During my time in undergrad, I’m always asked three major questions: What is your major? Why did you choose that? And what are you going to do with it?
As a creative writing major with a narrative journalism concentration, these questions leave me in a state of despair. So, I thought it necessary to sit down with the head of the journalism department last week. Not only did he tell me that I’m ahead of the game, but he said “not to worry” about these questions and to “figure it out in” my own time.
Naturally, I was still freaking out.
I asked him then what I might be doing once I graduate: if there are any clear career goals I can pursue, if I can make a living out of writing, and how long I can keep up this charade that I know what I’m doing at all times. I wondered how to further improve not just a writer, but as a reporter: how to better communicate with people and understand their personal narratives. He gave me a great solution to these never-ending questions: consume.
Not consume food, but you should do that too.
No, I mean, consume as much journalism, writing, podcasts and media that you can, and steal and learn from the skills presented.
I realized afterward that I hadn’t really looked into podcasts, or anything other than popular name-brand journalism sites such as CNN, the New York Times, BBC, Wall Street Journal and so on.
At the end of this conversation, my professor wanted to start me with what he calls the “new writers handbook” of journalism and writing for publication: podcasts.
The best thing about podcasts is that they are mobile, free (usually) and informational. You can listen to them while walking to class, driving, folding laundry, or cleaning. You never know when you’ll learn something new or introduced to a topic that you’d never thought about before.
Here are some podcast recommendations that I’d like to share for the writer longing for something to listen to:
A weekly conversation with a non-fiction writer, LongForm hopes to expand the listeners ideas and thoughts about journalism and reporting longform articles and work. The interviewer asks questions to the writers about their career in writing, tips for the audience and more.
This podcast is a weekly conversation with a fiction writer and the New Yorker fiction editor Deborah Triesman. Not only is non-fiction important in trying to understand narratives and people, consuming fictional works and listening to writing skills from the authors bring a different style of writing into the picture for journalists.
This podcast brings the writer to life by having them read their works aloud for the listener’s joy.
4. Code Switch
A podcast that doubles as a race and culture outlet, Code Switch is a place where social justice journalists talk about culture, journalism and more.
5. Bookworm.
This podcast is for a booklover, or for someone looking for something new to read! From poetry to novels and non-fiction, KCRW’s Bookworm has something for everyone.