Tunneling Subterranean Veracities of a Broadcast Journalist’s Life

The Ravishing “Michal Divon” Is Never Deficient Of Tails To Narrate

By Sidra Asif

Many believe a good-looking journalist reporting from the field or a presenter reading news inside a studio are in an executive, luxury profession. Well, there is a lot more required to be a journalist. Many tasks other than just information sharing is also part of their job, including fact checks, timelines, interviews, contact lists, Coordination, equipment, accreditations, permissions, lots of traveling, and a lot of meals skipped. One of the most important elements is to keep it together no matter what situation you are in, you must keep your emotions locked beneath and focus on providing unbiased information. Michal Divon is one such courageous and progressive Broadcast Journalist. She has covered all aspects of reporting during her career. Reporting Live or recorded broadcasts from most difficult outdoor and indoor situations.

Michal shared her story with Edgy Magazine and talking about the difficulties of being a broadcast journalist and maintaining the on-screen appearance she said, “Anyone who is a journalist knows it’s not as glamorous as it looks. Truly. Broadcast journalism is a visual medium – and that comes with advantages and disadvantages. I’ve worked at TV stations that have makeup artists and ones without- and there’s no doubt a little bit of (professional) makeup can go a long way but it still doesn’t make one’s lifestyle glamorous- it’s just a visual requirement of the industry. I think it’s a very fine line between the News and The Entertainment industry. News and entertainment are ultimately a product people purchase/ subscribe to and therefore must sell themselves to produce in revenue. Being a Journalist, however, has given me access to some of the most interesting people I’ve met, and has introduced me to new friends I would have never

crossed paths with. I am extremely open about meeting new people of exploring new cultures and I am an open book. I love meeting people and will work as a journalist if this is one of the job requirements.

I remember being sent to Tel Aviv’s Ichilov hospital on one of my days off in 2017 following a terror-related attack. Media was not allowed inside the building which meant we had set up shop outside and report from the street (not something uncommon in our world). I met my cameraman outside the hospital and asked my husband to fetch some equipment I needed from home. When my husband arrived, we had finished one live shot/hit and were waiting to hear when we would be needed next. 2-3 hours passed before we were told we wouldn’t be needed again that evening. Slightly frustrating? Perhaps. Also, very normal for the news cycle. I remember my husband’s reaction- he was shocked at how unglamorous our work really is. How ‘breaking news’ days that seemed urgent and important from the viewer's eyes could be a long waiting game for a reporter. The bottom line, the viewer gets the shiny product. What happens, in reality, is a lot of groundwork, research, and preparation for two minutes on air.”

About her glamour looks and stepping into the entertainment industry she said ”Thank you but you are way too kind. Model-never. I did want to study acting after the army. My father told me I needed a degree (because only those with an undergrad are

“THE PATH OF JOURNALISM IS A PATH OF GREAT UNCERTAINTY. YOU KNOW WHERE THE STARTING POINT IS BUT YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE IT WILL END OR WHERE YOU WILL BE TAKEN ALONG THE WAY.”

considered at the foreign ministry cadet course for diplomats and he secretly wanted me to follow in his footsteps). My father always led by example, this was the one time he took a very stern stance, and as you may have realized by now. I listened to him."

She said “My vision of peace is what we are seeing between Israelis Emiratis and right now- genuine curiosity, people-driven initiatives, openness, new friendships, normalcy and familiarity with one another’s cultures. I see peace as sharing a meal, meeting one another’s families, learning about others' traditions and history while sharing and developing common future plans and dreams. We are experiencing a fascinating moment where a world that up until recently was foreign and unreachable opened up entirely. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I can’t wait to meet future generations that will be born into this new norm.”

On the topic of cultural diversities, she said, “Living abroad We always wanted to share the best of which Israel has to offer; the warmth of the culture, the diversity of our people, and the richness of our culture and beliefs. To me, Israel is a melting pot of Arabic and Jewish culture on the Mediterranean, a recipe that is unique to individuals who were either raised in Israel, or on Israeli ideals. The influences from both East and West, the Middle East, and Europe formed a new identity known as the Israeli sabra. They say we are thorny on the outside and sweet within, and in many ways, this is true of the culture. People are incredibly warm, open, curious, and inviting, but at the same time very dominant and opinionated. I’m sure you’ve heard the term ‘chutzpa’- we all have it ingrained within us. Israelis are incredibly direct, for better and for worse, engaged with one another, and believe in mutual responsibility- an ideal we teach our youth from a very early age. Israel is a very casual and down-to-earth place- we call our teachers by their first name and will not hesitate to disagree with anyone publicly. Having one of the highest numbers of start-ups per capita is no coincidence- Israelis are taught to be creative and innovative from an early age, plus they aren’t afraid to take risks. Ultimately, people in Israel love to live and love. They are passionate and warm and live life to the fullest. I think traveling is an important component for personal growth and a key to better understanding the world. I do believe everyone should live outside their comfort zone at some point in their life and wish everyone had the opportunity, willingly or unwillingly to live in an entirely new & different environment.”

In her message and advice for people following broadcast journalism as a profession, she said, “The path of journalism is a path of great uncertainty. You know where the starting point is but you have no idea where it will end or where you will be taken along the way. A few tips for the journey- don’t stay silent in a toxic environment. There are people to talk to. There are systems in place to protect you. There are people whose job is to listen. And there are places that simply aren’t right for you. I was always lucky to be surrounded by powerful, opinionated, dominant women in my journalism career and I think surrounding yourself with people you look up to is your best insurance policy for personal growth. Regardless of gender, I would say surround yourself with great people who believe in you, elevate you, and want the best for you. This has kept me going during some of my hardest moments. If you are serious about journalism I say- try it first.

Start building your portfolio from an early age. See what it’s like to write, to be published, to be interviewed. Create video content for a YouTube channel (start a YouTube channel) and see what it feels like to speak into the camera and interview someone else. The only way to find out is through experience. Find out what you like. This is probably the most important thing. Find out what you enjoy. I know I had no idea what it means to be a broadcast/ tv journalist when I started working in a newsroom in 2013. I was hooked and understood then that broadcast is my medium. “