Q. I'm a 23-year-old senior at a city university in the Midwest graduating in four months with a degree in English and a minor in political science. I decided to pursue journalism only 16 months ago. During this time, I interned at a medium-sized daily paper and a public radio station as well as working for my college paper. I'm turning in my first well-paid freelance Web article this week.
I found I was much more successful in broadcast journalism than print, where I felt like I floundered.
It seemed that there was less time in the print newsroom to actually learn how to be a journalist. The current state of the newspaper industry obviously means no one has time to hold your hand.
Still, I took only one journalism class in college, and felt woefully unprepared the whole time. Add some personal problems to the mix, and the story is that I ended up quitting all of my classes, as well as my news editor position, this spring.
After this, I was convinced that there would be no place for me in print media, at least in my city, where reputation is everything. I've obviously squandered mine. I'm back to interning at the radio station, which is going very well. Maybe I'll even find a job somewhere in public radio when I graduate.
But I can't shake the idea that I might have loved writing for a newspaper or magazine. Simply put, I love writing more than anything. I have two questions:
1. How would you advise someone who failed this young to recover? Graduate school? More internships?
2. When I was a kid, I always dreamed about writing for the editorial page (or being a columnist, pipe dream that it is!). I have no idea how one becomes an editorial page writer ... but I'm sure you do!
(I remember waiting in line to meet you at a job fair last semester. I was the last student you met, and you were already late to the lunch. You were as kind and attentive as if I had been first in line. Thank you for being so gracious.)
Bumpy Start
A. You’re being too hard on yourself. You are not a failure. With work at the student newspaper, a daily and a radio station. You are better off than you give yourself credit for. I don’t think your reputation has been ruined by your time at the newspaper, either.
My question for you: If you are finding success in broadcast journalism and you have had some struggles in print, why don’t you recalibrate your career compass? It seems you have learned something about yourself, and you seem to understand something of the dynamics in print.
Radio, TV, Web sites and developing forms of digital media all need solid writing. It is not the sole property of print. Be more open to letting opportunity and success steer your career.
It is too soon to sign up for a couple more years of school. Instead, explore a wider array of career options. Doing audio journalism from a print newsroom or writing a radio station’s Web site could be great niches for you.
Let’s save the commentary writing for later. You’ll be better at it if you first learn to be a good reporter. If you can be very good at it, the opportunities will arise.
Got a question? I'll answer it here, just e-mail it with your full name. If you prefer that your surname not be published, please indicate why.Coming Thursday: She is only in her 20s, but has received a buyout offer. Should she take it? Should she even stay in the business?
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