Looking for a job in high school? Get a job at a local newspaper, even if it is sorting out their mail. When you come back home for summers, you may be looking at a promotion to something more along the lines of what you’re looking for, and it’ll be easy to sink into. When your extracurriculars match up to your passion and the field you want to break into, you’ll stand out as a candidate for your desired program.
Anything is good, but studying technology is probably best. If you know HTML, CSS, Photoshop, Javascript, and everything in between, you won’t have to stay in print media (which is, to be frank, a dying art). Computer science and related fields will give you a leg up into digital media. [1] X Trustworthy Source US Bureau of Labor Statistics U. S. government agency that collects and reports labor-related information Go to source Landing an awesome journalism gig is hard. What’s more, if you have a double major, you have a back up should you need it. Consider getting a minor instead, if a double major is for some reason unfeasible.
There are likely groups that you don’t even realize could give you writing and reporting opportunities. Many groups have newsletters and publicity people whose job is to get the name of the organization out there. That could be you. If you’re very active and involved in your community, then you’ll stand out to colleges because you’re so driven and work with others so well.
This will give you great material should you be looking for freelance gigs. You’ll essentially be a location reporter doing international news. What’s more, the competition in the West is intense. If you go to a different country with different language and cultural skills, it’ll be easier to land a gig to pad that resume. Another plus? It’ll help you learn a foreign language. When you go to apply for real adult jobs, saying you can speak another language is a definite perk.
Remember, this isn’t 100% necessary. Plenty people do it the hard way and just put in the work, building up their portfolio, and trying to make connections. If more education doesn’t apply to you, don’t stress. There are other ways. Look for a program that’s nationally recognized. For example, in the UK, you’d be looking for a program that’s affiliated with the National Council for the Training of Journalists, or the NCTJ. [2] X Research source There are also shorter courses you can take affiliated with major institutions that only last a couple of months. They give you a certificate at the end, showing everyone that you have the basic skills to cut it out there in the field.
Most companies go on to hire from their intern pool. If you can’t get a full-time paying gig initially, consider an internship to get your foot in the door.
You will have to pitch ideas to various editors; they won’t be handed to you. Find out the name of the editor of the department you want to work for, and shoot them an email. Link them to some of you work and give them a full-fledged picture of what you want to write. If the bait is good, they’ll bite. And that’s money in your pocket and possibly a byline for your name.
It seems silly, but put effort into getting a following on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and all those other trendy websites that show the world how popular you are. The wider your digital presence, the more you will be taken seriously.
At certain jobs, this will be requested of you. Many journalists find themselves in one department and end up helping out their coworkers in others. You could get asked to do a radio interview, fill in for a TV broadcaster, or edit some footage for a friend who’s running behind. They’re great opportunities to improve your skills.
A good reporter has three kinds of source material: by researching the written record, interviewing those involved, and observing the events at hand. [3] X Research source When at all possible, have all these sources available to make your news engaging and full of vivid detail. Alternatively, consider an internship, which will provide valuable “field experience” and allow you to understand your industry at a deeper level.
Some people do choose to start in these larger markets, and sometimes it works for them. If you have the money and the means, it’s worth giving a shot – just know you’re starting out against some of the fiercest competition in the world.
That is, it will bloom if you’re constantly looking for opportunities. Always keep your eyes peeled for the next big story and for the next big story for you. Doors don’t open themselves, you know. Opportunities have to be created.
Research the person you’re interviewing. Know what you’re interviewing them about, their interests, and even how this lines up with yours. Dress for the occasion. If you’re just meeting for coffee on a Monday morning, you can be casual. Dress how you think they’ll be dressing. Make conversation. Don’t bust out your pad and paper immediately. Be friendly and casual. This way you’ll get to their true personality, not some papered version of them.
This means when there’s an opening in the broadcasting department of a local TV station, you’re on it, because you’ve got the writing skills. But when there’s a position coming available as an editor of a local magazine, you can do that, too. Most people can’t.
A large part of this industry is truly about being relate-able and friendly. You have to be friendly to make connections, friendly with interviews, and relate-able on TV and through the written word. In short, people have to like you. Which brings us to. . .
Your schedule over time will be a little wacky, too. You’ll end up working over holidays, weekends, in the middle of the night – and then sometimes there will be slumps where it feels like nothing is going on. This is just how it is. There isn’t anything quite like it.
The Internet is the world’s greatest platform for negative comments. It’s important to realize that everyone has different opinions and not everyone is going to agree with you. Take others’ words with a grain of salt. If your company likes your work, you’re probably okay.
Be sure to always be conscious of your stress levels. If you feel it building up, add yoga, meditation, or even a night devoted to a glass of wine and a good book to your routine. If you’re stressed, your work life and your home life will suffer, so it’s best avoided.
Ideally, you’re aiming for straightforward, likeable, and articulate, amongst other positive qualities. And the only way to work on your weak spots is if you know what they are. The more self-awareness you have, the easier it will be to tweak your performance.
They are courageous. They need to seek out a story, taking risks with interviews and publishing their name to a piece they know not everyone will like. They are relentless. A story doesn’t develop on its own. They often do months of research just for one idea. They are open-minded. A good news story comes from an angle that hasn’t been explored. To see that angle, they think outside of the box.
