Forget “work-life balance” — for student journalists, it’s even more complicated. Building a schedule means managing school, student journalism, part-time or full-time work, internships, extracurriculars and social time.
As the new school year starts, here are some tips from former and current students. How do you balance school, journalism and everything else? Email me and let me know.
Don’t blow off the “student” part of “student journalist.” “I went to Cal and worked at the daily but also made sure I was getting the most out of my classes,” freelance journalist Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato said. “You only get to go to college once (most of us!) and it’s about broadening your mind and making you a more well-rounded person. There will always be work, but how often do you get to focus on just learning?”
Be up front with teachers and professors about your involvement. They’ll be more understanding if they know your schedule and responsibilities outside academics. Hannah Wise is the engagement editor at The Dallas Morning News and a full-time graduate student at the University of North Texas. “I’m up front with my professors that I’m working (during undergrad I’d say I worked at the paper) and I often ask for the syllabi early so I can better structure my semester plans and start reading in advance,” she said.
Use student media to complement your classes with practical experience. Long hours in the student newsroom at Boston University were worth it, Roll Call photographer Sarah Silbiger said. “That led to having the confidence to apply and work in real newsrooms as an intern,” she said. “You can’t gain newsroom confidence in a classroom.”
Block out time on your schedule to focus on academics. When Dana Branham was the editor-in-chief of the Oklahoma Daily, she scheduled half-days or whole days off for herself and the other editors. “It was really comforting to know I could spend my Thursday mornings every week catching up on schoolwork and knowing my friends/coworkers had my back,” she said.
Take time away from technology, too. Isabella Cueto, a reporter for The State in Columbia, South Carolina, suggests turning off iMessage on your laptop to focus on learning during classes. “That way, I was all-in in the classroom and could put out the fires later without being distracted during my learning time,” she said. University of Missouri graduate student Sarah Sabatke said she doesn’t check her email after 7 p.m. and takes a break from the news at home. “For me, that mental break was just as important in preventing burnout as was leaving the newsroom at the end of the day,” she said.
Use classes and extracurriculars to help become more well-rounded. “I would say to do a couple things not in journalism that you can still apply to the field. I was in an a cappella group and a women's choir while in college,” said Pittsburgh Current staff writer Amanda Reed. “I also was super into music history, theater, band and orchestra in high school. Not only did these outlets provide me with some stress relief and a creative outlet, but I can say ‘I can do X arts and entertainment thing because I have all this knowledge and experience' from my hobbies.’”
Take care of yourself. You know the basics, but they’re always worth repeating — exercise regularly, eat well, get enough sleep. Look into mental health support or counseling on or off campus. “There are things that make each of us feel like ourselves. For me, it's reading my Bible and journaling every day,” said Columbus Dispatch reporter Sheridan Hendrix. “For others, it's going to the gym, volunteering, playing in a rec league, talking to loved ones. If you aren't maintaining a healthy lifestyle, then you aren't going to be effective at your job/school/extracurriculars. The earlier you start doing this, the easier it will be to maintain after graduation.”
Learn to say no. Evaluate your work and family responsibilities and set boundaries around those, said Ruth Serven, a reporter at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville, Virginia. “You’ll have to be flexible, but don’t get eaten alive,” she said. “Everyone’s burden is different; know your boundaries and limits and don’t feel afraid to be firm on them. It’s OK to go home and sleep and hang out with friends.”
Do your best not to compare yourself. Everyone has different responsibilities, and not everyone can spend 20 hours per week at the student newspaper. “I judged myself harshly when some of my peers got internships with big-name papers while I stayed at the local newspaper, but I failed to account for my other life stuff: I was a double major with a minor,” said Portland Mercury reporter Kelly Kenoyer. “I was comparing apples and oranges, assuming I just wasn't working hard enough. And hey, I got a job in the field just like my peers did, so it all worked out in the end.”
RELATED TRAINING: Apply by Aug. 31 for your chance to participate in the yearlong, free Poynter College Media Project.
