Journalists share about their jobs and why it’s important to read the news

Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)

We learn about what is happening in society from journalists. Have you ever wondered what their job is like?

What a reporter does

Every Monday, Kelly Fung, a reporter from Young Post, meets with her team for an hour. “In the meeting, we pitch story ideas and talk about why these ideas are important to our readers,” she says.

Fung remembers her first big story about a government project that would force many small shops to move. One of these shops was owned by a watchman, who told her about his work.

“My feelings were stirred up as I knew this place would soon disappear. The watchman was doing his job for decades, and he was still very skilful,” Fung explains.

She believes journalists are important because they record the stories of people from all parts of society: “Journalists write the first draft of history.”

Mr Leung used to have a shop called “Kwun Tong Watch Shop” at the end of Yue Man Square before it was redeveloped. Photo: Kelly Fung

Why is it important to read the news?

Emily Tsang, the editor of Young Post and Posties, knows some people do not see why they should care about the news. But she stresses that it is important to be aware of events in our community and around the world.

“You are given information to think clearly and make better decisions,” she explains.

Tsang recommends trying to read the news at least once a day: “You should read about what’s happening in your community, your country and the world. That way, you can hear about different ideas and get inspired to become a better person.”

She also has some tips on how to make reading the news fun.

“Try reading with a friend or a family member. It might be fun to follow news outlets on social media,” she shares.

Rather than only watching videos of cute cats or silly pets to relax, you can also look for news videos made for kids from respected news sources.

Emily Tsang is the editor of Young Post. Photo: Handout

Use the crossword below to test your knowledge of the vocabulary words in the story.

Suggested answers

• Before you read: When we hear other people’s stories, it helps us understand them better and maybe even feel for them. It can inspire us to help others and make positive changes in our own community.

• Stop and think: Journalists help us understand the world by telling us what’s happening in society and sharing stories from different people.

• Consider: To make reading the news more fun, we can read it with someone. We can also follow news outlets on social media or sign up for newsletters. We can try finding interesting news videos or podcasts too!