Throughout history, humanity has passed through several ages and transformations. The first was the Stone Age, a time when man lived in caves, used stones to start fires, make tools, and as weapons.
This was followed by the Iron Age, when man discovered iron and forged tools that significantly improved daily life. This development led to the invention of simple machinery, which brought revolutionary changes to agriculture. At the time, most people engaged in farming for survival.
With the invention of more sophisticated machines, the Industrial Age emerged. This era enabled mass production, which required more workers in factories, prompting a gradual shift from agriculture to industrial work.
Today, we live in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) age — the era of smartphones, the internet, and the so-called information superhighway. It is often said that apart from food, the most traded commodity in the world is information. Almost everyone now owns a phone with internet access, giving rise to the New Media, especially social media.
When Marshall McLuhan predicted that the world would become a global village, he was remarkably accurate. Social media has made this a reality. Today, with smartphones, almost anyone can disseminate news, raising the question: is journalism truly a profession or simply a passion?
To understand this, it is important to clarify the terms. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines passion as an intense enthusiasm for something, often with strong emotions. Profession is defined as a paid occupation, particularly one requiring training and formal qualifications.
Journalism involves gathering, writing, and disseminating news and opinions about society through mass media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television, books, and now the internet. However, not all mass media activities are journalism. Writing fiction, producing feature films, or general content creation may involve communication but are not necessarily journalism unless they meet the standards of the field.
The debate often arises over whether one must study journalism or mass communication to practise. Some insist formal training in the field is necessary, while others argue that passion, combined with skills, is enough — regardless of academic background. Journalism covers all areas of human endeavour, so it is possible for someone trained in another discipline to enter the profession.
Nevertheless, formal training is valuable. A profession usually has a body of knowledge, a regulatory body, a code of ethics, a certification process, and an official register of practitioners. Journalism meets these criteria to some extent, though unlike medicine or law, one can practise without a licence.
In Nigeria, the Press Council has tried to raise professional standards by requiring those without journalism degrees to obtain at least a postgraduate diploma in the field or have five years of continuous practice before registration.
Ultimately, journalism is both a profession and a passion. It is a profession because it requires skill, ethics, and sometimes formal education. It is a passion because people from all backgrounds can join, driven by a love for writing, reporting, or storytelling.
Regardless of academic background, a journalist’s knowledge should extend beyond the classroom. Continuous learning is essential — not only about one’s area of specialization but also about the world at large.
It is often said that a journalist should know a little about everything. In today’s complex world, perhaps it is better to say a journalist should know much about everything, and even more about their specific beat.