I was in my third year of a four-year undergraduate degree before I decided to pursue a career in journalism. I was lucky that, after university, I had a lot of experience in student media under my belt and was able to put together a portfolio of my work before starting my journalism course.
So, what should you do if you ? like me a few years ago ? are eager to start building up a portfolio of your journalistic work?
Start a blog.
Stop talking about writing and start writing. It?s easy to get distracted and put off starting your own blog but with free websites like WordPress and Tumblr there really isn?t any excuse not to give it a go. If you find the idea of writing regular blog posts daunting, try to use your blog ? initially, at least ? as your own personal archive. Use it to show off the work you have written offline or for other websites. You?ll be surprised at how much content you have already, and then working on a regular flow of content for your site won?t be so intimidating.
Join a community.
I?m speaking from my own personal experience when I write this: you may well find it easier to write if you are writing for a group or community blog. When you work with other people on a project, you can brainstorm together and bounce ideas off each other. If you do end up writing for a group blog or becoming a contributor on a community blog, do make a copy of your work and save it elsewhere. On your own blog, for example. Join Twitter and start talking. Put a link to your work in your bio. It?s worth remembering that if you talk about relevant topical issues, relevant people will follow you on social networks.
Consider new skills.
Use YouTube. There are so many tutorials on there, ranging from the basics of Photoshop to expert advice on audio editing. You don?t need to splash out on any fancy new software initially. Your computer may have some free audio and video editing software already installed.
Set yourself achievable goals.
Don?t say you will post on your blog every day if you don?t have the time. You will be more likely to give up and delete the blog if you convince yourself that you have failed at it by not posting often enough. Why not try to write one post per week and build up your content gradually?
Be critical.
This is fundamental. If you are serious about becoming a journalist, you need to be critical and ask questions. As part of my application for my journalism masters, I had to write two critiques ? one of a news/factual television programme; one of a news/factual radio programme. While watching and listening to the programmes, I was constantly questioning why certain decisions had been made ? everything from scripting to the amount of music chosen.
Ask around.
You may think that it?s too late to find some journalism-related work experience. Do you have any contacts who could help you find a last-minute placement? Your English teacher, your university careers service, or a family friend may be able to help you out. Any experience is useful experience. A placement may confirm for you that a career in journalism is definitely what you want to pursue; or you may realise that it actually isn?t for you.
Read!
This is one of the luxuries of a long summer holiday ? if you?re lucky enough to have one! Have a look at the books we have recommended for journalists. Read as much as you can and your writing will improve.
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Before I started writing for Wannabe Hacks, I had tried ? and failed ? at starting my own blog. A year or so earlier, I wrote a few articles for a community blog. The blog was online one day, and then disappeared ? along with the articles I?d been stupid enough not to back up anywhere else. I have since learnt from that mistake. (Even if you don?t want to blog regularly, it is worthwhile setting up a blog to use as an online back up.)
What advice would you give to someone who has only recently decided to go into the world of journalism? Is any experience really useful experience? Should would-be hacks establish an online presence for themselves at the outset of their career? Do let us know what you think, either in the comments section below or in a tweet @wannabehacks.
Image on the homepage courtesy of **Mary**
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