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Courses Quote by Michael Pollan

“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
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“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

Source Interview: The New Yorker, Michael Pollan, 2012

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.

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