Is It Possible to Be an Entertainment Journalist and a Broadcast Journalist?

Yes, it is definitely possible to be both an entertainment journalist and a broadcast journalist. Many professionals in the journalism field often wear multiple hats, especially in smaller news organizations or when they have diverse interests.

Key Points to Consider

Skill Overlap

Both roles require strong writing, communication, and interviewing skills. Broadcast journalists often report on various topics, including entertainment, while entertainment journalists may also appear on broadcast platforms. This skill overlap creates a unique blend of expertise that can be incredibly valuable in a fast-paced media industry.

Career Path

Many journalists start in one area and transition to another. For instance, a journalist might begin as a print reporter covering entertainment news and later move into broadcasting. This path provides a wealth of experience that can be leveraged to excel in both fields.

Networking and Experience

Building a network in both fields can help. Gaining experience in different media formats, such as TV, radio, and online, will enhance versatility. Being involved in both entertainment and broadcast journalism offers a broader range of opportunities and experiences.

Education and Training

A background in journalism, communications, or media studies can be beneficial. Some programs offer specialized courses in both entertainment and broadcast journalism. This education can provide a solid foundation for a successful career in either field.

Platforms

The rise of digital media has created more opportunities to report on entertainment through various broadcast platforms like podcasts, YouTube channels, and social media. These platforms allow for a blend of both fields and can enhance a journalist's versatility.

Overall, pursuing both paths can provide a broader range of opportunities and experiences in the journalism landscape. If you are an entertainment journalist and have a show on television, you are also a broadcast journalist. If you infer that a broadcast journalist is only a newscaster, you can still be both. An exception is someone like John Oliver, who uses humor to critique political misfits and events that are considered right-wing stupid.

What is stopping you if you want to be an entertainment and broadcast journalist? Once you are able to answer this question, I say go for it! It's important to consider the differences between these roles, as each has distinct focuses and goals.

Entertainment Journalism vs. Broadcast Journalism

Focus Areas

Entertainment journalists do very different things compared to broadcast news journalists. Broadcast journalists are known for focusing on "hard news" such as natural disasters, hurricanes, blizzards, politics, including campaigns and elections, international and global issues, immigration, the pandemic, and so on. If you are an entertainment journalist, your focus is not on these areas. Instead, your focus is on celebrities, their lives, relationships, controversies affecting them, and popular culture, including the music industry, fads, memes, and the business of movies.

Examples of Dual Roles

There are some reporters who began in one area and moved into the other. For example, they may have started in the entertainment world and later decided to prefer covering hard news. One example of someone who has tried to do both is Anderson Cooper of CNN, who handles hard news coverage but also hosts a New Year's Eve celebrity-filled TV party.

However, for the most part, you need to choose one lane or the other. Broadcast journalists want to be taken seriously for their news coverage, which is fair and factual. Their goals are very different from those of entertainment reporters, who want to be plugged into the latest trends and remain on top of the latest celebrity gossip.

In summary, while it may not be common for someone to be both an entertainment journalist and a broadcast journalist at the same time, the possibilities are there if you have the skills, passion, and willingness to adapt to both fields. Explore the opportunities and make the most of the unique blend of expertise that comes with wearing both hats.