It indeed is humbling. Afterall what has my profession got me rather what have I made of my work to get me what I want. After 5 years, I can’t even afford a UK education to my sister. Is money all? It isn’t but it is important. What is success afterall – the ability to ‘buy’ what you want. The rest all are, as they say, talented but not successful. She needs 12 to 15 lakhs to be there for a year. that much money? I earn not even half of that. That’s what my ‘writing passion’ has offered me end of 5 years. Am I complaining, perhaps, but not with writing but with my approach to the way i have taken it up. I don’t know if I love journalism, but the whole thing about people knowing me through my writing is a big kick for me. But at what price? I thought I would not need to earn much. He is there. Yes he is, but for me, I can’t ask from him for my ones who depend on me.
I look back and ask was I wrong? I feel so disillusioned. Why did I want to be a journalist? Why couldn’t I lay my heart on something more lucrative – why journalism. And I still can’t get over the kick of seeing my name everywhere. Was leaving internal comm a mistake? May be, at least if I wanted to afford all I wanted to. But would I do all these only so that I can afford gold for my mother? Or so that I can send my sister abroad to study? Is it my false pride? Or the suddent loss of it after quiting my last lucrative job? I don’t know what I should do, rather why am I feeling what am feeling…may be it’s best to leave it this way and get back to my work…
we are on the same boat right now. well almost. I am too, holds a degree in journalism. I’ve been asked a lot of times before while I was still a student, why journ? I was reminded a lot of times, there is no money in writing. But I didn’t mind, I was very positive of my choice. Idealistic you might say. But when you get into the real world, you see the real thing. There also came a point in my life when I asked myself it was/is for me. or why I took this path, this major instead of IT-related courses that will let me earn big bucks. Was it because of the passion for writing, the dream of seeing your name published, just for the sake of saying that ‘hey I have a dream’ or is it because being a writer or journalist usually “wow’ people, although some says, that’s an overstatement.
But writing is a no easy job, in fact it isn’t just a job, it’s profession..it has to come from your heart, it has to come from within or you fail. Just too bad, people in this industry, if not given a big break, are not well compensated despite the awesome talent of coming up with words being seen on prints and other media or digging and delivering facts while being faithful to the journalism ethics. Others even experience hassle and a piece of hell just for the sake of journalism and yet, they aren’t paid well. But it isn’t about the money at all, it’s about your heart being into it.
So did I ever regret taking up journalism? the answer is No. But sometimes you cant help but wish you get proper compensation for being part of this industry.
Comment by Y — August 25, 2008 @ 6:31 pm |