A great many people who want to be writers say that they want to have a career in journalism. They may envision themselves going to exotic locales to cover stories. While these things do happen to journalists, it takes a long time to make your bones before you are sent on any interesting assignments.
A journalist is someone who reports on timely events. Timing is everything to a journalist. Whether you write for a periodical or a newspaper, you need to make sure that your articles are timely. Your purpose is to keep the public as up to date as possible when it comes to news and events that may affect them. This is the basic concept of being a journalist.
You should report on all sides of a story, not just take one side, even if it appears that one side is right or wrong. A good journalist gets all sides of the story, prints it and then lets the reader decide, based upon the article. A good journalist does not make up the reader's mind for them.
As you continue in your career, you will find your voice when it comes to your writing. Do not be surprised if your first articles are rewritten by your editor. Another rule that you need to learn when you are starting a career as a journalist is to not fall in love with your own work. Do not feel hurt if an editor does not like a phrase in your article, or makes some changes. They are only doing their job. You will soon get to know the editor and they will get to know your style of writing.