Some Dos and Don’ts for Job-Seeking Journalism Grads

Let’s face it, the news biz is in real turmoil right now. Many newspapers are either shutting down, going bankrupt or downsizing. And things don’t appear much brighter for broadcast or online news outlets.

And while most job-seeking journalism grads possess the hard-nosed realism required for their chosen profession, a few operate under the illusion that after graduation, their next step on the career ladder is to be hired as Paris bureau chief for The New York Times, or rock critic for Rolling Stone.

So here then is a reality check, some dos and don'ts for journalism grads seeking their first jobs. The idea is this: Be ambitious, by all means, but also be realistic. And instead of worrying about having a fabulous life, think about doing good journalism, whether you're in Manhattan, Memphis or Morristown (that's in New Jersey, by the way.)

DO apply everywhere you can. It just makes sense: The more places you apply, the better chance you’ll have of landing a job – or at least getting a nibble. But apply for jobs that you think you have a realistic shot of getting.

DO expect to get lots of rejections. There are more job-seekers than jobs at the moment. So get used to the idea that you’re going to get a lot of rejections. Indeed, many places you apply to may never respond at all.

DON’T expect your first job to be your dream job. Too many journalism grads expect their first job to fulfill all their dreams and expectations about what it's like to work in the news business. Sorry, but that’s not likely. You have to be ready to start at the bottom and work your way up to that dream gig.

DON’T expect to start out in the big city. Sure, it would be nice to be in New York right from the get-go, but cities like New York, Chicago or Washington are where journalists with decades of experience strive to be, and as a newbie you just can’t compete with that.

And if you’re determined to be in the big city no matter what, that just shows you’re more interested in city life than in the craft of journalism. Editors can smell that kind of thinking from a mile away. So instead of New York or LA, expect to start out in a small town somewhere.

DON’T expect to start out at a big news organization. Here’s a newsflash: A journalism degree – even one from a prestigious university - does not guarantee you a job at The New York Times, CNN or Rolling Stone magazine. As I said previously, journalists with years of experience are competing to get hired at places like those. Again, a small paper in a small town is likely where you’ll start.

DON’T expect to get rich. Yes, Katie Couric reportedly makes $15 million a year, but the vast majority of journalists earn under $100,000. So be realistic about what you can expect to earn. True, wages are higher in big cities, but so is the cost of living. The moral of this story? Few people get rich in the news biz.

DON'T give up. This article may seem pretty discouraging, but even in these tough economic times there are jobs out there for people who are willing to start at the bottom and work hard to achieve their goals. And if you're one of those people, a reality check like this isn't likely to stop you, anyway.

source: journalism.about.com

JOB, JOBS, EMPLOYMENT

Working at Weekly Community Newspapers

Great Training, Low Pay

By Tony Rogers, About.com Guide

Weekly community papers are where many journalists get their start. There are literally thousands of such papers found in towns, boroughs and hamlets across the country, and chances are you’ve seen them or perhaps picked one up on a newsstand outside a grocery store or local business.

Most are free, supported solely by advertising. Some are individually owned and operated, while many others are part of chains that can include dozens of papers.

So what are the pros and cons of working at a community weekly?

Pro: Learning To Do Everything

Community weeklies typically have very small staffs, which means the journalists who work there usually do a bit of everything, from writing and editing stories to taking pictures, doing layout and even creating webpages. On a community weekly you might cover a school board meeting, a high school football game and the opening of a new exhibit at the local gallery – all in one day. In a time when versatility is the name of the game in the news business, working at a community weekly is great training.

There are also opportunities to move up the ranks quickly. A reporter at a big paper can labor for years to become, say, a high-ranking editor, but at a small paper a hard-working scribe can often become editor-in-chief within a matter of months.

Another pro is the small-town feel of community papers. Many reporters enjoy the close connection to their local community that working at a weekly provides. Often they get to know literally everyone in town, from the fire chief to the mayor to the school board president. Large daily papers in major metro areas usually can’t offer that same sense of connectedness.

Con: The Pay

Probably the biggest downside of working at a community paper is the pay, which is generally lousy. The are exceptions of course, but most reporters who work at weeklies find they have to do some freelancing on the side or work an extra job just to make ends meet.

Another possible downside: journalistic integrity. Many community weeklies are objective, hard-hitting publications that take pride in covering the news “without fear or favor.”

But others, because they are so dependent on advertising dollars, often publish articles that are little more than press releases for their advertisers. Or, fearful of alienating the locals, some community weeklies will go easy on local politicians and turn a blind eye to corruption and abuses of power.

The moral of the story? If you’re considering working for a community weekly, check it out carefully. Is good solid reporting being done there, or is the paper little more than a public relations tool for local businesses and politicians? If it’s the latter, steer clear.

Required Training

Many reporters start out at community weeklies with just a two-year Associates degree from a community college and little in the way of journalism experience. Indeed, community papers are probably the easiest way to break into the news business for someone who doesn’t have a bachelor’s degree or years of journalism experience.

Job, Jobs, Employment