Curiosity and discipline are the most important qualities for a journalist

Introduce yourself in a few sentences!

My name is Daniela Krastanova, I was born in Sofia, I have been a journalist for more than 10 years, the last of which I have been an editor at “Trud”. I deal with various topics, mainly related to culture – theater, cinema, literature, music, and show business, but often with all the others. I graduated in “Journalism”, then “Producing and Creative Industry”, and then “Digital Marketing” - I love creative activities, I have also worked in digital marketing and advertising.

What did you dream of becoming in your childhood?

Since I was a child, I knew that I would be involved in journalism and media. As a child, I wanted to be a television presenter, but later I discovered my love for reading and writing, for the magic of written text, and so the path unconsciously directed me towards online and print media, although I have experience in several television stations.

At what age did you earn your first money? Tell us an interesting story?

In my earliest childhood years, I had a strong “entrepreneurial spirit” and together with other children, we sold all sorts of things – plums or toys at improvised stalls on the street, there was always some familiar passerby who would buy something for small change – but even then I realized the satisfaction of earning your own money, even if in a childish way.
As I grew older, I did not work anything different from the media - that’s where my first earned money came from. I knew what I wanted to do and did not want to waste time on some student job, as many of my peers did. From the first year at university, I started various internships in media, where you receive minimal or no payment, but you gain valuable experience and contacts that turn out to be much more valuable. And today I keep many close friendships from those years; they were a great period for me!

What are the main factors and examples that shape us as individuals at an early age and form our interests? What is your recipe for curiosity, sources, and wells of information and inspiration at this stage of our human development?

I have always admired talented people a lot, but since this is a gift from God and we do not choose it ourselves, I am also very impressed by hardworking, consistent, and goal-oriented people who do not complain but act without scattering. From smart, reading people! Purely professionally, the most important quality for a journalist, in my opinion, is to be naturally curious – about people, their stories, the reasons something happens or does not happen, to be as it is. The preliminary preparation for each topic and for each interlocutor is also important. I place immense importance on accuracy in communication, in agreements, and work commitments in general. I am extremely disciplined, I do not postpone anything until the last moment, and I take deadlines seriously – that’s how it should be when you value your time – you value the time of others as well.

Has there been any significant change in your perceptions in a more mature age about what motivates you to do or not do something?

I realized that your attitude towards people is key to how they perceive you. It is always better to smile when you meet someone, regardless of whether in a professional or personal context, to say something nice, to be polite and positive is always the right approach. Being well-dressed and looking good, taking care of yourself is also important in today’s world. Arrogant looks, excessive ego, and eternally frowning faces are something I would like to change over time. In my work, I meet many successful and popular personalities and I see that those with proven successes and results behind them are much easier to communicate with than the “one-day wonders” who raise their noses because someone recognizes them on the street. This no longer impresses me, and often it is even funny. But I will repeat myself – good manners and tact in communication never go out of style and are not transient, especially for a lady.

Whose decision was it where to pursue higher education and what to study? Was this decision correct, viewed from today’s perspective?

As I mentioned earlier, I knew from a young age that I wanted to study journalism, so there was no room for doubt about which direction to take. The master’s degree in “Producing” was a natural continuation. I enrolled in digital marketing later when I realized that it is everywhere around us and whether willingly or unwillingly, we are constant consumers of it. I believe I am good at it since it has a lot in common with journalism – well-written, interesting, and literate text is the foundation of this profession, along with creativity and appropriately selected visuals. In both professions, it is important to be able to communicate well and to look through the eyes of others – the readers or potential clients, respectively.

Share more about your interests, knowledge, skills, and hobbies?

I love to read – mainly books related to psychology, personal development, and autobiographies; novels are not my thing. I adore theater, I do not miss interesting new performances, and I am glad that even now during the summer, more and more outdoor festivals are being held, which have a great atmosphere and through them, even the less mainstream audience discovers the magic of this art. I love going to concerts, I also love good cinema – from old classics to new Bulgarian films, among which, contrary to many opinions, I believe there have been hits in recent years. Apart from that, my best “therapy” is a walk somewhere in nature or even on the treadmill at the gym – then I turn up my favorite music on my headphones and turn off my phone for complete relaxation.

Would you change your profession today and which areas of activity capture your interest?

I love journalism and although its objectivity, quality, and independence have been seriously tested in recent years, I still believe that there is meaning in it and that it is what I am good at. Still, I think that journalism and the skills that working in media builds can be related to other forms of content creation, so the horizons are always open for some new skill – nowadays it is particularly important to adapt quickly to changes and new realities. I am increasingly interested in the world of artificial intelligence and recently even enrolled in a course in this area - it is always good to take time for development.

They say that personal branding is everything that people say about you when you are not in the same room with them. What would you like to hear today?

I strive to be accurate and correct in my relationships with others - this is the quality I consider the most valuable and I hope to possess it. People will always prefer to work and communicate with someone who values their words, keeps their agreements, is on time, and does what they promised to do, within the timeframe they committed to. No matter how good you are at something, if you lack these qualities, sooner or later others will tire of tolerating a non-serious attitude.
And another equally important thing - nowadays there are dozens of people who can do a given task, and you will choose to work with the one who is positive, smiling, and welcoming. I strive to be that way with the people I meet because in the end, everyone prefers to surround themselves with personalities among whom they simply feel good – in work or personal relationships.

Emotional intelligence, adaptability, and flexibility, as well as our soft skills, are key conditions for success in recent years. How do you cope with the daily challenges of life to stay in good shape and mood?

With good organization, by trying to do things in the best possible way as early as possible. Preparation, proper time management, and prioritizing are essential qualities for success nowadays. Regarding fitness and mood – I believe a lot in positive thinking, that thoughts largely govern our lives, and therefore I pay attention to what I spend time and attention on.

What are the most important conclusions you have made so far for maintaining proper communication considering the different characters of the people you meet daily – colleagues, friends, relatives?

As I mentioned earlier, being accurate and positive is a mandatory condition for successful communication for me. As well as being able to listen when communicating with someone. Good manners and moderation are also equally important. I do not like overly loud and intrusive people, I stay away from intrigues and gossip, especially in the workplace. Being able to control your emotions is also a very valuable quality because especially we women are often prone to speak before we think – over time I learned to count to 10, as they say, before reacting.

What do you think about money? What is their influence on your life? What is your advice to people who often ask themselves questions related to money and how sufficient they are?

Money is the result of well-done work, of correctness and adaptability, of being good at something and deserving it. You cannot do anything solely for the purpose of making money and expect it to work well in the long term if you do not invest persistence and do not have skills.

What is the most valuable career advice you would give to people?

No matter how clichéd it may sound, the most valuable advice is to be persistent and purposeful. Many times you will hear “no”, but in the end, often it takes just one “yes”. The main thing is to be passionate about what you do, to find it interesting, to be excited, to want to be better, not for the profit it will bring you, but for the satisfaction that today you are better than yesterday, that you are developing and that you are one step closer to your dream.