One of the most famous and loved journalists of Independent Armenia expressed an opinion during our conversation, which relates not only to our field. According to him, the journalist who works for the salary alone and limits his work by working hours and the frameworks of the responsibilities cannot be a good journalist. For example, if his working hour ends at 18:00, but he is informed of something and does not want to work on the material, does not publish the information reasoning as if he is paid only until 18:00, then that journalist is not a real professional. A journalist is the person who burns from desire of seeking for stories and publishing information. If that irresistible aspiration does not exist, then the journalist does not exist either, regardless of BA and MA diplomas in journalism that the person may have. Many of us (me included), do not have diplomas in journalism, and it does not disturb us at all. It is difficult to imagine a lawyer or a doctor without diplomas. This is the huge difference between our profession and others.
However, there is also a similarity in all professions. Imagine two persons with diplomas in medical science, one of them hearing the patient, prescribing drugs (perhaps right ones according to textbooks) and forgets about the patient at the next moment. And the second one tries to understand not only the reasons of the illness, but also the psychology of the patient, his subjective feelings and keeps in touch with him. Which one is a real professional and who will the patients prefer the most? I think the answer is clear. The same can be said about the teacher, whose thoughts and aspirations are not limited by the 45 minutes of the class and repeating the same words and formulations year by year. (Moreover, any person of my age and any given profession should freely convey his experience and knowledge to the youths. Of course, if the youths wish that.)
The same principle of “exceeding the frameworks” relates to the advocate, worker, farmer, actor – all of them.
I want to say that professionalism is not only knowledge and skills. It is also about how one treats his own work, people and society. Such professionals are largely demanded today.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
