Working As A Journo

Working As A Journo

I can’t believe how time runs so fast. Nine years ago, I was busy sending a CV after graduating from university. I was so lucky that my first ever interview led me to become a journo. At that moment, I wasn’t sure that working for a television company would be satisfying. Well, fast forward to this day I am still working as a journo making news every day and enjoying it. Life is a journey during those years I’ve gained so many things. It’s been a fun and unexpected journey. But today I am ready to try new challenges.

Anyway, here are some fun facts about working as a journo.

Boosting Up Your Confidence

Working as a journalist has given me an energy of confidence such as public speaking, and live to report, and increased my communication skills. Almost every day have to meet new people with different backgrounds and jobs. These days I have no difficulties starting a conversation with strangers I do it smoothly and with confidence. This is something big if I compared myself to around ten years ago before I started to work. I personally think I’m an introverted person I didn’t like to begin a new conversation or try to be friendly with someone new.

My first ever live report was in 2010 

Interviewing Diana Rikasari

I am proud to say that I have met significant persons from the mayor, government, minister, president of Indonesia, ambassador, and other international public figures.

Privileged

Being a journo also means that you got the privileged to try new items, like a restaurant opening, launching a product, events, football matches, concerts, and many more. I felt awesome that I can be the first person to experience it.

I remembered how excited when I got a chance to meet Frank Lampard, Jose Mourinho, and other Chelsea Players during their trip to Jakarta in 2013. I'm so happy because Chelsea is my favorite football club.

I was also excited when I had a chance to sing so loud and felt nostalgic about my teenager's life during the Westlife concert in Jakarta. I got free entry to the Westlife concert, Slash concert, and so on. 

Meeting Luis Figo in Jakarta in 2011 

Selfie with Shirtless Gary Cahil at GBK stadium in 2013

Need For Speed

Not only I’m an introverted person I’m also very laid back. I intended to live my life so slow, calmly, and collected. In the beginning, this character of mine made me difficult to adjust to the newsroom's need for speed, but then I adjusted well and enjoyed every second of the deadline.

Adventures Fill Your Soul

The best part of being a journo is to travel for free. I always like traveling since I was young, but when I entered adulthood I was busy making friends and socializing with people. The only traveling part I did was for a school project and a farewell trip at the end of the year to Bali. So when my boss assigned me to join the traveling and documentary program I was so happy. I enjoyed every project I’ve made in many different places around Indonesia, but a work trip isn’t always fun; once in a while, it can be very tiring and frustrating.

During working in Mount Batur Bali in 2012

South Korea Trip in 2017

Me and My Cameraman During Sunrise at Kawah Ijen in 2014 

I have a chance to visit islands and cities I’ve never been to from Palembang and Padang on Sumatera Island, Makassar and Manado on Sulawesi Island, Banjarmasin, Palangkaraya and Tarakan on Kalimantan Island, almost all cities in Java Island, the exotic Sumba Island and the lost paradise of Raja Ampat in Papua Island. There are other provinces on small islands I’ve visited, including working abroad in South Korea.

All of those work trips has not just given me millions of memory but also fill my soul. I felt so alive and I was really happy with my job.

Unexpected Friendship

Visiting new places are always great, but despite all of those amazing time meeting new people are also important. You’ll never know when or where you’ll meet someone which leads to an unexpected friendship. I’ve met a fellow journo during my work trips, and although we were busy with each project our conversation was always fun. There’s a reporter that I met during my trip to Raja Ampat, Papua then I met her again a year after at Gangneung a province in South Korea. At that time I was so surprised how cool that I met friends in an exotic place or abroad. I mean we both live in Jakarta but we’ve never once crossed paths.

 

Thanks for The Memories

Watching sunset at Siti Nurbaya Hill Padang in 2013 

Every journey has left me with a variety of experiences, from unexpectedly crazy, annoying, irritating, fun, beautiful, and so on. It leads to great memories that made the story of my life. One of the scariest thing I remember is when I went to Padang, West Sumatra in 2013. I went to Siti Nurbaya Hill with the driver and cameraman to watch the sunset. We enjoyed too much our sunset time and down the hill late. When the sun goes down the sky slowly turns dark and a group of monkeys started to gather. Unluckily when we get down the stairs we get caught by a group of monkeys, they were mad and ready to attack us. I remember I was so scared that all I can do was just stood still and hold my cameraman's bag. I stood behind him and tried to calm myself. After just standing and trying to chill for several minutes we continued to go down the stairs. Thank god they were not following us and we arrived safely.

Bizare moment at Raja Ampat in 2016

Another fun and crazy story during my work trip is when I went to Raja Ampat, surprisingly I met my ex-boyfriend's ex-girlfriend. It was a hilarious moment. We got stuck on a boat on a deserted island somewhere in Papua while waiting for the rain to stop. We started to chat and get to know each other then several minutes later we realize that we had to date the same guy. How bizarre?! 👅

There are many more stories that I couldn’t write down here but definitely, but I’ve written them in my memories. ❤