Journalism has been around since the Middle Ages, when the printing press came on the scene (thanks to Johannes Gutenberg). Till a few years back, newspapers were the primary way people learned about what was going on in their communities and in the world.
Now, with the advent of online media and the Internet, the attraction of print journalism as a career has faded for many college graduates. However, there are still many journalism jobs, especially in broadcast and online. Print journalism opportunities are probably more visible in periodicals.
Types of Journalism Jobs
One great aspect of journalism is the variety it offers graduates. Positions are not limited to newspapers, magazines, TV, and radio. They also include public relations, photojournalism, editing, advertising, and new media (such as e-zines and online marketing).
As for types of jobs within these areas, there are plenty: staff writer, editor, analyst, copywriter, and news manager. Job duties vary between companies, but all require strong writing skills, flexibility, and the ability to handle stressful deadlines on a regular basis.
Other Job Requirements
In addition to being able to write well, journalists need to have a variety of other skills: technical (a variety of software and multimedia), research, interviewing, and word processing. Having the ability to travel – sometimes great distances – to cover stories is a plus.
Some newspapers prefer hiring candidates who have degrees in completely different fields as well, such as political science, biology, or economics. For entry-level jobs in journalism, look online at job boards and at the websites of newspapers and magazines.
10 Tips for Getting Jobs in Journalism
• CHOOSE THE RIGHT COLLEGE – ONE WITH A REPUTABLE JOURNALISM PROGRAM. That way, you can be sure you're learning the trade from the best instructors. These colleges usually have high quality student newspapers where you can learn many of the same things you'd learn in a job.
• TAKE ON AN INTERNSHIP WHILE STILL IN COLLEGE. On-the-job experience will give you an edge over other candidates who don't have that experience. For broadcast students, this could be a reporter position for your campus radio or TV station. For print journalism students, you could take on part-time work at your town's local newspaper.
• LEARN SPEED-WRITING OR SHORTHAND. This comes in very handy when taking notes during interviews or at press conferences. Especially when you're trying to record quotes accurately. Even if you're using a tape recorder, it's a good idea to take notes as well. Transcribing notes from a recorded interview can be time-consuming – a problem when you're on a deadline.
• ON YOUR RESUME, STRESS DIFFERENT AREAS OF EXPERTISE – such as sports, politics, or art. Journalists need to know a lot about several different subjects, so they can do a better job of covering different stories.
• (For broadcast positions) GET COMFORTABLE WITH SEEING YOURSELF ON VIDEO. Submit some sample video clips of yourself along with your resume.
• BE WILLING TO START SMALL. Because weeklies don't pay as much as daily papers, they're great places for budding journalists to start out. Once you've at least a year of experience there, it will be much easier to move up into management positions or go on to larger publications. This also applies to broadcast positions – you may have to work your way up to an anchor or reporter position.
• KEEP UP WITH CURRENT EVENTS. This is important for the job, but also for the interview. That's because potential employers will likely want to test your knowledge with random questions about different issues.
• BECOME FAMILIAR WITH COMPUTER SOFTWARE. Being able to use programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint can make you much more valuable in the newsroom, where files may need to be transferred to or from other departments. You'll also need to learn how to use a content management system, and possibly even a little HTML.
• DEVELOP MULTIMEDIA SKILLS. As time goes on, these will become increasingly important as digital technology continues to grow. Having this skill now will probably improve your chances of being hired, since you will be one less person he or she will have to train later, when these skills become mandatory.
• BE PERSISTENT. Starting out in any field can be challenging. But since the world of print journalism is not as big as it once was . . . and more newspapers are cutting back and turning their attention to online media, job openings can be harder to find than in other fields.
Conclusion
For those who love writing, journalism jobs can be a perfect fit. The secret of finding YOUR best fit lies in thinking seriously about what niche you'd be happiest working in, then taking the courses that will equip you to get there.
The best journalism jobs are the ones that give you the opportunity to expand your skills and advance into positions that offer you new challenges in this rapidly changing career field.
