Has the status of journalists declined?
Journalism used to be a prestigious profession, but in recent years it has been reduced to what trolls call the "profession of prostitution." Having been in this field for eight years, I deeply understand this sentiment. I once experienced the heyday of a prominent news organization. But what's really unfortunate is when senior executives issue vague directives, turning a perfectly good news story into a mess of contradictory demands, what we call "ghost stories." What I've struggled to accept most is a piece of news directed by a vice president asking me to compare the differences between "paper-made" and "wooden-made" spirit boats. Honestly, I couldn't understand why I should exhaust my professional analytical and synthesizing abilities on something I couldn't call "news." I found no value in it, and I'm grateful I left that environment early.
Not finding value is a doubt journalists constantly harbor about themselves.
Later, I had the opportunity to traverse through various interview situations—disaster scenes, financial press conferences, sporting events, protest sites, and lighter topics like food, consumer experiences, and lifestyle events. Each day I reset myself and re-experience the world. Sometimes the subject is a university student burdened by 900,000 in student loans, struggling between part-time work and tuition. The next moment, you're jockeying for position in front of billionaires and government officials, racking your brain just to get a single response. Or kneeling in front of international sports stars, adjusting your height to match theirs during interviews. A journalist is like an amoeba—listening, absorbing, integrating.
Or you meet a high school student with a full scholarship heading overseas, telling you "I've already read all the books my seniors have read." When a 17-year-old speaks like this, is it confidence or arrogance? The measuring stick in my mind keeps wavering. Because later, I also interviewed a 16-year-old with over 300,000 TikTok followers who had organized his own signing event. From his conversation and demeanor, you could understand that his worldview had already been shaped by social media—he understood how the entertainment industry moves and what opportunities exist. What to seize, what to abandon—by age 16, he had already made these choices. So-called confusion might just be past immaturities that caused negative buzz. Yet the world gives him opportunities because he's young.
The interesting part about interviewing is that when the other person calmly expresses their thoughts, you can immediately discern deeper meanings and the differences between you two. These differences don't necessarily stem from class issues; rather, they help you develop multiple angles and a more open mindset toward different things.
The journalism profession has given me courage. Honestly, I'm naturally timid and not good at deep conversation with others. That's my personality, and that's precisely why I became a journalist—to change my timidity and introversion. Of course, in each conversation with strangers, discomfort lurks in the deepest parts of me, yet it also gives me the chance to reflect on why I feel this way and where it comes from.
Why the discomfort? After much thought, I believe it's because I'm doing something I'm not good at. And because I'm not good at it, there are many shortcomings. When facing different interviewees, your posture, demeanor, language, and tone must all change accordingly. Even the complexity and level of your vocabulary must adjust so the interviewee can easily understand your questions.
Traversing between interviewees, what I've gained is the ability to shift mindsets. One second handling PR, the next facing superiors—your words differ, your understanding differs. Or dealing with different corporate PR personnel daily: with cooperative ones, be polite; with ones who are evasive and unhelpful, stand your ground and defend your company's position, even pushing back firmly.
This has taught me a fundamental truth about being human: how you treat others is how they treat you; how you respect yourself is how others respect you. If people admire you today, it's all false if it's only because of your title and position. If you truly have something to offer, remove your credentials and examine yourself—that's what's real. Your true capacity is what matters.
