Be Your Own Journalist

by Sarah Snell Cooke

In elementary school, everyone learns the five biggies when it comes to asking and answering questions: who, what when, where and why. As a journalist, they’re reinforced again and again. To reiterate it’s important to get all of the facts by asking who, what, when, where, and why. Who, what, when where, and why help one arrive at the nub of an issue, so it’s important to ask and answer them all. To reinforce my point…you get it.

My favorite, and the most useful, is why. Critical thinking and listening is crucial to every living being, and asking ‘why’ until you sound like a four-year old is paramount to getting at the nub of an issue. Why do some of us grow out of this great habit?

The second piece to the puzzle is actually listening to the answer you receive so that you can follow up with another intelligent, but why? Ever notice that when your toddler child or niece asks this question repeatedly you end up trying to very simply explain important ethereal matters that get at the heart of our very existence. Every human being needs to get back to that simplicity and level of curiosity in all aspects of life, whether work or personal.

I recommend the book, Asking the Right Questions. It’s somewhat of a slow start because it’s very elementary but that portion serves as a key refresher course to evolving into a highly critical thinker by the end. The real mission is to never let it end.

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