(CLO) Entering the world of journalism is not easy. To succeed, you need to exploit your full potential, learn to face failure and constantly learn from those around you.
Journalism.co.uk spoke to experts in New York City, the centre of the world's media industry, and here's their advice on how to start a journalism career:
Connect with people who have done what you want to do
“Think of every job as a research project,” says Hilke Schelmann, an assistant professor at New York University and a contributor to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and the Guardian. “How have others done it? Who is the right person to call?”
Bloomberg recruiter Rob Boehm shares a similar sentiment: Get to know people and connect with people who have done what you want to do.
Some valuable advice for young journalists is: Start by emailing journalists you admire and attending industry events.
Emily Harris, Vice President of Art at Penske Media Corporation, shared a valuable lesson: "Be proactive in emailing people you admire. Not only is it a way to learn from their experiences, but it's also an opportunity to build relationships within the industry."
Mining depth
Vox Media’s Andrew Losowsky has carved out a niche in internet culture through his community-focused projects, while Brendan Dunne has successfully carved out a niche through his deep knowledge of footwear and compelling storytelling.
Not sure what skills you have? Look into the hot areas of journalism right now, like AI, social media, gaming, etc. When you specialize in one of these areas, it’s your competitive advantage. And don’t forget to flaunt it.
Prove the width
The more fields you can try your hand at, the better, says Bill Ruthart, a journalist and editor at The New York Times (NYT).
Likewise, Ryan Mayer of The Athletic shares: “Go out and get involved in everything. Start in smaller markets where you can do everything.”
According to professor Damian Radcliffe, we should visualize our career as a “T”. The horizontal bar of the “T” represents broad knowledge, while the vertical bar represents deep expertise in a particular field.
NYT reporter Hamed Aleaziz advises young colleagues: "Face rejection calmly and keep trying."
Think of life as a video game. To be successful, you need to identify the skills you need and focus on improving them. Think about what you love and want to do, then invest time and effort to develop them.
Answer the question: Why is it important?
WSJ reporter Jack Pitcher emphasizes the importance of creating valuable articles. He argues that a good article will always answer the question: "Why should readers spend time reading this?".
Podcast host Ryan Knutson emphasizes the importance of preserving local voices in podcasts. He believes that each story should be a space for those voices to be heard and appreciated.
Jon Carras, a reporter for CBS Sunday Morning, shares a valuable experience: "In the early stages of your career, be proactive in participating in organizational activities and don't hesitate to ask for advice from those who are more senior. Building good relationships with colleagues will help you learn a lot and create opportunities for personal development."
Phan Anh (according to Journalism.co.uk)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nhung-loi-khuyen-cho-phong-vien-tre-tu-cac-chuyen-gia-quoc-te-post331509.html
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