Ask the Recruiter

Q. I'm considering running for an editor position at my college newspaper. I would run for managing editor or senior news editor and would probably get one of those positions.

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But the time commitment is huge -- 40 hours per week. Editors have to be in the office from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and I'm just not sure I'm ready for that kind of commitment.

Can you tell me, from a recruiter's perspective, how important it is for someone in college or just out of college looking for internships or jobs in journalism to have been an editor at his or her college newspaper? I've written for the paper since freshman year (I'm a junior now), and I interned for 10 weeks at The Philadelphia Inquirer last year. Could that experience (and whatever I do next summer) be enough to get me a good job in journalism after I graduate, or should I start to more seriously consider running for an editor position?

Thank you for your help.

Sam

A. A solid internship candidate has good academics, good experience and leadership qualities. Clearly, you can demonstrate two of those qualities. Being an editor would show the third.

But is it worth it?

Joe Grimm

We cannot guarantee that the hours you'd spend working as an editor for your college newspaper would improve your employment chances. You have already worked at a major metro.

Given the high cost of being an editor and the lack of any guarantee that the hours will improve your employment chances, I don't think you have enough reason to do it -- unless you are also driven by an urge to serve your campus and colleagues by being an editor.

Grimm on internships: "Breaking In: The JobsPage.com Guide to Newspaper Internships."

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Coming Thursday: He wants to get into producing news video for online but wonders what kind of equipment he should get.

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