Multiply Your Prospects of Getting That Journalism Job!

Many students in the journalism field relax during their studies thinking that getting a job in the this profession is as easy as picking-up manna that fell from heaven, only to find reality proving the contrary on completion of their degrees. It’s a fact!

Journalism is an art which requires theory, so having only a university degree gets you half-way through. It is very bad to start learning about the practicalities of the newsroom at the completion of your degree, or even worse, trying to get the grip on writing just but a simple report on a crime scene- during your internship (if you are lucky to get one).
It is not good to start your internship as a clueless graduate, who needs to be taught even the basics. I am not saying you should act all clued-up. You must bring something to the company, newspaper, or news channel and take something!
This is why institutions like the University of Limpopo (UL) give you some practice here and there (I’m not getting paid to say this, and I am sure many universities offer practice in their journalism courses too). But this kind of practice is not enough. Students need to work in newsrooms while at university so they don’t become a burden in the real thing. This is why here at the UL some students started their own publications to hone their skills and make sure that they are better equipped when they get out of here. Some started a newspaper (print) and others started an online publication. And I know of some students in Wits and Rhodes doing quite similar projects. But this is not why I am blogging right now!

As a journalism student you should try and get some “clips” before the completion of your degree- clips are pieces of your work, articles you have written, and so forth.
Getting clips is not easy ala A, B, C! You need to convince an editor to publish your work. And trust me, it takes hard work to do that. Try your community newspapers, and some local media to get your work published. By just getting a mere letter published in a newspaper is something. So get those letters going to the press.

On how to write read my article on writing below.