Tuesday Transformation - Anmar Goodridge-Boyce

Multimedia Journalist, The Nation Publishing Co. Limited

Who is Anmar Goodridge-Boyce?

A confident and courageous twenty-year-old young man who is striving for excellence in a career of journalism, particularly the field of sports. I attended the Alexandra School and I am in the process of completing my second degree, a bachelor of science in media and journalism.

What does a typical day for Anmar look like?

No day is ever the same for me working in the media fraternity. I have learnt never to make plans for after work activities because in the blink of an eye those plans can be destroyed by the unpredictable nature of the news world. I am currently a multimedia journalist at the Nation Publishing Co. Limited. On a day to day basis my duties include: Writing news and sports articles for the online and newspaper mediums, conducting interviews and editing videos.

Why did you choose Journalism as a career?

I like to say Journalism chose me. On leaving secondary school I had no idea of a career path but was simply intrigued by Deejays and radio announcers so I wanted to be one. After a few conversations with friends I decided to apply at a number of media houses and was accepted by the online newspaper Barbados TODAY. Following a successful two month internship, I decided to pursue a course of study in mass communications.

What is your most memorable story/experience to date?

My most memorable journalism experience to date is being trusted by the Nation Newspaper to provide coverage of the Aftermath of Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas in September 2019. It is an assignment that will forever stick in my memory as long as I am a journalist. It changed my perspective on life forever.

What advice would you give someone who is interested in pursuing a career in Journalism?

Listen Listen and do some more listening. There are so many words of advice one can offer to someone pursing a career in journalism. I think it is important for young up-coming reporters to be brave, ask questions, and have a willingness to learn from the veteran reporters who have been at this stage before. Also be humble and get a mentor or mentors. The only way young reporters like myself will strive in this island is if we have high standards and aspire to be like the Anderson Coopers , Jake Tappers , Dana Bash and Erin Burnetts. Be independent and always be credible and report the facts regardless. Be prepared to work hard, journalism isn't for people who are lazy.

What would you consider to be three (3) top skills of a successful Journalist?

Accuracy, honesty and a sense of great awareness.

As a young Journalist, how do you remain grounded and humble?

It takes a village to raise a child and it also takes an entire newsroom to raise a young Journalist. From the lowest ranked employee to the Chief Executive Officer, my entire office plays an integral role in supporting me, ensuring that I remain grounded and humble with encouraging words and also being harsh at times with my best interest at heart. God and my parents , family and close friends also help me along the way. While it is hard at times to ignore negative criticism, I try to always look at the positive side of the coin.