«JOURNALIST» - ¯Or Hold The Front Page¯ - Audio - http://maxpages.com/totally4u/Journalist

THE DOSH FILE
Pay:£7,000 a year [Local newspaper reporter]
to £26,000 [Senior writer on a top mag]
Hours:40 hours a week, sometimes in shifts, often overtime.
Working Conditions:Vary considerably, from quiet office to war zone!
Perks:Travel, freebies
Effort To Get Job:4/5
Stress:4/5
Glamour:2/5
Qualifications:Usually at least 5 GCSE's [Including English] and two A levels. Majority now have a degree, but this more ffor mags.

While journalists are sometimes hated as much as estate agents, traffic wardens or tax collectors, thei lieves seem pretty cool. All you do is wander into the office, interview a couple of peole - maybe even Brad Pitt or Jack Ryder - write it upm then wander home again, right? Well, sometimes, but not exactly. In fact, life as a journalist can be stressful, infuriationg, exciting, difficult, boring or fun. But one of the things that appeal to people who take up the career that every day is different. And it's great to say your name in print!

Many journalists or writers begin their careers as reporters on their local newspaper. Local press can actually provide a great grounding for reporters who might then progress to national newspapers or magazines. It's not all 'Cat stuck up tree' stories, you know! Alternatively, some people begin on magazones - from exciting 'trade' press titles like Plastics & Pipework Weekly,, to the ones you're probably familiar with, like Bliss, Smash Hits, More! Here they'll do anything from writing news and reviews, to bigger reports or real life features, interviews and 'emotional' pieces.

Just be warned - it's often a hard slog from the bottom to the top. And if you work as a freelance journalist, it can be tricky building contacts and getting work accepted. The income isn't always regular either.

WHAT YOU NEED
Becoming a journalist isn't just about having a tape recorder, shorthand skills or a flashy iMAC. You'll need good english qualifications and word-processing skills. Plus an interest in people and current affairs [for newspaper writers] or anything from pop to movies..........or even plastic!! It's also important to have an eye for detail, presistence, initiative, resourcefulness and stamina, as conditions can sometimes be difficult, or hours irregular. An ability to work under pressure and meet conditions is also vital.

HOW TO GET THERE

There are two 'recognised' ways into newspaper journalism:

Direct Entry

Two years training as a reporter on a local paper, straight from school to university. About 40% of journalists begin in this way. Some national newspapers also take on a very small number of greaduates each year for theire in-house course.

Pre Entry
a. A one-year college or university course, approved by the National Council for the Training of Journalists [NCTJ].
b. An HND, degree of porstgraduate course in journalism.

For magazines, things are a little different. Some magazine writers will have worked on newspapers, or done newspaper courses, but many won't. So where do they come from?

A popular route is a Periodicals Training Council [PTC] course, but heaps of others simply find their way in through work experience. They plead for work experience, then make the tea and run errands, until someone finally says: "Could you finish off this feature for me, please? I'm desperate!"

RELATED JOBS
Public Relations Exec [PR]:Promotes, to journalists, anything from teabags to perfumes and videos to events, on behalf of a 'client' similar to press officer.
Presenter:Links together items on TV and radio.
Advertising Copywriter:Writes the words which appear in advertisements.

CONTACTS
National Union Of Journalists
Tel:020 7278 7916
Website: www.nuj.org.uk

Periodicals Training Council
Tel:020 7404 4618
E-Mail: training@ppa.co.uk
Website: www.ppa.co.uk/ptc

bubbly@geminigirl.co.uk

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Page Updated Sun Sep 9, 2001 7:56am EDT