The world of digital journalism is always changing. If you’re planning to pursue a BA (Mass Comm) and a career in media, this is exciting news! This dynamic field offers endless opportunities to tell important stories and connect with audiences around the world. However, to excel, it’s crucial to keep up with the latest digital journalism skills.

1. Data Journalism: Crunching the Numbers

Gone are the days when journalism was just about good writing. Now, data journalism is the talk of the town. By learning how to collect, analyse, and visualise data, you can tell engaging stories that your audience will love. Tools like spreadsheets and databases are your new best friends in the world of digital journalism.

Data analysis can help journalists to identify stories and trends. Knowing which topics are being discussed the most on social media or what crime and education trends are (based on data from government databases) can help you come up with the best ‘Breaking News’ story ideas!

Also, being good with data can help journalists to verify information and fact-check claims. Verifying a quote from a politician or the accuracy of a statistic is a crucial skill for journalists in this digital age.

Being good with data presentation can help a journalist create interactive visual elements to make their stories more engaging for their audiences or create personalized news feeds for their readers – recommending them stories based on their interests.

Here are some case studies you should know about:

The New York Times employed data analysis to:

– track the spread of COVID-19

– identify trends in gun violence

– investigate the impact of climate change.

The Washington Post used it to:

– track the flow of money in politics

– identify patterns of police misconduct

– investigate the role of foreign governments in the 2016 US presidential election.

ProPublica, a non-profit news organisation specialising in data-driven journalism, used its expertise to:

– investigate the impact of lead poisoning on children

– expose racial discrimination in the criminal justice system

– identify the most dangerous hospitals in the United States.

As data becomes more accessible, analysing it can help digital journalists tell stories that impact people and hold powerful people accountable.

2. AI and Machine Learning: The Future is Now

AI and machine learning are quickly becoming vital in media careers. From creating personalised news feeds to automating fact-checking, these technologies are changing how we operate.

We have mentioned above how data analysis helps with digital journalism. AI and ML can speed up (and even automate) many of these tasks.

Aaj Tak is already using the AI Sana as a news anchor. But even before that, the Associated Press has been using artificial intelligence to generate news stories from financial data.

AI and ML are helping journalists to produce more efficient and effective work. Since these fields are still evolving, it remains to be seen how accurate and unbiased AI-generated content will be – and whether it can be misused to manipulate public opinion (as warned by the famous documentary ‘The Social Dilemma’ in 2020).

A BA (Mass Comm) course will give you the basics, but it’s up to you to stay updated and use these tools responsibly.

3. Social Media Storytelling: Your New Canvas

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok—these aren’t just for sharing holiday snaps anymore. In digital journalism, these platforms are where your audience hangs out.

Social media storytelling differs from traditional journalism in many ways. It is typically more conversational and engaging. It is also more targeted to specific audiences.

And it differs from platform to platform. For example, on X (formerly Twitter), you might share short updates on a breaking news story. On Facebook, you will need to post a longer, more in-depth article.

One advantage (and disadvantage) of social media storytelling is that this medium is much faster than traditional journalism. Hence, digital journalists can break news and share updates on social media in real-time. But it also means that they do not have much time to verify their facts.

Also, social media allows journalists to directly engage with their audience. This high interactivity means that journalists can gauge the impact of the news quickly and modulate how they are going to report it further.

It is important to note that social media storytelling is not a replacement for traditional journalism. Both forms of journalism have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Master the art of social media storytelling to keep your audience engaged and always coming back for more.

4. Video Journalism: More than Words

Words are powerful, but videos can sometimes say even more. Learn how to shoot and edit videos, and you’ll be a double threat in digital journalism.

Videos are more engaging than text in today’s era. People are more likely to watch a video than read an article. Plus, it is more immersive in nature. It can transport viewers to different places and introduce them to new people and experiences.

Today, videos are easily accessible to people through smartphones, tablets, and laptops – even in remote areas. And videos are more likely to be shared on social media.

With high-quality smartphones and video editing software, it is easy to learn how to produce professional-looking videos and become an independent journalist, citizen journalist, or start your own small news organization.

5. SEO: Rise to the Top

You could write the best article ever, but if no one sees it, does it even matter? That’s where SEO, or search engine optimisation, comes in. It helps your work show up in Google and other search engines so that more people can find it.

With good SEO skills, digital journalists can optimize content to make their stories rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). If news stories rank high, the journalist is seen as more credible by search engines and readers.

6. Content Marketing: Speak Their Language

Knowing how to create and share content that people want to read is a major plus. Content marketing isn’t just for businesses; it’s also for digital journalists who want to meet the needs of their audience.

Posting news stories that their targeted audience is looking for helps them:

– in establishing themselves as experts in their fields,

– attract and engage loyal audiences, and

– build good relations with their potential sources.

Content marketing skills also help budding journalists monetize their blogs, newsletters, and vlogs. Knowing how to make money is as important as putting out good content if you want to step into the world of sustainable media careers.

7. Audience Engagement: Make the Connection

Email newsletters, comments, social media chats—there are so many ways to connect with your readers. The more you interact, the more they’ll engage with your work.

When you engage with your audience across various online and offline channels, your readers (or viewers) begin to trust you. They feel that you appreciate their feedback. This fosters trust and credibility, enabling you to produce more tailored and pertinent content for them.

By regularly interacting with your audience, you can cultivate a community centred around your work. This makes it simpler to broaden your influence, have a more profound impact, garner support, and encounter fresh ideas within these communities.

Replying to comments, addressing queries on social media, hosting live chats and Q&A sessions, and devising polls and surveys are among the favoured methods digital journalists use to engage with their audiences nowadays.

8. Digital Security: Better Safe Than Sorry

Protecting yourself and your sources is key in today’s digital world. Learn the basics of digital security to keep your work safe.

We have seen many cases where digital journalists have been targeted for the stories they broke. They face a range of threats, including harassment, intimidation, violence, and legal action.

For example, Rana Ayyub, an award-winning investigative journalist, was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March 2023 for allegedly violating foreign exchange laws. She had raised funds through a crowdfunding platform to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hence, as a digital journalist, it is very important to know about the legalities of the stories you are reporting as well as how to protect yourself from cyber-attacks and keeping your data safe.

9. Multilingualism: Speak to the World

Want to report on global events? Speaking more than one language is a big advantage in mass communication, helping you engage with audiences across the globe.

While there are many AI tools available these days to help you communicate with others in multiple languages, being multilingual helps you get a more complete and nuanced understanding of the issues that you are reporting on.

It makes you a more valuable asset to your news organization.

For example, journalists who knew Russian were able to report on the war in Ukraine from the perspective of Ukrainian civilians. Similarly, those who know the Kashmiri language are able to present the real perspective of the people of the state after the removal of Article 370.

10. Lifelong Learning: Never Stop Growing

Digital journalism skills evolve all the time. The learning doesn’t stop once you’ve got that BA (Mass Comm) degree. The most successful journalists are those who never stop learning.

Beyond the Skills: What Else Do You Need?

In addition to these 10 skills, strong writing, editing, and reporting are also crucial. Thinking critically and ethically about your work sets you apart in this competitive field. A career in digital journalism is thrilling but requires hard work and dedication. With the right skills and a willingness to keep learning, you’ll be well on your way to success. Cheers to your exciting journey ahead in mass communication!