If you are thinking about a career in journalism but aren't exactly sure what type of journalist you want to be, don't worry — because you are definitely not alone. Although journalism does fall into four broad categories (investigative, feature, news and opinion), there are many more niche types of journalism you can branch into.
As with anything in life, you can be good at anything — but to truly be great at something, you need to have a passion for it. And I find that this is particularly true when it comes to starting a career in journalism.
This kind of job requires dedication, patience and a deep desire to share a story with the public. If you are thinking of pursuing a career in the field of journalism, there are some niche types of journalism that may just be your calling!
Dive into niche journalism, broken down by media update's Saads Abrahams.
What is niche journalism?
So what exactly is niche journalism? This type of journalism is also known as narrowcasting — a niche journalist will create content and report on specific issues that are of interest to a smaller and specific group.
According to The International Encyclopedia of Journalism Studies,
"Narrowcasting or niche journalism refers to the targeting of specific audiences. The concept has gained importance as the result of a shift from mass to personalised content facilitation, in particular, owing to the rapid development of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the rising popularity of online social networks."
Niche journalism does have some pros to it, such as:
A higher ROI
Because niche journalists have a small target audience, you have a higher chance of people subscribing to receive this information.
No advertising necessary
With a smaller loyal audience, advertising is optional. People who follow a niche know others who follow it too — this means word-of-mouth is going to get you more readers and advertising won't be required.
Not as competitive
It's called niche for a reason. It isn't for everyone, and it isn't done by everyone.
Loyal readers
Niche journalism gives readers exactly what they are looking for, from a reliable source — meaning that they are more likely to subscribe and renew their subscription.
It's fun
You only become a niche journalist if it is something you are passionate about — meaning that you will enjoy doing your job because it won't necessarily feel like work.
How to find your niche?
Now how exactly does one go about choosing their niche to report on? Well, there are a few things you should do first.
What do you know?
Think about what topic you are highly knowledgeable on — this can be anything from politics to Bitcoin to knowing all things influencer.
Remember, this does not mean that you need to be a complete expert on the topic. Just that you know more than enough to be able to report on it while still doing the much-needed research.
What skills do you have?
Obviously, being in journalism, writing is going to be pretty high on your skills list — but what other skills do you possess?
For example, are you brilliant at doing research or speaking to people? These personal skills can help you narrow down your niche and also how you are going to report on your chosen topic.
What are you passionate about?
The best part of a career in journalism is that you get the option to align your love for writing and reporting with your other passions.
Think about what you are passionate about — sports, fashion, politics or even the environment. These are all niche topics that you can focus on, and build your career around.
Now, let's take a deep dive into some of the niche types of journalism you could pursue!
Sports journalism
Sports journalists report on professional as well as amateur sporting events. This niche allows you to work in all media spaces — from print to broadcasting to online.
To be a sports journalist, you need to have a deep love for sports; you can focus on specific sports or build your presence around them all.
Your reporting could consist of:
Entertainment journalism
Entertainment journalists cover all current news surrounding the entertainment industry, such as:
You can be expected to conduct:
Fashion journalism
If you have a passion for fashion (lol sorry, I had to) then becoming a fashion journalist may be your niche!
According to Masterclass, "Fashion journalists analyse how pop culture and current events affect today's fashion, as well as report recent fashion news, notes from fashion critics and any relevant issues related to the fashion industry.
Fashion journalists research and report on all things in the fashion industry. This covers:
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industry news
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fashion shows
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celebrity looks, and
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new trends.
With this niche, you have endless possibilities of where you do your reporting, such as:
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podcasts
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magazines
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newspapers
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television
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social media and / or
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online.
Other niche forms of journalism are:
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photography
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environmental
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travel
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features
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political, and
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food.
What are your thoughts on niche journalism? Let us know in the comment section below.
*Image courtesy of Canva