By Sandie Gadia
There is an apparent likeness between journalism and show business. Really, there is. Aside from the competitive nature of both fields, both cater to an audience, may it be a reader or a viewer. This entails that both career paths provide room for audience feedback and criticism (being ruthlessly judged by the people that they reach out to).
It’s a saddening reality that professionals in the fields of both journalism and show business, who only want to express themselves creatively, are barred by dissidents. What ever happened to freedom of expression if acting and writing are constantly misjudged and criticized to the bone?
Of course, let’s not forget the bursts of sensationalism that are inevitable in both fields. Are journalism and show business combining forces to turn into a big, manipulative machine that triggers their audience’s gullibility?
Journalism, much like show business, deals with issues that entail individuals to decipher which aspects of their lives they should prioritize at the point of their respective careers.
“It’s all in the matter of balancing out your priorities”, my parents once told an eleven-year old me when I asked them if it was okay if I pursued a career in journalism. Of course, it’s easy to say that I’m ready to make sacrifices when I do establish a career for myself in the field of journalism. It becomes tricky, however, when I find myself in the said situation already. When the dreaded issue of career versus family life arises, which will I choose? Will I even be able to make a decision at that?
It’s no surprise that the media has already showcased such hard instances especially in movies that I’ve seen – Veronica Guerin and The Devil Wears Prada, to mention a few. Through these films, both journalism and show business are incorporated.
The main characters, Veronica Guerin and Miranda Presley, respectively, found themselves in crossroads. That is, choosing between their successful careers and their personal lives. Evidently, the two women opted to stand firm in their chosen careers. Both women possessed strong passions for the craft, even if it meant putting their personal lives at risk.
It is also a known fact that successful career persons in both journalism and show business may have somehow jeopardized their personal lives for the sake of successful careers. Some are single parents, some are divorced, and some may have experienced marital or family problems.
Much like show business, there are also other factors to consider especially if journalism is perceived to be the issue here: hectic work hours, death threats, invasion of privacy, to mention a few.
Journalism, being mind-boggling and time-demanding, is reminiscent of how show business is like. In comparison to today’s celebrities, aren’t journalists experiencing the same exact dilemmas, ones that journalists face? No sleep, banters from their audiences, and such?
Such recounts from my parents, peers, and mentors did not startle me at all. From the very beginning, I was aware of the demands of the field. I grew up hoping to become a successful journalist in the field of fashion or lifestyle. With this, my parents have already briefed me on the back-biting reality of print media.
The only factor pushing me in pursuing a career in journalism is that, similar to showbiz, passion plays an important role.
Of course, I have to consider that sooner or later, as my parents have warned, I may have to face my own crossroads – passion or priority? But really, is it possible for passion to really exceed a certain extent?
My take on it, though, is that it’s all in the matter of one using both his head and his heart when it comes to careers. Taking into account Veronica Guerin who jeopardized her loved ones’ lives for the compensation of her career, then, frankly, it’s being downright silly. Knowing which things to put at the top of the priorities list is the way to go. It’s okay to be passionate in doing something as long as one does it for self-gratification, although for the benefit the people around him.
It’s a short life ahead. Will it be all passion but screwed up priorities? I beg to differ.
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