What gem of wisdom would you pass along to a hopeful journalist/writer?

The only reason I'd want to go for a degree in journalism is so that I can teach it. I've discovered I have a passion for mentoring young reporters.

 

Experience trumps a J-degree. Who you know trumps experience.

 

internships? you must be kidding.

 

Read everything, don't listen to anyone that says you can't, find the ways to work that work for you, and keep in mind that every time you kick down a door there is another door waiting to be kicked in.

Listen, believe me, I understand the sturm und drang over current conditions in the industry - I've written for places that have gone under, as in ceased to exist. But I also remember a time when unemployment was double - DOUBLE - what it is now, and it took six months with a honors degree from a top notch college for me to get a job, any job... as a security guard, for minimum wage. I never made a dime from writing til I was twenty-eight . I'm fifty now and haven't earned a dime doing anything else in over fifteen years, but between ages twenty-one and twenty-eight I probably wrote a million words no one has ever or will ever read - hell I couldn't even afford a car, or a house, or brand name mac and cheese. I only paid off my student loans ten years ago.

There is one difference between being a writer and being someone who wanted to be a writer, or used to be a writer.

You stopped.

 

Be a reporter first. The phone is not your best friend. The doorbell is.

PS: Grain of salt factor — I never went to J school and never graduated from college.

 

Write the textbooks, not the stories.

 

Plastics.

 

Get another job.

With the Internet there are plenty of opportunities to pursue your journalism passion on the side.

 

how 'bout industry unemployment?

 

My two cents:

Realize that, nowadays, you will need to be an electronic technician as much as a reporter/writer.

Toward that end, get as much experience in videography and web production work as possible, and, in the interest of qualifying for as many jobs as possible, learn InDesign and as many other electronic layout systems as you can.

 

Have a tremendous desire to learn. Be curious. Ask questions. Don't be afraid to be the only one taking an opposite side. Insist on excellence, especially from yourself.

 

Why would I be kidding?