There are lots of types of journalism and so many places now to write or talk and have an audience. It’s a very different media landscape to the one that Walkely Award winning investigative journalist and foreign correspondent, Deborah Snow, went into in the mid 1970s.

But while the platforms and mastheads have changed dramatically, there are some characteristics of the best journalists that endure. Yes, a facility with language and writing is very helpful, Deborah says. But more importantly, a capacity for doggedness and persistence and an insatiable curiosity to identify and understand the facts are critical in getting to the heart of telling a story. In fact, she says, it’s more like a vocation.

In the first half of this interview, Deborah talks about her career path and major influences before sharing her thoughts and advice for anyone considering a career as a journalist.

If you want to skip the history and go straight to the advice, fast forward to 11:40. Happy listening.