To many young people, journalism is not their choice of a career. Many prefer to
go for jobs related to computers or marketing. And others prefer to go for a job
that promises elements of glamour and excitement. Journalism is actually an
interesting and challenging career. It suits those with strong language skills
and a passion for writing. Many journalists
find great satisfaction in their work.
Here are some guidelines to help those who are thinking of becoming a
successful journalist. Firstly, there must be a strong commitment to the job.
When joining the company, be it a newspaper or a magazine, trainees during
internship must be willing to take time to
observe and learn from experienced journalists.
The period of internship can be a trying one. It is during such time, interns
are given the opportunity to demonstrate their talents and skills. To their
frustration, they can be required to do trivial
tasks such as photocopying, faxing and answering phones. When given writing
jobs, they might require researching at home after office hours and writing
stories on weekends.
Big or proper writing jobs usually do not become available at the moment they
want them. Many successful journalists do freelancing until the right
opportunity comes along.
As journalists, do not just limit yourself to newspaper journalism. You can
try out for a job in broadcasting. Most journalists hop between print, magazine
and broadcasting many times in their career. Journalists have been known to host
their own shows on television while continuously publishing features in the
press. |