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Print journalism is a tough industry to break into, as you may be well aware by now. But it's not impossible. It's an industry for those who love what they do, not for someone just looking for something to do. Its rewards are not great in a monetary sense, especially not in the beginning, but because it offers so much intellectually, it is in hot demand.

Unfortunately, the Internet has taken over, resulting in fewer print jobs available and more competition to fill them. This means you have to stand out from the crowd and that isn't always easy unless you know the secrets.

First of all, while grades and a degree are important, you're more likely to be hired for your experience and your expertise in something besides journalism. Of course, that's not to say your journalism skills can be slack. Quite the opposite, in fact, and you need to be able to prove that. Welcome to Catch 22; you need clips to get a job and you need a job to get clips.

This little dilemma means it's all the more important to get started as soon as possible, to take on as much work experience as possible even if you aren't paid, to work for the campus newspaper or magazine, and to start making contacts from the second you know you want to be involved. One great opportunity for work experience or even a first job is your local newspaper. It may not be as glamorous as The New York Times or Cosmo, but it's certainly a start and you can only go up from there.

If your dream is to work in print journalism, you'll find ways to get clips published. A good bet is to approach websites and query some of your ideas that stand out, explain to them why their readers would be interested and tell them who your sources will be. Sources are important, which is one of the reasons you will eventually be hired. If you can keep in touch with some of the contacts you have interviewed, you can bring unique perspectives to the newspaper or magazine where you will eventually be employed.

Tell everyone you are looking to break into the industry and keep in good touch with the companies who let you do work experience while you were studying. These people can be the gatekeepers to your future. Be careful not to burn your bridges.

Even if you're not directly involved in print journalism at the moment, make sure to keep up with the happenings in the industry, and even more important, the news or whatever your chosen niche. You will be more desirable to a future employer when you have a specific focus or topic that you understand on a pretty high level.

Check job sites as often as possible even if you're not actively looking for work because you can gauge the industry and which publications are most often looking for help. This way, if a unique opportunity does arise, you'll be there to snatch it up.

And to do so, you should have a shining resume or CV with perfect spelling and grammar, a bit of your personality coming through, and a whole lot of focus on what you have accomplished that will stand out in print journalism.

Keep a notebook with you at all times and open your eyes and ears for stories. The more you practice writing, developing stories, taking the initiative to follow them through with queries to newspapers or magazines and actually get out there and write, the better. Even if you don't get paid at first.

If it's a dream, persist with heart and don't get up. You might have to do some odd jobs in the meantime to pay the rent, but you won't regret i

Learn more about this author, Stephanie Sadler.
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