SOURCES-CHallenges and Solutions

As a journalist, one has to have a vast number of sources in order to compile a great story. However, acquiring sources has its ups and downs especially for a struggling student.

CHALLENGES:

1. Being a student people generally undermine your abilities and treat you like you know absolutely nothing. In the end they just refuse to speak to you. This really gets to me
2. At times you have no clue as to what questions to ask and if its the right questions
3. As  a student I don't have access to top contacts and this could be problematic when doing research or wanting to write a story/article.
4. Languages. Not being able to converse with people who speak a different language.
5. Getting hold of your contacts could be difficult at times- in order to make a phone call you would need airtime or to get to your destination, petrol would be needed. Finances could prevent you from doing so.
6. After sending contacts an e-mail or even phoning them and they have to get back to you, would take much longer than usual because you are a student and they feel that its not that important.

SOLUTIONS TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED CHALLENGES:

1. Research the topic you are about to tackle and do not state to the person that you are a student. If you feel like it, you could let the person know at the end of the interview,etc.
2. Practise makes for a perfect interview. Let one of your fellow journalists read through your questions and don't be afraid to ask for advice.
3. Go out and meet people. You never know whose contact you might come across. Maybe even the President himself.
4. take up a crash course in the basic languages. Speak to people around you that are well versed in a certain language.
5. Get your parents/peers to help you financially in any way that they can. Ask your company/department for help.
6. Keep hampering the person until you get what you want. make sure you are professional when doing so. In this way they have no choice but to take seriously.

I hope the above mentioned challenges and solutions will help others in getting to a source and writing the perfect story. There are many more challenges out there, but I don't have the space or the time to even think of mentioning it.
Happy reading to all...