by Alison Myers

Created on: January 24, 2008

Do you like to write? Can you work well under pressure? Can you present the facts accurately when the public needs them? If you answered yes to all these questions, you are on your way to getting your start in print journalism.

I have been preparing for a print journalism career since high school. Ever since getting started on my high school paper and doing my graduation project on print journalism careers, I hope to help other people break into this field.

If you are still in school, definitely join your college newspaper. This will help you improve your writing by learning about the AP Style which is used by newspapers across the nation. You can also ask older writers and editors how you can improve your articles. This is the time to start learning journalism basics such as setting up and conducting interviews, proper formatting, and media law issues.

Joining your college paper will also help you establish your specialty in journalism. You should try to write for as many sections of the paper as possible; even if you don't write for all of them as often as your paper publishes. You will learn what kinds of articles you don't like to write as well as discover your personal writing style. Every journalist needs to put their own touch on an article while uncovering the facts.

This is also a good time to start saving your clips. Your clips are the articles you will eventually showcase to potential employers in applications and interviews. Save copies of all the issues of the paper you write for, or pick up two or three copies each week. Cut out your strongest articles and compile them in a folder or three ring binder.

In your sophomore or junior year of college, you should get an internship with your hometown newspaper. You will not only improve your writing further, but your articles will be read by a wider audience. Interning allows you to be around full fledged journalists. Talk to them to find out how long they've been in the business and what the best and most stressful parts of their job are. You will make a lot of connections this way as well.

Interning also gives you a chance to see how everyone works together to get a newspaper published. How do editors assign stories? What is the best design style for a particular section or story? What happens on the business side of newspapers such as advertising sales?

Finally there are things you should never stop doing to increase your chances of getting a good start in print journalism, regardless of what stage you are at in your career:

-Keep saving newspapers and sorting through to find your best clips
-Always talk to people and make connections no matter where you are working.
-Never miss a deadline.
-Look for ways to refine your skills such as reading the AP Style book, taking extra classes, or asking others for feedback.

Print journalism is not an easy field to enter, but once you learn how to break in and decide you are right for it, you can be on your way to a very rewarding and successful career. Many journalists have moved from local to national papers and won awards for their work. Are you next?

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