So the economy's tanking, newspapers are laying people off by the hundreds and no one knows what the news business will look like in five years. Depressing, right? Maybe so. But even in these tough economic times there are things you can do to improve your odds of finding a job in journalism. Want to know more? Read on.
1. Prepare Yourself in College
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You can graduate with a 4.0 GPA and join whatever Greek-lettered honor society you want, but what editors want to see from recent college grads is experience. Journalism classes are fine, but there’s no substitute for writing real stories, on a real deadline, that get a real byline in a real newspaper. So write for your student newspaper, then maybe move up to an editor job. And once you've got some student newspaper experience under your belt, start applying for internships.
2. Learn Marketable Skills
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It's no longer enough to be able to just write and report. 21st-century journalist need to be able to do layout, create web pages, maintain a blog, take digital pictures and shoot video. So start learning these skills while in college if you can. Many of these skills can be picked up for free just by volunteering on a college or community newspaper. You may be working for free, but the skills you learn will be priceless.
3. Build Up Your Clip Portfolio
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Most reporters save copies of every story they've ever had published, from high school onward. Those copies are called clips, and you need them to get a job in print journalism. In fact, a really great clip can be the deciding factor in whether you get the job or not. So start building your clip portfolio now and when you are ready to apply for a job, put together a package of clips that show off your talents.
4. Do Your Research
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It seems like an obvious point - thorough research is an important part of an effective job search. But it's surprising how many people jump into the hunt for a journalism job after doing little or no research. It's also pretty ironic, given that journalism is all about reporting - another word for research. Solid research can help you decide whether the job you're thinking about applying for is really one that you want. And research can help you land that job. Nothing impresses an employer more than an applicant who knows a lot about the job and the company.
5. Create a Great Resume
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There are three elements to a print journalism job application package - your cover letter, resume and clips. Of these, your resume is the thing that will probably first get an editor's attention, so you've got one shot to make a great first impression. You can get it right by making it short, easy-to-read and typo-free.
6. Write A Killer Cover Letter
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A good cover letter is an important part of a job application in any field, but in journalism - where great writing skills are essential - it's critical to have a cover letter that'll leave 'em impressed. So make your resume short and snappy. Outline in broad terms what you've done so far career-wise, but don't get bogged down in nitty-gritty details. Think of your cover letter as an extended lede. Most important, make sure your cover letter conveys your love of journalism and your excitement about doing the work. Make your energy and enthusiasm jump off the page.
7. Be Versatile & Flexible
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There are two key ideas you should keep in mind as you navigate the journalism job market in these tough times – versatility and flexibility. Versatility means having as many skills as possible to help you succeed as a 21st century journalist. Flexibility means understanding that the journalism career you actually have may end up being very different from the one you had planned. Your dream job may end up being one you never dreamed you’d be doing.
