Last updated on July 6th, 2023 at 11:48 am
The blockchain space has created many job opportunities for people with a diverse range of skills and academic backgrounds. It would be easy to assume that blockchain developers, smart contract engineers, and similar technical roles are the only job opportunities available in the blockchain realm. However, a decentralized economy with different job types exists in the blockchain area. For example, every crypto startup needs a community manager to steer the affairs of the community, ensure that members are not being plagued by fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD), intimate them of happenings in the space, field off questions, and similar things. Similarly, crypto journalists are in vogue in this space.
A crypto-journalist is a crucial job that involves the dissipating of information linked to a crypto startup or the blockchain space in general. For a fast-paced startup, they may hire a crypto-journalist to liaise with decentralized finance publications and post their innovations there.
Usually, a crypto-journalist works in a blockchain publication, news websites, and blogs. They are in charge of investigating, collecting, and presenting the collated information as a news story. Once an important event occurs, they gather information on it and package it to their readers. A crypto-journalist gathers information from different sources, ranging from social media to reports by leaders in the space. If a regulatory authority releases a report stating their findings of their CBDC, the job of the crypto-journalist is to analyze the reply and structure a news story to summarize it.
Journalists in the blockchain space tend to work mostly in online media because that is where their target audience is easily reached. This is unlike other types of journalists that publish their stories in magazines, newspapers, or the radio. The work released by a journalist should be objective and devoid of any sentiments or conclusions. Readers should form their opinions without being manipulated by the words of the journalistic content. Has a DeFi platform been hacked? The crypto-journalist should gather the available information concerning the hack and publish them in a concise manner without creating any opinion.
What is the job description of a Crypto Journalist?
As a journalist that is versed in blockchain technology and the recent occurrences, the crypto-journalist is expected to carry out these activities regularly:
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Pitch stories related to the blockchain space
Usually, a crypto-journalist works with an editor, who is in charge of authorizing the pieces that are published on the news website or blog. In some publications, the reporter may have to draft out potential crypto content ideas and table them before the editor to get the necessary authorization. This may not be possible in every case, especially to prevent the news from being stale before it is published. If it is an investigational piece, the story may have to be pitched, and its source has to be vetted to ensure that inaccurate information is not fed to the public.
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Work with writers
Journalists tend to work with writers to develop the story surrounding an event. Sometimes, a publication may offer different sections, ranging from describing the innovations in the blockchain space such as Non-Fungible Tokens, DAO, Cross-Chain Bridge, to publishing news articles. The crypto-journalist tends to do the latter. They, sometimes, write collaborative pieces with writers.
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Seeking accurate sources
Sources come in different forms. It could be the report published by the government to a Twitter post uploaded by an exchange announcing a feature. Sometimes, the source could be hidden, especially if it is an investigational piece. The job of a journalist in the blockchain space is to seek accurate sources of information and vet them to ensure that they are authentic.
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Write engaging crypto news pieces
The crypto space is fast-paced, as innovations are released regularly. Funding announcements and even hack attempts occur regularly. A crypto-journalist has to be on their toes, searching for the news and drafting the content immediately to ensure that it doesn’t become stale. The result of the job process of a blockchain journalist is to create engaging and concise news pieces.
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Discussing with other team members
As time elapses, a content team may make tweaks to their processes and style. For this to happen, the team of writers, journalists, reporters, and editors may brainstorm and come with a better idea to improve the user experience of their readers. A crypto-journalist will have to attend meetings and chip in where necessary.
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Understanding of SEO
The aim of every publication is to be read, and that is why SEO and its optimization tools are being used. A crypto-journalist will use SEO tools in their work to ensure that the news pieces are ranked highly during a search on Google and other search engines.
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Usage of content creation and management tools
A crypto-journalist does not only source and create the content, they also have to work with content creation and management tools like WordPress. They are expected to upload their content using these tools and ensure that they are appealing to the eyes of their readers.
What are the similar names to the crypto-journalist?
Similar names to the crypto-journalist are a crypto content writer, crypto writer, crypto content lead, SEO blog content writer, technical writer, content writer, content strategist, and blockchain copywriter. Some job adverts carry these different titles, and in most cases, they mean the same or possess slight variation.
What are the skill sets of a crypto-journalist?
A crypto-journalist is expected to possess the following skills sets by employers:
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A degree in English, Journalism, or similar fields
Usually, in a job advert, an employer requests that their potential crypto-journalist possess a Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, communications, marketing, economics, or related field. This is not a strict rule, as some do not request this.
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Communication skills
Crypto-journalist communicates their findings to their readers, and it is crucial that they possess excellent writing and verbal communication skills. Not only do they interact with their readers, but they will also have to develop a fruitful relationship with stakeholders. They may have to interview external stakeholders in the blockchain space for a piece, and communication skills are important.
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Investigative skills
Journalists need to find the story, connect the dots across different information, then create a piece that makes coherent meaning. They should be able to inform their readers why the news is important and their sources, if possible.
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Understanding of blockchain and its features
A crypto-journalist should have used cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and similar blockchain features, as well as understood them. This makes it easier to communicate to their readers.
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Content creation skills
Companies tend to look for those that have created online content in the past and have used different content styles to communicate to their readers.
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Interpersonal skills
Usually, a crypto-journalist will work with editors, writers, and even design to create a single and compelling voice for its audience. Journalists have to possess interpersonal skills to ensure that they relate with both insiders and outsiders effectively.
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Time management skills
In a fast-paced world, news pop up quickly and becomes stale at the same rate. A crypto-journalist should be able to draft out the news and publish them immediately. Time management skills are an important skill set that every crypto-journalist must possess.
What are the credible courses to take as a crypto-journalist?
A potential crypto-journalist should have taken the following courses:
- A Bachelor in English, Journalism, or related courses.
- A Master’s in similar courses.
- A course in the blockchain. Some of these courses are available on Coursera, Khan Academy, Udemy, and other online educational services.
- Follow Blockchain educational channels on YouTube.
- Read up on blockchain explanatory articles on Binance Academy and DeFi Planet.
What companies hire a crypto-journalist?
Usually, crypto journalists are employed by news websites and publications that are focused on Decentralized Finance, Blockchain, Non-Fungible Tokens, and similar technologies. They can also be hired by crypto startups that have a blog or website that is designed to intimate their users about their innovations.
In Conclusion,
- Technical jobs are not the only ones available in the blockchain space.
- A journalist can work in the crypto space, gathering and drafting news pieces concerning happenings.
- A crypto-journalist needs an understanding of blockchain and journalism to work effectively.
- A blockchain journalist can work in both a publication and the media branch of a crypto startup.
- A crypto startup must have an in-depth understanding of blockchain and its architecture to work effectively.
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