How to pursue a career in journalism

Are you someone who has an innate interest in the world around you? Do you also enjoy researching information and talking to people? If so, a career in journalism may be a good match. The fact that the world is much more globalised and connected makes this career option incredibly flexible and diverse.

You may wonder how to go about pursuing such a career. It can seem overwhelming, as there are so many options, but hopefully, this guide will be a good place to start.

Ambition

The first important step on the journey to developing a career in journalism is to have the necessary ambition needed to enter this career. Becoming a journalist is not straightforward and can be very competitive. Therefore, you need to demonstrate a real passion for this career; which includes putting yourself forward for potential opportunities and highlighting your skills.

Training

It is becoming increasingly important within the field of journalism to have relevant training. You can accomplish this through university study or a combination of shorter courses. Regardless of which option you choose, you need to make the most of your time by honing your skills and making links to potential employers.

Specialise

You will need to decide on which area of journalism you wish to specialise. By doing so, you will find it easier to start pursuing relevant employers and opportunities, as well as building a relevant portfolio. Journalism covers a wide range of genres, including broadcast journalism, feature writing, photojournalism, newspaper and investigative. The different areas of journalism will require different skill sets; therefore, it is important to determine which will be the most appropriate for you.

Work experience

A career in journalism requires substantial relevant work experience. You can start to build this by approaching your local newspaper, radio or TV studio. Doing so will also help you determine which area of journalism you may wish to pursue. Internships and placement with more high-profile employers are also very useful but can be extremely competitive, so starting local can be a good way to get your foot in the door.

Online presence

If you are an aspiring journalist, it is important to start to build your digital skills, as these abilities will inevitably be a part of your daily job regardless of the genre in which you end up working. One good way of doing this is by starting your own blog or writing reviews for online websites. You can also use social media to promote your writing and network.

Next steps

Oxbridge Home Learning offers two distance learning courses that would be particularly beneficial if you do wish to pursue this career. The benefit of these courses is that you can participate in them in your own time.

Both the Freelance Journalism Level 3 and Introduction to Photo Journalism courses would look good on a CV for potential employers. Oxbridge Home Learning also offers a Creative Writing Diploma and Fiction Writing Level 3 course, both of which would also be incredibly useful.

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