Let's answer these questions one at a time:

1) Pick up a copy of a newspaper, and flip through the sections. You'll see the local news, national and world news, sports, entertainment, travel and food, and opinion sections. In the local news, you'll see reporters covering crime, city council, schools, state government, and more. This gives you an idea of the different beats in a newsroom. To break it down even further, some reporters will write for the print edition, and some will write online. If you want to look at the journalism business from a wider perspective, you have the broadcast journalists -- who have to enjoy being on camera -- and the print journalists -- who must be fast, accurate, skilled writers. All journalists have to have a knack for developing relationships with sources and digging up good information. Go here for more on the qualities of good journalists.

2) Concentrate at this point at English classes that improve your grammar and spelling skills. Since you'll soon be in high school, try signing up to do the school newspaper. Learning a foreign language such as Spanish will help get you ahead later in your journalism career. When you get to college, you can either major in journalism, English, or study the beat you wish to cover (i.e. majoring in business to be a business reporter). Be sure to hone your skills at the school paper or in a paid or unpaid internship at your city's local paper.

3) Start here at U.S. News and World Report, which offers a list of schools offering journalism degrees, and links to profiles of each of the schools as well as the school's ranking. Remember, though, that many journalism skills can't be taught in a classroom: You need to be getting practical, hands-on experience working in a newsroom, even if it's just the little weekly paper that lands free of charge on your driveway.

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