A career in journalism allows you to work in a fast-paced environment where every day is different. A person seeking a career in journalism must possess excellent writing and interviewing skills, as well as a keen news sense, the ability to meet tight deadlines, and a college diploma. To break into journalism, a person must be willing to work their way up from the bottom, perhaps as an unpaid intern, and show that he or she is a worthy reporter. A budding journalist must be willing to work irregular hours and network with editors, other journalists, and other community contacts.
A bachelor’s degree is frequently required for jobs in journalism. A bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications is frequently sufficient for employment. A master’s degree in journalism or communications can help a person break into the field of journalism.
A person can gain journalism experience while in college by working for his or her college newspaper. Obtaining an internship while still in college can also help a person land a job in journalism. While internships are frequently unpaid or pay very little, they allow a person to work at a real newspaper, magazine, or television station. Internships also allow a person to build a portfolio and make contacts in the field of journalism, which may come in handy later on.
A person must continue to write after earning a degree. A person’s journalism skills can be honed by reading local newspapers. Reporters are hired by local newspapers to cover meetings such as school committees, city council meetings, and planning board meetings. Covering local high school football games or other local sports is another way to break into journalism, particularly sports writing. Working at a local paper is an excellent way to learn how to manage deadlines while also building a portfolio of published work.
A person interested in pursuing a career in journalism will need to network in order to find work. As early as high school or college, potential journalists should begin making contacts. Along the way, a person’s career path should include maintaining relationships with professors, college editors, and other journalists who may have contacts that can lead to a job.
Finding a mentor can go a long way toward assisting someone in breaking into the field of journalism. Many seasoned journalists remember what it was like to break into the industry and are willing to mentor a newcomer. A mentor is someone who can share his knowledge and serve as a sounding board for others. A person interested in becoming a journalist must be willing to ask a seasoned journalist to mentor them.