With today’s technology growing by leaps and bounds, the demand for news and information is growing exponentially. This had led to an explosion in the number of college-educated 20-somethings who are seeking to start a career in the field of journalism, and competition among job seekers is at an all-time high.
Even small, local news organizations are bombarded with resumes and inquiries from job seekers looking to get hired. So today, more than ever, applicants who are seeking to land a job at a newspaper, magazine, radio station, television station, website or at a public relations agency must be competitive and experienced.
“Gone are the days when you can get hired for a position in the field of journalism with a college degree and some great clips. Job applicants need experience and lots of it if they want to land a position as a journalist” explained Sam Martin in an exclusive July 2008 sit-down interview. Martin has worked for more than 20 years as an editor for various newspapers and magazines.
Martin added, “A great resume just doesn’t cut it. Even a person with great clips will have a difficult time finding a job. In this industry, it’s all about experience and being able to prove that you can be graceful and efficient under the pressure of deadlines.”
Martin offered an array of tips to aspiring writers, reporters, news photographers and editors who are looking to start a career as a journalist.
Work as an Intern
Inexperienced journalists are unlikely to be hired, particularly when they’re up against experienced, seasoned professionals. This is true when it comes to media positions and most other career fields.
Even small local news organizations are unlikely to hire an aspiring journalist who has only worked with a school newspaper, magazine, radio station or television station, as they are missing the “real-life” newsroom experience that is vital to the development of basic journalism skills like news judgment.
Volunteering or interning in whichever form of journalism interests you – be it print, broadcasting or the web – will equip job seekers with that vital newsroom experience. An internship will also serve as an opportunity for the aspiring journalist to get a foot in the door at a particular news organization. So if a paying position does arise, the intern may be more apt to land the job.
Interning also provides an opportunity to learn a diverse array of skills, which are viewed as valuable by employers.
Unfortunately, internships are typically not paying positions, so it’s often necessary to get a second job in the meantime to pay the bills.
Work for Free
Many small, local news organizations do not have limitless funds at their disposal, so many are forced to make do with the bare minimum when it comes to staff. Therefore, many newspapers, magazines and other news organizations are receptive to students who are willing to volunteer their time to cover night meetings, proofread, edit sound or even just answer phones.
Volunteering for a news organization will equip budding journalists with experience and clips outside the arena of college newspapers and radio/television stations, which is vital when it comes to finding a position in today’s job market.
Work as a Freelancer
News organizations and websites that do not have any available full-time or even part-time positions may still require services on a per diem basis. So freelancing can serve as another way to gain industry experience, while also providing an “in” at a certain news organization in many cases.
Freelancing doesn’t just provide soon-to-be journalists with clips and material. These opportunities can help one gain insight into which news organizations are the most desirable from an employee’s perspective, thereby giving direction to future job searches.
Write for the Web
Strong news writing skills are a vital element of virtually all positions within the field of journalism. Even a photographer must be able to write photo captions and cutlines. And employers place high value on individuals with diverse newsroom skills.
The internet can serve as the perfect place to hone writing skills and to get work published. In some cases, an aspiring writer’s work can be noticed by the right person, leading to new opportunities in the field of journalism.
Start Small
Many 20-somethings who are fresh out of university focus their journalism job search on all the wrong organizations. Large, competitive, nationally-known publications, networks and websites typically receive resumes from hundreds of job applicants, and a young journalist with limited experience is not going to be on the top of the pile, no matter how naturally talented.
Smaller, less competitive news organizations are a great place for recent journalism school graduates to begin their career. The smaller, more local publications, websites, etc. not only receive fewer job applicants, but the less competitive environment is usually more conducive to learning the ropes of the news industry.
Develop and Demonstrate Strong “People Skills”
Effective communication and strong interpersonal skills are a must for journalists.
“I’ve encountered several journalists who had exceptional writing abilities, but socially, they were inept. This is a business where the focus is communication, so it’s vital that you feel comfortable in some very uncomfortable situations,” Martin explained.
He concluded, “You need to be able to walk up to a parent whose only child was just killed before their eyes to ask for an interview. You need to feel comfortable approaching complete strangers to ask for information. And you need to develop and maintain a trusting, beneficial relationship with your regular sources. If I don’t get a sense that you’re comfortable and confident during your interview, then there’s no way you’re getting a call back.”
Experience, confidence and skill diversity are perhaps among the most important elements that journalism job seekers should keep in mind during their search. And in most cases, a budding journalist will not land a job directly out of college unless they've worked extensively in the industry while attending school. But with some dedication, creativity and raw talent, virtually anyone can work their way into the industry.
Related Reading:
* How to Write a Newspaper Article
* How to Make Money Writing Online
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