So you're thinking about aiming for a career in journalism, but not sure if it's the job for you? Here's a chance to hear from professionals in the field about what it's like to be a journalist on the front lines of the 21st century news business. And see what advice they have to offer for aspiring journalists just getting into the field.
Mark Saxenmeyer, Investigative Reporter, Fox TV in Chicago
Photo courtesy Fox Chicago
Mark Saxenmeyer researches, reports, writes, edits, produces and presents long-form newsmagazine-style reports for TV and the Internet. He specializes in enterprise reporting -- "stories you don't or won't see anywhere else," he says.
Maureen Fan, Beijing Bureau Chief, The Washington Post
Maureen Fan
Maureen Fan says there's no such thing as a typical workday when you're the Beijing bureau chief of The Washington Post. "We might cover an earthquake directly, report on a far away protest by telephone or attend a Communist Party political conference...It’s a huge country with a long history so there are a lot of topics to cover and a lot to learn," she says.
Rob Davis, environmental reporter, VoiceofSanDiego.org
Rob Davis
Rob Davis covers the environmental beat in a county that's home to more endangered species than any other in the country, that has some of the nation's premier climate scientists and has a tenuous grip on its water supply. He does this for VoiceofSanDiego.org, a nonprofit news website. "Understand that you are entering a field that is undergoing a revolution," he says. "Journalism will survive the current turmoil, but it may not look like it does today."
Corky Siemaszko, rewriteman, New York Daily News
Mario Tama/Getty Images
As a rewriteman for the New York Daily News, it's Corky Siemaszko's job to pound out punchy prose on a tight tabloid deadline. He compares himself to a short-order word cook: "I write about anything and everything - and I do it fast, mostly on a crushing deadline, and always with attitude," he says.
Diane Goldie, editor, AM New York
Diane Goldie is one of the top editors at Long Island's Newsday newspaper, one of the country's biggest papers. She also oversees amNewYork, a free commuter daily in Manhattan. What skills does she say young journalists need today? The ability to program a website, video shooting and editing, photography, knowledge of photoshop and other web programs.Mike Sielski, Sports Columnist
Mike Sielski
Mike Sielski writes at least four columns weekly for a chain of three daily newspapers in suburban Philadelphia and their Web site. He covers all the major pro and college sports institutions in the Philadelphia region: the Eagles, the Phillies, the Flyers, the Sixers, the Big 5, Penn State, etc.
Steve Wartenberg, business reporter, the Columbus Dispatch
At a time when the economy is in turmoil, Steve Wartenberg covers the business beat for the Columbus Dispatch. If you're serious about journalism, write for your student paper and get an internship, he says.
Michael Rushton, roving sports editor, Sports Network.com
Michael Rushton is the roving sports editor for The Sports Network, an online sports wire service. He writes previews of games for the NBA, NHL and MLB as well as for the NFL. He also updates team depth charts, writes weekly team reports and sometimes even columns. He says young journalists need to be able to do quick, effective research online, and ask the right questions in sometimes short interviews.Carol McLeod, reporter, community weekly in Georgia
Carol McLeod works at a community weekly in Georgia, the kind of job where she covers everything - crime, county and city government, the board of education, accidents, fires, the development authority, business, the environment, agriculture, health issues and write a weekly column. She also writes features, takes her own photographs and even writes an editorial or two. Yeah, she's busy alright.
