Many young people aspire to work in journalism. It’s an appealing industry—you picture yourself breaking major stories, meeting interesting people and attending cool events… basically, a fun and exciting job. And a bachelor of journalism will definitely help you crack into the industry. At “j-school” you learn all the skills that reporters in this day and age need (and there are a lot more skills needed now than in days past!). As a recent journalism grad, I’m happy to share my thoughts on what high school students should know before starting their careers in journalism.
In the first weeks of j-school, you’ll likely ask your fellow classmates why they want to pursue journalism; “I love to write,” “I want to be where the action is,” and “I hate math” are all common responses. What many students don’t realize is just how many skills they’ll need to perfect. The great writer might have trouble analyzing data (using math—gasp!) to find story ideas, while the star interviewer might struggle with video editing software. It’s great to enter the field for any reason that sparks your passion, but it’s important to realize that the degree (and the job) also requires you to tackle stuff you’re not so passionate about. That being said, you’ll be very hireable after school if you take the time to learn all these skills and apply them to your work.
Different schools may focus on different media and their related skill sets (mine covered everything: print, radio, television and online), but your professors will likely tell you that young reporters need to know it all. There are different expectations these days; while a print reporter used to simply research and write their story, they now have to shoot photos or videos on location, and even develop other multimedia components like interactive maps or audio slideshows. And of course, you’re expected to know how to promote your stories and engage the audience through social media. Older editors tend to hire young people on the assumption that they have a natural-born knack for technology—don’t prove them wrong by failing to practise everything you learn in j-school.
What surprised me the most about j-school was how much of my time it took up—it almost felt like a full-time job. I often found myself dashing out of lecture halls to answer phone calls, checking my emails constantly, staying up late to battle with audio editing software, and sometimes ditching class altogether when my source had only a small time window for an interview. Reporting assignments took precedence over other commitments—that’s just the nature of the business. Reporters work late into the night and make themselves available at any time, because the job requires it. If you want to be home at the same time every night and forget about work once it’s over, then journalism may not be the job for you. But if you’re someone who works well under pressure and loves the rush of excitement that comes from submitting an assignment right on deadline, than you’ll do well in the business.
Another noteworthy thing about j-school is that it’s just like working in the “real world.” From day one, I was expected to find real sources and real story ideas. The professors treat you like working journalists—if you’re looking for a sure-fire way to get an “F,” just miss your deadline or spell a source’s name wrong. While other courses might just knock off a few percentage points for mistakes like this, journalism professors don’t take excuses, just like real newspaper editors.
Even though they can be fairly tough, the professors are one of the best parts of j-school because you build invaluable connections. I was always shocked to hear friends in other programs say they were too scared or nervous to visit a professor during office hours. Meanwhile I was calling my professors by their first name and constantly sending emails back and forth. That one-on-one learning is important, and it’s something other departments seem to lack.
To sum it up, there are a few traits that you will inevitably have to develop to get through j-school: the ability to work fast; an eye for detail; confidence and no fear of rejection; a keen interest in current events; the ability to quickly pick up new technology skills; and an inquisitive, curious nature.
If you’ve decided that journalism school is right for you, there are a few things you can do to get ahead while you’re still in high school:
- Read the news. In addition to tricky news quizzes, you don’t want to be the only one in your discussion group that doesn’t know about the latest political drama or why there are students protesting on campus. Starting this in high school will make it a natural habit by the time you’re in post-secondary.
- Read writing guides. Important ones include the classic The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, and the j-school bible, The Canadian Press Stylebook.
- Talk to journalists. Inquire about a tour of your local newspaper so you can get a feel for the industry and what it’s like to work as a reporter. Make sure you ask lots of questions.
- Write for your school newspaper. If your school doesn’t have one, join the yearbook committee, or start your own paper or blog.
The most important thing to remember is that if you want to succeed in the industry, you need to be very motivated. A lot of entry-level reporting positions require lots of experience—which you need to get while you’re still in school. Internships, part-time work and summer jobs are basically mandatory, which means going above and beyond just completing your coursework. However, the good thing about a journalism degree is that even if you don’t land a job in the industry (or decide that it’s not for you), you’ll still have marketable skills that a diverse range of employers are looking for in any new hire.
