Today many people are finding that online job boards are providing them with a wealth of useful information. Online sites like JournalismCrossing have resume downloads and offer advice and information on how to make a great first impression at an interview. This site contains only the best journalism jobs nationwide. Having the ability to use a resource such as this will be a sure boost to your job-hunting efforts.
The main duty of a journalist is to keep the rest of the population up to date on important events occurring in their local area, within their country, and even around the world. Which individual issues you will get to cover, how in depth your reporting style, and the tools you will be using to perform a journalistic job depend on which company or individual you work for and the media that is being used to communicate your news stories.
While journalism may seem like a pretty straightforward field, there are hundreds of different jobs included in the field. There are the more well-known reporting assignments for newspapers and magazines, but the number of papers and magazines available fluctuates more now than ever before. You also have television journalism, and this includes journalism jobs that cover everything from local news to global events.
There is even an abundance of cable stations that report news around the clock and need qualified journalists to work for them. Also, there are now journalists who work online and release their findings and reports via the Internet. Journalists’ jobs can be found in your local area, around your country, or you may be the one to land the type of journalistic job that will have you traveling all over the world.
No matter what subjects you tend to cover or whether you report in print or on television, there are some standards that apply to all journalists. You need to thoroughly research your stories, often going into the field for interviews and real-life research. Every piece of information you report must be factual to the best of your knowledge.
There has always been the issue of journalistic integrity, but this has become even more of an issue in recent times. Journalists are often accused of being biased and certain newspapers and magazines have been labeled as leaning either to the left or the right in political reporting. The best journalists are able to establish a middle ground where they are able to report the facts on both sides of a story and allow the reader, or viewer, to come to his or her own conclusions.
Part of this integrity also includes a journalist being a credible and honest person by nature. Once you have been caught taking gifts of money, reporting false stories based on a source that is not credible, or even doing something socially unacceptable in your personal life, your overall integrity in your job will likely be tarnished.
While you do not necessarily have to obtain a college degree to land different jobs in journalism, some organizations will set certain educational requirements. The higher level of education you achieve, the higher your chances of obtaining journalistic jobs. The basic skills that are required for jobs in this career field are the ones that become stronger and more focused with higher education and advanced classes in journalism, writing, and reporting.
Whether you have an advanced degree or not, and no matter what the educational standards may be for a particular company, when it comes down to the application process, skill and experience are often what makes the cut for those who are awarded a job as a professional journalist. If you have excellent verbal and written communication skills and your personality is upbeat and friendly, there is a good chance that you will eventually be hired to work at one of the different jobs in journalism.
The usual career path for a journalist requires that you start out at an entry-level position, as an intern with a large magazine or newspaper, or that you otherwise work your way up to the kind of job that you ultimately envision for yourself. Paying your dues to become a respected and valuable member of any journalism team is part of the overall process.
While all of this may have you excited and eager to start exploring different jobs in journalism in your local area, think carefully about what will be required of you in one of these positions.
There is a high level of stress for most journalists, and if you do eventually land a really good position, you will likely be on call at many times, and work could consume much of your life. To succeed in this field you must thrive in an atmosphere where things are always changing and every day brings a new challenge.
The best way to start your own journalism job search is to apply to local newspapers, magazines, or television stations. Your pre-determined career goal is just to get your foot in the door. You may be able to get hired as a secretary, doing research, or even as an intern or assistant. This is still a way to get in the door, so do not automatically turn down entry-level job positions.
Just working in the environment of a publication or news studio will prepare you for many aspects of these fast-paced jobs, and you will get to know everyone in the company so that you are highly considered when it comes time to applying for a real journalist position.
