativity in your craft. Experimentation opens doors to surprising discoveries, unique perspectives and innovative solutions.

Embracing experimentation and innovation revitalizes passion in journalism. Explore new genres, formats, and technologies to challenge and excite yourself. From trying different styles to creating innovative projects, journalism offers the freedom to express and evolve. Stay open to surprises and push boundaries to discover fresh perspectives, contributing to the dynamic landscape of media.

Remind yourself why you chose this path—to inform,educate,inspire and empower through storytelling. Journalism is a mission,not just a job. You have the privilege and responsibility to seek truth, hold the powerful accountable, amplify unheard voices, and drive positive change. Your work has the power to shape understanding, spark meaningful conversations, and improve lives. Remembering the greater impact of your efforts reignites the passion that drew you to the field. Focus on crafting stories that truly matter, resonate with audiences, and contribute to the greater good. When challenges arise, let your sense of purpose be a guiding light. Knowing that each story has the potential to make a difference fuels the determination to persevere.

Reconnect with your purpose to reignite passion in journalism. It's more than a job; it's a mission to inform, empower, and inspire. Remember the responsibility to seek truth, hold power accountable, and give voice to the voiceless. Each story told has the potential to make a difference and create positive change in the world.

Lean on friends, family, and mentors who believe in your mission and offer encouragement during tough times. Prioritize self-care practices that replenish your physical, mental, and emotional energy, preventing burnout. Set boundaries to maintain a healthy work-life balance, ensuring space for rest and pursuits outside of journalism. Stay attuned to your own growth and be open to new directions that align with your evolving passions. Embrace a multidisciplinary approach, drawing inspiration from diverse fields to enrich your storytelling. Above all, never lose sight of the immense privilege it is to bear witness to history and shape collective understanding through your work.