How two industries that are seemingly worlds apart, are more alike than you think.

I never thought I’d leave Journalism.

Why would I? It was everything I’d ever wanted: fast-paced, intellectually demanding and always plugged into the pulse of the world. Every day was different; one minute I was covering breaking news, clinching a lead that no other news outlet had and racing across the country to share it onscreen first. The next, I was stood in the heart of a newsroom, navigating camera crews, reporters and guests as we watched history unfold on screens blasting so loudly it was hard to hear yourself think.

Most importantly to me, I was always meeting new people; being offered insights into some of the best and worst moments of their lives, forming connections in the most unlikely of places and learning things about the world I would never have known without experiencing it firsthand. I’ve stood and shivered with cameramen in -12 degrees at 4am trying to get the perfect sunrise shot, I’ve shared late night coffees (always terrible) and takeaways with writers and producers as we’ve worked through the night covering elections, and I’ve cried with parents who’ve lost their children to stabbings, hit-and-runs, and illness.

Journalism wasn’t just my job, it was my identity, shaping me into the person I am today.

So, when I found myself considering a move into the utilities sector I’ll admit, I hesitated. To me, utilities seemed like the polar opposite of life in the media. Slow-moving. Uninspiring. A world of pipes, grids and systems buried underground…not exactly the stuff of breaking news.

I joined Skewb with cautious curiosity, expecting to feel like an outsider peering into a world completely foreign to me. Instead, I was surprised and quickly captivated by just how dynamic, forward-thinking, and yes, even fast-paced the utilities sector could be.

What I once saw as two divergent industries, media and utilities, have far more in common than I imagined.

People

At their core, both media and utilities are about people. Where journalism seeks to inform and engage, utilities quietly enables our everyday lives; powering homes, fuelling economies, and sustaining communities. Just like a good news story, delivering utilities requires accuracy, urgency and accountability.

What’s surprised me most is how human this industry is. Through Skewb’s in-house recording studio, I’ve met and interviewed more than 100 colleagues and clients from across the sector. Everyone’s path into utilities is unique (take my own as just one example), and each conversation opens my eyes to new challenges being overcome or opportunities being seized. I used to chase stories; now, I uncover them in the voices and experiences of the people around me.

Connections

While the connections I made in media were always out and about, in the field, a lot of my connections have been made within the heartbeat of the Skewb offices. In journalism, we are all extroverts. Naturally, it goes with the territory, you are not afraid to speak your mind and you approach your work in the same way. Although news packages offer fresh top lines, they are all constructed the same way; nice scenic shots, good scripting, couple of short clips from guests, and a final thought and killer shot. But working in utilities I have marvelled at the different personality types and the different approaches to work. Once I learned my new language (the amount of acronyms in utilities literally makes it feel like stepping into a new country) I took stock of the exceptional skills around me and the way at framing work I had never considered. Journalism is fast turnarounds and tight deadlines, whereas utilities is all about the long game and that’s helped me grow as a professional.

In journalism, connections are often made in the field. At Skewb, those connections are forged at the heart of the business. Here, I’ve found a different rhythm, one where relationships are built not on fast turnarounds but on deep collaboration.

Journalists are natural extroverts; unafraid to ask questions, push boundaries and get to the truth. But in utilities, I’ve encountered a rich spectrum of personalities and approaches to work that I never experienced in media. At first, I felt like a tourist in a new country, learning the language (I fear I will never learn all the acronyms) and adapting to a completely different cadence. But that change in pace, from daily deadlines to long-term planning, has helped me grow in ways I never expected.

Storytelling

What hasn’t changed is the storytelling. That part of me remains, it’s just evolved. Instead of reporting the news, I’m now helping to shape the story of a sector in transformation. From digital innovation to sustainability goals, utilities is undergoing a major evolution and I get to be part of telling that narrative from the inside.

In journalism, each day I would be assigned a new story to tell. And with utilities, each job brings with it an opportunity to shape a new narrative. From sharing event updates, to posting on social media, filming with clients, leading go-to-market campaigns and hosting internal events, each story is important because it means something to me. In journalism, I reported on the world around me. At Skewb, I’m part of the story, living and breathing it every day. And that makes it all the more meaningful.

I never thought I’d leave journalism.

But I’ve discovered that passion, purpose and pace don’t belong to just one industry. Sometimes, you just have to shift your lens to see the story unfolding in a new light.

By Jessica Milligan

Jessica Milligan is Head of Audience Engagement at Skewb. To speak with her about this topic in more detail, you can connect with her on LinkedIn.