Five brutally honest lessons for aspiring journalists
Sometimes, I pretend to be a keynote speaker, giving aspiring journalists the speech I wish I heard before getting out of college. In my speech, I turn the abstract advice we learn — including build your own social media presence, make sure you complete at least three internships, and develop a writing portfolio — into the reality of what you need to focus on to break into the editorial world. Whether you want to be a reporter, a freelance writer, or an editor, you must build your personal brand to get your foot in the door.
Building this brand will be your second job.
As a freshman, I quickly signed up to be part of the campus newspaper; I attended the career fairs, and I reached out to potential networks. Yet, I missed a lot of opportunities because of my lack of understanding of the industry. That’s why I decided to share with you the five brutal lessons I wish I knew.
1. You’re on your own
Networking is great. In fact, you are more likely to land a job through networking. But, just because someone lets you use him or her as a reference doesn’t mean you will score an internship or a job. That’s something I realized once I got on the other side. The sole role of a network is to get you noticed. The rest is up to you. To make sure your resume lands you an interview, measure all of your success and offer details as seen here. Sometimes, it’s not that your experience is not impressive, it’s just that your resume is doing a lousy job at showing it.
2. Being a good writer is not enough
It’s true that college is confusing. Ideally, we’re expected to have it all figured out since our freshman year. In reality, we’re still trying to figure out what we want to do for the rest of our lives. But, if journalism is something that intrigues you, develop a beat for yourself. Become an expert in a topic you’re passionate about. Blog about it strategically, and consider it that demanding part-time job because you need to remain consistent about the timing of your posts, and because you need to produce superior materials. Kreyolicious, a Haitian-American blog, does a great job at that.
Start getting into the habit of submitting your work for publication. Join a contributor network to start building your writing portfolio. Join national organizations, like Society for Collegiate Journalists and National Association of Black Journalists. If your school does not already have an Ed2010 chapter, start one. Join writing groups and volunteer at an 826 chapter. In conclusion, pound the pavement while you’re in school.
3. Stay focused
I joined many student organizations on campus (the cultural student groups were my favorites), but after I graduated, those extracurricular activities didn’t matter anymore. I won’t say they did not have their perks and benefits. It felt good to belong to something, to plan cultural events, and to meet other students with different background. But, adding them to your resume just takes extra space. As an editor once told me, no one cares about them. Make sure you join organizations that improve your writing and expose you to professional journalists, and make sure you have leadership roles in those organizations.
4. Not all of you are going to be journalists, and that’s fine
Only a handful of you are going to be working as traditional reporters and editors. Most of you will have to pivot, use your skills for other jobs. The good news is writing skills are always in demand. There are a lot of jobs where you can transfer those skills, including working as a marketing manager and as a branded content strategist. Branded content is a prevalent form of advertising that rely on impeccable writing skills. You can also stay within the realm of journalism and take on other roles crucial to the survival of the industry, which is quickly changing to keep up with today’s demand. Roles like social media editor and data editor are front and center in this effort. You may begin to realize in the years leading to your graduation that your strength goes beyond writing. You may have a knack for analyzing data, managing a community and social media accounts, or assisting with budgets. All of these skills translate to a role in the editorial masthead.
5. When you do get a job, make sure you have something on the side
Whether you find your dream job, a job that will lead to your dream job, or a job that pays the bills, always make sure you have a side activity that complements your writing goal. This means freelancing or blogging. Truth be told, in this day and age, you need something on the side that can help you land on your feet if things were to go awry, but this will also help strengthen your authority in the subject matter of your choice.
