|
MY TAKE
|
|
We invite your contributions to My Take
on issues and concerns of interest to journalists. If you'd like to
submit something, please take the following into account and send it
along to webstaff@poynter.org:
| Keep it brief (750 words or fewer).
Keep it interesting.
Keep it in line with our guidelines |
| |
It's hard to believe that at 22 years old and a few months removed from
college, I'm working as a full-time general assignment reporter for the
Minneapolis Star Tribune. All of my college journalism cronies who
graduated with or before me are also working for daily newspapers,
because they seized priceless journalism opportunities while they were
in school.
I'm gearing this article toward college students -- primarily, those
who are just beginning their journalism careers or who are approaching
the end of their formal education. I understand what you're up against
-- it wasn't long ago that I was in your shoes -- but remember that
there are prime growth opportunities awaiting you, right there on
campus.
Here are five tips to help you increase your chances of earning a full-time
job after you switch your tassel. Remember, this is all from a guy who
just received his college diploma in the mail a few months ago.
(Disclaimer: Hard work and great teaching have helped me up until this point, but, for me, God gets all of the credit.)
1. Don't let the competition for jobs and internships scare you. Let it drive you.
There are a lot of young and talented writers who are yearning for a
position in an industry that lost nearly 2,000 jobs last year. I should
know. I worked with nearly a dozen of them last summer when we were all
interns at the
Star Tribune.
Although my editors help me often, they don't have time to tell
me what
information I should have in a lede or how to write a nut graph. They
expect me to know the basics before Day One. And your editors will
expect nothing less from you.
If you're serious about journalism, then apply for a job with your
campus newspaper or another local publication. Any job. This is where
you'll learn the imperative elementary skills necessary for every
reporter.
You'll also meet some important colleagues and amass clips that future editors will need to see before they give you a chance.
2. Working for a college publication will help you discover your writing interests and teach you how to write on deadline.
While working for a college newspaper, you have a unique opportunity to
explore subjects that interest you. The beauty of this job comes when
you're given the opportunity to write a story that matters to you.
And you'll also learn how to write on deadline, with some great clips that will show editors what you can do under pressure.
Classes are great places to learn writing techniques, but assignments are often simulated.
So step outside of your comfort zone and see what you can do when you don't have much time to do it.
3. Don't pass up other on-campus journalism opportunities.
I've always loved to write. But I also wanted to give broadcast
journalism a shot while I was in school. During my four years of
college, I hosted a campus radio show and held the public-address
announcer position for our football, volleyball and basketball teams.
I didn't learn much about writing, but I learned plenty about effective
communication, which are what we as journalists need on a daily basis.
And I had a lot of fun in the process.
4. You need internships to get in the door.
Maybe you knew this already, but I didn't get my first internship until
after my junior year. If I could go back, I would have applied for
internships at my local paper or community publication during or even
before my freshman year.
You have to start with Number 2, however, if you want serious
consideration even for summer employment. Without solid clips, you're a
long shot.
5. Dream
A lack of foresight is what hurts so many journalism students. We sit
back and dream of one day working for a large publication or TV
station, and then we get discouraged when we find out how much work
those journalists had to put in to get where they are.
But don't give up before you start. I developed a "Why not me?"
mentality in college. Whenever I discovered a good writing or story
opportunity, I said to myself: "Why not me?" That attitude helped me
develop strong clips -- after some long hours -- and earn amazing
job opportunities. And in the process, I found out what it takes to
become a reporter.
