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Journalist

The media crave expertise on China, and journalists who can read Chinese and who have a Chinese network are very much in demand, explains Ragnhild.

Portrait photo, black and white, woman, smile, blonde hair, black sweater

Ragnhild Sofie Selstø

Photo: Private

– What are the most important aspects of your job?

– My job mainly involves finding issues to write about, finding the right people to talk to, getting in touch with them and asking the right questions, transforming their answers into a coherent text and finding photos – or taking photos myself – to illustrate the issue and make it visually interesting. I also work with film, and visit schools from time to time to talk to the pupils about issues ranging from critical approaches to sources to online journalism. 

– What do you like best about your job?

– Each day is different. I can spend one day sitting in the office writing or editing, then the next day, I’ll be out meeting people, whether it’s a random person on the street or Erna Solberg. Some days are extra exciting, like when there is a general election, or the State budget is to be presented. That’s when it gets hectic; we have to capture people’s reactions then immortalise them in print as quickly as possible. Those kinds of days are a real kick of adrenalin!

– How is the education from The Faculty of Humanities relevant in this job?

– The media crave expertise on China, and journalists who can read Chinese and who have a Chinese network are very much in demand. Networks are absolutely essential for journalists, and my China studies at the Faculty of Humanities have afforded me a large group of friends and other contacts that are very helpful in my job. I would imagine this is true of all the programmes offered at the Faculty of Humanities. The world of media is changing, and I see more and more people getting work as a journalist without having studied journalism. These are people who have focused on a specialised area and have become experts in it. They have learned the art of journalism alongside their studies.

– What’s your best tip for new students who are concerned about their job opportunities after graduation?

– Do something you like! Don’t go with something because you feel you have to. If you do something you like, you’ll be good at it. And if you’re patient, you’ll end up with your dream job. Take it easy. Things always work out.

 

Ragnhild Sofie Selstø

Dicipline:
Chinese Society and Politics
Now: Asia and Middle East studies, programme option Chinese Culture and Society

Grade:
Master's

Graduation:
2017

Position:
Journalist

Employer:
Aftenposten (aftenposten.no), Stavanger Aftenblad (aftenbladet.no), Framtida.no

More career interviews

By Torunn Nyland, Career and Employability Coordinator HF
Published Nov. 21, 2017 5:02 PM - Last modified Apr. 20, 2023 2:50 PM