In one way or another everyone is affected by the news.  But what does the news mean for journalists who present the news?  Many people think being a journalist means making yourself presentable, sitting down in front of the camera, and reading off the teleprompter in a serious tone.  That may be part of it, but that is nowhere near all of what journalists do.  Former WISN Chanel 12 News Anchor Portia Young, shed light on what journalists do every day to present the news to the public.

“Journalism is not like the way it was in school.  It seems to be for small gains and for money,” Young said.  Young said, “it is all about the short reward.”

Young said journalism is not conducive to family life.  Young explained that being a journalist consumes a lot of your time every day.

“I’ve noticed that those who hold positions of power don’t have kids,” Young said.

Young said TV journalists either work the morning shift or the night shift.

“The morning shift means missing giving your kids breakfast and sending them off to school, where as the night shift means missing your kids coming home from school, getting to ask them how their day was, helping them with homework, having dinner, and tucking them in bed.  You miss much more if you work the night shift, but working the night shift means you have to go to bed early so you can be up early for the morning shift,” Young said.

In September of 2013, Young left WISN Channel 12 News and took the position of PR rep at Sargento Foods.  Young said left her journalism career to purse public relations.  Young said, “TV is very superficial.”

Young said if she could do it all over again, she would still have become a journalist.  Young said; “But I don’t know if I would have done TV.  You miss a lot.  It’s a big sacrifice.  It’s not a lot of money.”

Young also had positive things to say about journalism.  “You make connections out in the community, getting to report stories that people really reacted to, and I got to make friends every day,” Young said.

Some say that Journalists/Reporters are a dying breed; Young said that is not entirely true.  “Traditional reporters are dying but niche reporters are in demand.  There are no details.  It’s just background music, things have gotten lazy, there will be another revolution but this one will involve the media and their viewers,” Young said.

When asked if she would encourage others to become a journalist, Young said, “If that is your dream there are still stories to be told.  Television killed radio, and the internet will kill television.”

For all who decide to pursue a career in journalism Young has some advice: “Don’t let it change you.  You are the person that you are.”