How to be a journalist

Lots of people contact us asking us how they can land a job as a journalist. We’ve put together a handy guide with our top tips for breaking into the industry.

Before you go any further, read our book! Click to find out more about our book on true life journalism. In this book, you’ll learn the key to unlocking an endless supply of well paid work as a freelance journalist and the secret to earning £100k plus a year. And you can download chapter one for FREE.

 

Get experience

Getting hands-on experience is critical if you want to become a journalist. Work placements offer you the chance to observe the professionals at work and learn how stories are put together. You’ll also get the chance to make valuable contacts who may be able to help you find a job or simply offer you some good advice. If you’re lucky, you may get a few bylines that will look great in your portfolio!

You can apply to the national newspapers and magazines to see if they have any placements but remember to look at the smaller publications as well. Local newspapers, regional press agencies, student magazines and community news websites may also offer great opportunities.

Once you land a placement, make sure you are polite, enthusiastic and willing to pitch in with whatever is going on. If you have a suggestion, don’t be afraid to make it but do remember to be respectful! There is a fine line between confidence and pushiness and you really don’t want to cross it.

Usually, work experience placements are unpaid but some employers will cover expenses and the experience you gain will be invaluable when it comes to getting a job.

Natasha Courtenay-Smith, who founded Talk to the Press, started her career with a work experience placement at Health & Fitness magazine. It involved largely sending back clothes that had been used in a fashion shoot, but she ended up being offered a job as editorial assistant on the magazine.

Get some training

Having a formal qualification can really help when it comes to getting a job. In a lot of advertisements, employers will specify exactly what certificates you need to have to be eligible for the role.

The National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) runs courses on newspaper and magazine journalism, as well as photojournalism and sub-editing. Many employers, particularly those recruiting news reporters, want candidates to have an NCTJ certificate.

If you want to be a radio or TV journalist, you may want to consider taking a course accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council.

 

 

Read everything!

One of the best ways to hone your writing is to read. If you want to be a writer for a glossy magazine, make sure you read as many of them as possible to learn more about the kind of stories they feature and their house style.

When going for interviews, make sure you know the company inside out and backwards. For example, if you are being interviewed for a job a monthly woman’s magazine, know what was in the last issue and try to think of some stories you think might work for them.

Know the industry

Journalism is a fast-paced industry where things are constantly changing. It is vital that you know what’s going on right now and what trends are emerging. Read trade publications – such as Press Gazette, Broadcast and the Media Guardian – to keep up-to-date with the latest news. You can also subscribe to podcasts, such as Media Talk from the Guardian and BBC Radio 4’s Media Show.

If you are still at university, make the effort to go to talks and lectures by visiting journalists and media figures. You can ask your questions and listen to experts explaining the current state of their industry. Some universities even make their lectures available online or on iTunes.

Get plugged in

Employers are looking for journalists who understand how technology is changing journalism and who can connect with an audience. You need to show them you have those skills. You can start a blog to show off your writing and provide links to your published work, start a YouTube channel, create a Flickr account and even dazzle the world with your AudioBoo’s.

Use Twitter too. As well as keeping up with your mates, you can also keep up with the news and get a fascinating insight into the lives of professional reporters. Sign up and start following journalists working in the field you are interested in.

Consider starting a LinkedIn page. It’s like Facebook for professionals!

Natasha says: “Social media is a really handy way to promote yourself and make contacts.” Talk to the Press uses social media a lot. Check out our online presence at the following links.

Sell my story Blog

Talk to the Press tweets on Twitter

Talk to the Press Facebook group

Talk to the Press videos on YouTube

Find out more about the Talk to the Press book on true life journalism.

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