When you’re the newest hire in a newsroom, there’s always a lot to learn: Who does what? How do the systems work? Where’s the coffee, again? It can be overwhelming. Your boss wants to get as much as possible out…
Make the most of your first job
Category: 13. Getting Ready for the Real World
Learn how to rebuild trust
The most recent Gallup poll on trust in journalism reflects the damage done over four years of relentless attacks on “mainstream media” by then-President Trump and many Republican office holders. Conducted in September, the survey found that overall just a…
How photojournalists can stay safe covering a pandemic
Working from home isn’t an option for photojournalists, whose job involves documenting what’s happening in the world. They’re used to facing hazards in the field, from media-hating crowds to natural disasters, but COVID-19 is different. “I have never backed down…
So you want to teach journalism?
One of the most frequent topics that comes up in my conversations with veteran journalists is whether to consider going into teaching. It’s coming up again now, thanks to newsroom downsizing. But teaching opportunities are drying up too. Many Universities’…
How to plan a journalism course
You’ve just agreed to teach a semester-long course at a University—something you’ve never done before—and the Dean expects to see your syllabus next week. Syllabus? If it’s been a while since you were in a classroom, you may find the…
TV news transformed by pandemic
Taping microphones to light stands. Producing newscasts from home. Doing live shots on an iPad. Local TV journalists across the country are improvising and McGyvering to get the news out to their communities as they cope with the effects of…
Job hunting advice from news directors
We keep hearing about the mistakes job hunters make when applying for journalism jobs. The same mistakes, over and over. There’s no reason for you to become the next bad example. Take these tips to heart. Make a good first…
What journalism jobs are going to grow?
Most journalism jobs today require critical thinking and excellent writing, plus strong social media skills. That’s obvious. But what about the jobs of tomorrow? “We are genuinely in a revolution when it comes to getting information,” says Raquel Amparo, news…
Community journalism in local TV news
A recent job posting at WPVI-TV in Philadelphia is for an unusual sounding job. The ABC station is hiring a “community journalist,” and says it’s looking for “innovative multi-platform journalists” and “self-sufficient story tellers who can create memorable content for…
Eight essential skills for journalists in 2019 and beyond
Mindy McAdams has long been an early adopter of new technologies and storytelling strategies for journalists. The University of Florida educator is the Knight Chair for Journalism Technologies and the Democratic Process and she has trained hundreds of journalists in…