Connecting with People in an Unfamiliar Territory

As a journalism student, I look for my sources independently. Connecting with people is not easy for me because of these reasons: I'm uncomfortable talking with new people considering that I'm an introvert; I've been hibernating all my life, and the lockdown has been helpful in that aspect; as well as I'm in an unfamiliar country.

I know that being a journalist requires me to talk with people, familiar or unfamiliar. However, I find connecting with people even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. I also know that the career path I'm trying to take will get me to talk more and be out of my comfort zone all the time.

So there's that. But this is where it gets more interesting. Social media has been unbelievably effective in connecting me with people in Toronto. I'm new here, and I don't know a lot of people. I've never been out lately because of the lockdown and my personal preference.

As I was looking for my sources, I discovered hundreds of Facebook groups specifically created for specific reasons.

Click here to follow the steps in creating a Facebook group.

For example, I found this neighbourhood group on Facebook whose members are mostly a few kilometers away from where I live. That's amazing, by the way. At the same time, it also makes me think that I'm already discoverable because now people will know where to find me.

I also found new people who connected me with other people who may help me with my story assignments. That's even great.

And then there's that moment when I think of how am I to know if they are telling me the truth since I only found them on social media. What challenges do I have to face if I decide to pursue an interview with someone I just met on Facebook?

To address all these questions, I decided that I have to meet them and do the interview. But I will certainly prepare to make sure I'm safe and that the story is authentic.

I believe that journalists face challenges every day in pursuing stories. And overcoming those challenges requires courage and trust in myself and the sources.

I admire connectivity online. Technology has changed the way we communicate with people around the world. Sources are now everywhere. They are online. I only need to find them and type the right keywords to narrow down my search.

If there's something I'm looking forward to in terms of connectivity online, it's the time when we can fully manage the effects of COVID-19 so that we can see more people outside.

Although I'm used to isolation, I still need to see the faces of real people and not just profile photos of them.

If you are planning to grow an engaged Facebook group, here's a quick YouTube tutorial.

Talk to you soon.

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P.S.

This post is part of my 30-day diary, an assignment for my Journalism in Public Life subject. All the embedded links and visuals are attributed. Feel free to leave your comment below or send me a private message if you have questions or clarifications. Thanks for dropping by.