A Must-Read for Every Struggling Journalist: Robert Krulwich’s phenomenal Berkeley J-School commencement speech

Left to right: Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich

First, for those of you who aren’t familiar with Robert Krulwich: He’s one of the two hosts of Radiolab, a public radio show so brilliant, so smart, and so singularly unique that it literally must be heard to be believed. Thankfully, they’ve got a free podcast, so if you’ve never had the pleasure, do yourself a big favor a download a few shows, stat. [Radiolab podcasts]

And second, I’m not going to say too much about Krulwich’s recent commencement speech, which he gave on May 7 to the 2011 class at Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, because there simply isn’t much I can add that will do it any justice. But trust me on this one, please: If you’re currently involved in the field of journalism, and if you’re anything other that 100 percent thrilled with the way your career is panning out, please take the time to read every word of this truly brilliant speech. 

Krulwich’s words were aimed at people on the verge of entering the field, and this certainly is a more-than-worthy read for any of you would-be journalists out there. But if you happen to be, say, a mid-career freelancer with an entrepreneurial bent, or a beat reporter with a job you generally dislike–or for that matter, if you have a dream of any sort, journalistic or otherwise–this speech may very well make your day. It certainly made mine. [Read it here.]