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Journalism is a glamorous occupation -
or so many students think. But what is the reality? How do
you get into journalism, and what happens when you do?
This page gives you at least some of the answers.
Qualifications
Personality: first thoughts
Before you consider what you should be achieving academically
if you want to become a journalist, you should ask yourself
if it really is a suitable job for you.
There are two quite different things you need to be able to
do if you want to be a journalist:
- Get a story
- Write a story.
In order to get a story you have
to be relaxed in the company of strangers, inquisitive and
able to put people at their ease. You must not mind talking
to people who do not want to talk to you, and who may be angry
or upset. And you must be sensitive enough to know when to
withdraw, and when to persist and get the story you want.
Not everyone can do these things. If you have doubts, you
should consider seriously whether journalism is the career
for you.
In order to write the story, you need to have excellent
basic English and to enjoy writing. If you have problems with
grammar and punctuation or get no pleasure from words, journalism
is again probably not your ideal choice.
Journalism is an out-of-the-rut job which demands
- Dedication
- Resourcefulness
- Tact
- An ability to get on with people
and a recognition that news does not always
happen in a convenient
9-5 bracket.
Academic achievements
Trainees are usually graduates, but this is not essential.
What is essential is education to A-level standard or equivalent.
In almost all cases you will still need basic journalism training
in addition to your degree.
Work experience
It will be helpful if you have already done
- work experience, either with the Eastern
Daily Press or Evening News, or with another newspaper
- school or student journalism.
This will help you to know if you might
be happy in journalism; it will also show that you are serious
about journalism and have not just settled on it as your second
or third option.
If you are in the sixth form or
a college student and you would like some work experience
with our papers, you should contact: sandra.mackay@archant.co.uk
Other info
Archant Norfolk is sometimes prepared to sponsor trainees
through their pre-entry journalism training, although it is
not planned to run a formal recruitment scheme for 2008. For
more information contact Bernadette Wapshott,
editorial training co-ordinator, Prospect House, Rouen Road,
Norwich NR1 1RE. We try wherever possible to recruit people
with East Anglian roots or at least strong regional connections.
You can also visit the National
Council for the Training of Journalists website, or
to find out more about the newspaper industry in this country,
try the Newspaper
Society website.
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