Journalism

I was back at work almost full-time this week.
Back on my early shift, back on my morning show.
I have a love-hate relationship with my show.
The hours sucks so much, but this is the most intense and important show of the network.

And of course, Mumbai happened on Thursday.
Alongside Bangkok.
Tragedies in Asia... but wow, what great reporting we had.
We were thrown into the thick of things.
And I realised I really do love the newsroom adrenalin.

I feel it a lot more here than at Reuters.
Maybe cos we were merely editing stuff at Reuters...
So our work is kinda secondary in that sense.
The sourcing and searching were all done for us.
Whereas here, we are really hunting for & putting the news out.
It's, in a more pure sense, true journalism.

I love it when things happen abruptly, and we need to react with your heart & wits.
I love that i work with such talented, highly experienced people that nothing needs to be scripted and we can go with the flow, impromptu, anytime.
These people don't need grace period, warnings or time to prepare.
They are so brilliant they can roll with it 24/7.
Within 1-2 minutes, it's all out there.

There is zero time for revisions/ scripting and at hectic moments like these, you are really only as good as the people around you.
Everyone acts fast, things buzz around... and you learn so much from their experience and calmness.

I love it that in my newsroom, the talents are as good as any can get.
I feel almost privileged to be among them, working with them and being a part of getting the news out.
This is why I feel I can never work in a local organisation anymore.
The whole work flow and thought process is just too different.
Not to say one is better than the other... just polar opposites.

And one year in, my boss finally complimented me.
Twice.
"Fabulous work", she said.
Coming from a 15-year veteran and No. 2 in my newsroom, I'll take it gladly.