I have read articles on traditional media with great curiosity about the underpayment of journalists by media owners (proprietors). However, my argument varies. In as much as I do not support the interest of media proprietors in this perspective, equally so, trained and qualified journalists have no reason to bewail their financial challenges on the media institutions they are attached, as they have mechanisms to improvise.

First of all, let me ask this question: Should we refer to Mass Communication graduates as curb reporters? Now, let us take a professional look at journalism and the steps you have to take to capacitate yourself as a journalist. First, our higher educational institutions where Mass-com is taught: upon monitoring the academic calendar in that department and in comparison to others beyond boarders, there is a defect worth noting.

In Sierra Leone, its mass com all the-way but in developed countries, it is not. There are absolutely no minor subjects mixed with mass com studies such as Sociology, Philosophy, Political Science, International Relations, Psychology, History etc. Students who read mass com only is isolated from the true functioning of society he will have to face. In a situation like that, graduates have to make a choice in area that they will concentrate to concretize their career.

Journalism is the umbrella of all fields of studies but which one will he or she chooses at the end of studies should be the career path to explore the universe. For example, a graduate in law goes to the law school for a year where he/she has to choose among Corporate, Criminal or Customary Law etc. before he or she goes as a volunteer at a chamber for another year before choosing a destination without dependency where his or her performance determines earning. He can even afford to buy a car and build a house in a couple of months.

In Sierra Leone, a mass com graduate with absolutely no practical experience enters the new world where everything will be like going to school for the first time totally bleak about situation. Unlike in the UK, a graduate in journalism is considered a curb or a beginner for some time where he or she will be allowed to move out to report. In fact, this may cost him/her another five years before he/she is assigned as a staff writer, Senior Staff writer, Desk Editor, Editor in Chief or Executive Editor.

In Sierra Leone, a graduate takes all the titles over night without practical experience. He hates to be called a Reporter and cherishes to be referred to as journalist or Editor. He depends on his academic work but could not even though that will determines professionalism.  A professional journalist does not need to be instructed by his media institution what to do, where to go, whom to contact and the nature of his or her visit. The young mass com graduate has no experience in investigative stories even though he or she has the weapon to use between governance and society. In journalism, there are many opportunities that one should use to stop the blame game.