Skip to content

One of the skills of a journalist, though, is to find…

“One of the skills of a journalist, though, is to find people who can teach him what he needs to know. So instead of taking courses, I've been very lucky in that I found teachers - scientists, especially - who were willing to teach me what I needed to know, whether it was about genetically modified…” quote by Michael Pollan
Download Open image
“One of the skills of a journalist, though, is to find people who can teach him what he needs to know. So instead of taking courses, I've been very lucky in that I found teachers - scientists, especially - who were willing to teach me what I needed to know, whether it was about genetically modified crops or how photosynthesis works, and so on. I just find my teachers and don't have to pay for my education.”

Michael Pollan

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Journalists learn best by seeking expert mentors, turning real‑world experience into knowledge without formal courses.

In simple terms: Learning from experts beats classroom learning.

Key Takeaway

Find mentors, learn directly.

Themes

journalism learning mentorship

Mood

curious inquisitive

Type

advice inspirational

When to use this quote

  • reporting
  • science communication
  • career development
  • personal growth

Key Concepts

experiential learning knowledge acquisition

Questions to Reflect On

  • Who can teach you what you need?
  • What barriers stop you from seeking mentors?
A Different Perspective

Finding mentors can be time‑consuming.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Michael Pollan

Explore all 584 Michael Pollan quotes

More Courses quotes

Browse all 6,995 Courses quotes