Why choosing your area of interest matters in a media career

A career in mainstream media does not always begin with a clear plan. Sometimes it starts with a camera, a willingness to learn, and the patience to take on more as opportunities arise. That experience offers students a practical way to think about their first steps.

According to Prateek Suri, alumni-parent at Apeejay School, Panchsheel Park, “Mainstream media wasn’t a carefully planned career choice. It happened as I gained experience. When I started, I knew very little about social media or YouTube. I didn’t have a journalism background either, but camera work gave me the chance to learn about reporting and the industry. I began as an intern and gradually took on much greater responsibility.”

His advice to those who want to pursue this field is to stay curious, build connections, and keep learning. “You don’t have to know everything on your first day, but you do have to be willing to put in the work,” he shared.

The point is reassuring for anyone still trying to find a place in the industry. Experience can help shape that decision, but curiosity and steady effort have to accompany it. The same practical thinking applies to the qualities students need once they enter the field.

“Dedication, above all. Students today have access to an extraordinary amount of information. When I was younger, we had dial-up internet, and even getting onto Google took effort. Now you can research a subject in minutes. Use that access well,” he said.

If you want to work in news, understand the area you’re drawn to, he added. “Learn about politics, the people involved, and the history behind what you’re covering. News also includes entertainment, fashion, and many other fields. Think carefully about where your interest lies, because that choice can shape your career,” he said.

Information may be easier to find than it once was, but knowing what to do with it still takes commitment. For students weighing a media career, that begins with learning enough about a subject to recognise where their interest can lead.