Journalism gave one reporter the ability to travel the world to be there when things happen. For News Decoder, her stories take us into outer space.
When you read a published article on News Decoder, you’re only seeing part of the story. Who is writing it? What went into reporting the story? Why were they interested in this topic in the first place?
To answer some of those questions, we present “Correspondents in the Spotlight.” In a series of video conversations, we introduce you to the professional journalists behind News Decoder, go in-depth on their latest articles, discover their career paths and learn about their writing process — and how they overcome some of the same difficulties that young writers face.
In today’s Spotlight, we speak to freelance journalist, Tira Shubart.
In 1990, when South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was released after 25 years in prison, Tira Shubart was there. It was just one historic moment that the journalist was there to witness.
In 1991, in Moscow, she had a front row seat to the 1991 coup mounted against Mikhail Gorbachev, leader of the Soviet Union at the time. Shubart’s work has taken her to more than 60 countries. She has reported on wars, politics, the environment, public health — and everything in between.
For News Decoder she’s covered a range of topics from Vietnam war reporters to volcanic eruptions. But often, she looks up to cover what’s happening in space — from NASA’s Christmas present to the world to the possibility of international war over space exploration and the feasibility of outer space as a climate alternative to Earth.
“I have always been fascinated by space,” she said. “I’ve always been passionate about space since I was a child and sadly no one has asked me to be a journalist in space yet. I will happily accept any invitations.”
Stories about space revolve around scientific exploration, the origins of the universe, manned space flight and international cooperation.
“It gives you a great perspective,” she said.
The global connections of space
Space research pushes the boundaries of modern science. Rivalries around space exploration speed up the development of technology but nations work together in a multitude of ways and that is exemplified in work on the International Space Station.
The station is a model for international cooperation. Astronauts from different countries work together on scientific research projects. Their work pushes scientific advances, for example, in water purification and in space weather. These have significant impacts on our day-to-day lives on Earth.
“The International Space Station is 240 miles above us, that’s 400 kilometers,” she said. “I wish instead of driving from London to Liverpool. I could just point my car straight up and go up and say hello to the International Space Station. It’s not very far.”
While the theme of space can seem distant and difficult to grasp to some, Shubart has a way of connecting them to our everyday experiences.
“Nothing would happen without satellites,” she said. “We wouldn’t be able to have this conversation.” We wouldn’t be able to send emails, use WhatsApp, check accurate weather forecasts, watch TV, use an ATM, order online, track packages, monitor stock markets — the list goes on. What goes on in space matters and we need people to write about it.
A simple approach to writing
Shubart grew up in a home in which the news and politics were a daily topic of conversation.
“It was a natural thing to go into [journalism] with my background and journalists were always held in high regard in my family,” she said.
For Shubart, the tighter the deadline, the better. Having a big story break with little time to turn it around gives her an adrenaline rush. “I like the process of news gathering,” she said.
These days, Shubart trains journalists. When she does, she often underlines the importance of engaging the audience. As a writer you need to grab the audience’s attention and invite them to read on — or give them no choice but to read on.
“You’ve got to find the right way in and once you do that the rest of the story tends to naturally flow,” she said. “Have a strong beginning and a strong end and give people a reason for wanting to read or listen or watch and you have to do that very, very quickly at the start of a story.”
She stresses the importance of going back to basics. When you listen to children telling stories, they inevitably start somewhere interesting.
“Don’t be fancy,” she said. “Tell us a story that has a beginning and middle and end and you don’t even have to do it in that order.”
Her advice for young journalists: “Be a storyteller,” she said. “It’s as simple as that: Be a storyteller.”
Cathal O’Luanaigh is News Decoder’s program and communications manager. Cathal is an educator, linguist and creative with a particular interest in international development, global citizenship and the arts. He has a background in Geography (BA), Commercial Music Production (Diploma) and Development and Emergency Practice (MA). Irish, raised in Brussels and now based in Madrid, he has lived and worked in Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, Uganda and Vietnam.