Career in Journalism
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.
