by Angus Morrissey
Journalism. In modern times it is widely acknowledged that the occupation is in some jeopardy. A range of jobs have become redundant in the industry and there is a shortage of roles on offer for budding journalists. So, what can you as a journalism student do to guarantee yourself a successful career in the industry? Read on.
Intern
Firstly, undertake an internship. An overwhelming amount of media organisations – from the Sydney Morning Herald, to the Western Advocate in Bathurst and beyond, are abound with interns who complete specific roles in their company.
Third-year CSU journalism student, Georgia Thompson, who interned with the Australian Olympic Committee this year, stated in the article Real life education for CSU student at AOC, “We learn the theory and practise of journalism at university, but you only really understand it properly when you use it in real life…” It might do your career well to find an organisation which has a work experience program for aspiring journalists. Who knows? You could even land a permanent job from it.
Make a portfolio
Secondly, build up a portfolio of work. As a journalism student you should already have a pile of work which you have completed from not only university, but from high school and extracurricular endeavours too. If you’re attempting to get a foothold in the industry, the collection of articles, videos, and other forms of multimedia will showcase your talents to future employers. Creating a portfolio expresses to recruiters that you are passionate and you understand how to produce work.
Self teach
Lastly, teach yourself skills in relation to modern journalism. Journalism is dynamic and it forces professionals to adapt to changing circumstances. From social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter, to photo editing programs like Adobe Photoshop, and website creation mediums including WordPress, employers now expect their employees to be competent across platforms. Journalism was formerly an industry based solely on writing, however, it now has a ‘convergent’ style which means individuals have to be highly skilled and versatile if they want a job.
So, there you have it! If you’re an aspiring journalist who is looking to follow your dreams, be sure to keep this in mind. Good luck!
