RESEARCH PROJECT: TIPS AND TRICKS

TIPS AND TRICKS for becoming a prominent journalist

Below is a list of our interviewees for this research project. You can also read the full Interview Summaries and Case Studies on the following people and their modes of journalism in the INTERVIEW SUMMARIES chapter.

David Hastie, journalist, Herald Sun

Jay Savage, reporter, Nine MSN

Jesse Hogan, sports reporter, The Age

Rafael Epstein, investigative reporter, The Age

Louise Connor, Vic branch secretary, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance

Stephen Carey, news director, Seven News

Colin McKinnon, editor, training and development, The Age

Robin Jacklin, former deputy news editor, ABC

Jason Whittaker, Deputy Editor, Crikey

Catherine Deveny, Ex Age columnist / freelance writer

Belinda Hawkins, Producer, Australian Story, ABC http://www.abc.net.au/austory/aboutus.htm

Steven Quinn, Assoc. Prof. Journalism , Deakin Uni

Robert Carey, journalism lecturer, Monash University

Edward Li, ex South China Morning Post (HK)

Billy Clarke, Offkey Productions (HK)

 

The tips and tricks that these industry heads and prominent journalists gave us have been compiled under the following headings:

• GETTING STARTED

• HOW TO WRITE

• WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT

• HOW TO GET A JOB

• SKILLS NEEDED

• WHAT TO EXPECT

 

INTRODUCTION

All interviewees agreed that the journalism industry is becoming very tough and competitive. More and more people are starting blogs each day, so you need to now do much more than this! if you want your blog and other social media sites to stand out you’ll need top stories and interesting content as well as following the additional steps that need to be taken, which I have explained in detail in the Social Media chapter.

Creating an online presence will help with your portfolio. This will enable your networking possibilities and show you have a hunger to write which is important when applying for a job. It will also showcase how well you can keep your fans entertained by the amount of followers you have is evidence your work has quality which adds bonus points when applying for a job. It is very important to not give up and keep working at your goal. Be prepared to take criticism and be positive about it. The Herald Sun emphasized the fact that even though you may get turned down numerous times, it is important to stay confident

Your folio as well as your blog is part of the recipe for becoming a journalist. Working on a folio shows dedication and initiative. It is evidence to your employer of what you have to offer, are capable of and what you are prepared to do. Everyone interviewed emphasized the same number one message, which was get your work published anywhere that you can.

When you go for an interview, these companies expect you to know some background about them as a sign of respect and also to show initiative. You can impress them and show them how keen you are for the job by talking about different writers styles and how you can understand the way they write and adapt if you need to. It helps to have an understanding of the target audience. The company will expect you to be able to do a good job about any story thrown in your direction, whether or not it is in your field, and you can’t be fussy in this business. Being able to adapt is one of the most important qualities you will need, as you will be expected to fill in at different areas within the company.

Be confident if you know your right and don’t be afraid to make your voice heard. It helps to pester a few bosses in order to get your way as this can show determination and motivation, however don’t come off as arrogant or a stalker!

Getting known and meeting people is a key task in gaining employment and finding stories. It is essential that people who want to be journalists create as many contacts as they possibly can and never loose them. You never know whom you will need to call up for a job, an interview, a lead or a contact suggestion. This includes networking, attending events and joining the MEAA http://www.alliance.org.au/

Make sure you work is good, clear, valid and punctual. Is it backed with the correct facts? And are there enough of them? These are questions journalists should constantly be asking themselves. It also helps to have your own particular style and genre and writing on subjects that you are passionate about will always make for your best writing.

A few interviewees mentioned that keeping their rejection letters was a good idea as they could read back on them and laugh later on when they were employed and successful. It also shows how well you’ve done and can keep you motivated, which was quite an interesting tip.

So read through the tips in their separate categories and start your journalism career now!

GETTING STARTED

The main point is to write every day. Getting published is far easier with the array of social media sites that writers can self publish on now but you also need to try and get your work published in university papers, newsletters, community newspapers, independent media (and mainstream if you have a breaking story), TV (free-to-air, community and cable), online publications, literary magazines and journals.

And GETTING CONTACTS IS A CRITICAL STEP - it really is ‘who you know.’ However, leading industry heads highlighted the difference between being determined and being a stalker - so use your journalistic instincts to judge reactions and know when to back off!

 

• Start a blog and write on it regularly!

• Have original ideas and pitch them to publications

• Dig up you own story - small or large and write it

•   Get your work published anywhere you can - it all counts

• Be Passionate - if you don’t want to be a writer - get out!

• Be proactive and get noticed (build an online presence)

• Network, attend events, join the Alliance -Be active in      journalism community

•    Build up contacts and never loose them

•   Get to know key names and show commitment

•   Speak to lots of people, even if it leads to nothing

• List journalists you like and work out why/how they are successful. If you like their style, practice writing it

•    Read the news every day

 

HOW TO WRITE

 

The key point is to create good, clear, crisp copy in a unique voice and write what you know - it will always be your best writing!

 

• Write well, there’s no excuse for a bad copy (copy successful styles and writers you like)

• Choose a specific area to specialize in (write what you know / interested in = best writing)

• Must back up all stories with facts – prove your point!

• Always question validity of your story, is it true enough to publish? 

• Must source relevant and breaking stories which will interest your target audience “breaking stories are gold in the newsroom”

• Think outside the square and write something different. Find a small interesting story (friend of a friend, story you hear, something you witness)

• Subscribe to press releases

 

WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT

 I spoke to Catherine Deveny post her sacking from the Age and she stated the following in advice for what to write about…

• “Well don’t write about Bindi, Rove, Anzac day, atheism, corporate white collar maggots or the logies….”

“No do. Write from your heart, the truth is a rare delicacy, people want to hear the truth, edit it later if you need to get it published but never edit yourself when you’re writing”

• “Do stuff for love, do stuff for money, don't do anything for neither”

• “To get good work, do good work!”

 

And we also gathered the following more general tips for topics to write about

• Find small, controversial or opinion stories, things that happen around you, talk to someone who knows someone - choose your style and write accordingly

•    Confessions are a part of human nature, People like talking

•    Go to the pub and find a story, talk to people and hear their stories

•    Get on the ground, go to the press gallery and get known

•    And most importantly, be proud of your work!

 

HOW TO GET A JOB

 

Don’t worry where you start, small regional places are the best places to start. All of the major editors said this is now an essential step before they will hire you. With budget cuts, they want someone else to train you before they poach you from them. Also, don’t bluff your way through if you are a novice – admit what you don’t know – people appreciate honesty and determination to succeed is more valuable than a ‘know it all’

 

• Get a work placement/work experience -work hard & pitch your ideas

• Show you’re interested in all aspects and any jobs

• Don’t worry where you start, small regional places are the best

• Don’t bluff your way through if a novice – admit what you don’t know

• Go to local papers in the Leader Group (a way to start with Fairfax)

• “Papers are lazy” they won’t advertise, you need your name on their list of a potential writers

• Changing times = its never been harder but those who are proactive and persist will get jobs

• Call newsroom and offer to do ANY job. It will lead to work

• To start out as a freelancer is hard - 1st you need a reputation so get published ANYWHERE. Get your name known. Try TV first.

• take rejection and persevere - Keep rejection letters to look back on when successful

• Prepare for interviews by following these next steps…

 

INTERVIEW PREPARATION

 

With interviews - the most critical steps are adjusting your portfolio for the job that you are going for - don’t bring 2000 word features if it is a sports reporting job!

And prepare properly beforehand - Channel 7, and The Age were amazed that candidates came to interviews and knew no current headlines and had not read the papers that morning…. This is considered a Big NO NO.

Also, the news director at Channel 7, Scary (as he is commonly known)  - said people even came to him for interviews and said ‘gee Hitchner is going well isn’t he’ - which he replied ‘yeah, maybe you should get a job at 9’…! So know your product and prepare thoroughly beforehand.

 

• Always take a pitch to an interview

• Know the product (paper/TV channel), target audience and writers/presenters (different styles and names)

• Read the headlines that morning, and know the current issues in that product and in that region! **AN ABSOLUTE MUST**

• Know all the main newspapers, their differences, know what you want to do there AND what you can give to them

• Adjust your folio for what your applying for

Be confident BUT don’t be arrogant

 

SKILLS NEEDED

 

Multimedia skills are the absolute must in today’s media industry and you also need to be energetic, flexible and resilient! But above all the technical skills you need - you also need to be passionate - if news and writing are your passions - this is the career for you!

 

• Strong online research skills

• Multi media skills and social networking experience is a must

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Passion for news and media

• Flexibility, resilience

• Ability to tell stories, people who can write clear crisp copy

• Be a perfectionist - get angry at spelling mistakes in published work, it does matter!

• Recognize when a story slaps you in the face

• News bosses want journo’s to find their own stories, not just press releases

• Patience: You may have to write about things you have no interest in

• Passion, persistence and luck!

• Write well, there’s no excuse for a bad copy

• Don’t get overly impressed with stars; stay focused on your work. You will need to be critical sometimes.

• Diverse writing and publishing skills - depends on the subject/media publication

• Need to talk under water!

 

WHAT TO EXPECT

Of course, there are certain elements that you need to be weary of if thinking about a career in Journalism.

Most journo’s start with instructions from their editor to do “death knocks” on a grieving family or other member of society…this is a hard task and you may be against it but u need to be strong, stay respectful and read signs for when you need to back off from the interviewees. You also cannot be too precious – as you will get abused from readers and/or the Chief of Staff when they are stressed – so don’t take it personally!

At the end of the day, if writing and news is your passion, MOST Of the time it will be a fun, fast paced, rewarding and interesting job!

• Long hours, no downtime, 24 hr news cycle

• Cadet jobs are hard: death knocks & low pay BUT it will lead to other jobs

•   May get abusive letters / phone calls

•   Chief of staff may rip shreds through you when stressed, don’t take it personally

• You cannot say ‘no’ too many times, as your editor will stop asking and give the stories to someone else

• People do burn out & it is hard with a family but it is possible!

•   If you want to do it, it’s fun, exciting & fast paced

•   If bored easily, it’s a great job because you simply change stories!

• You can follow your dreams in writing…

 

 

And don’t forget our Social Media chapter for extensive advice on how to create your powerful online presence to gain employment.

 

So there is no more for me to say, there are the tips so go and make it happen!

 

 

 

 

Posted via email from Journalism