Q. I recently graduated with honors and received my bachelor's degree in English literature. Though I wrote for the student paper my junior and senior years, I never had an internship.
I never really considered the profession of journalism until I graduated, though now I am quite compelled to dive into the industry. Reading all of your fantastic insights online, I am beginning to think there's no chance for me, seeing as I squandered my time at school writing for the campus publication and not pursuing internships.
Please, are there any avenues remaining for a person in my situation?
Thank you kindly,
Andrew A. I'd be lying if I said I knew what your fate will be. All I can do is give you a little information that will help you improve your chances.
As you say, it is going to be difficult given your late-bloomer status and lack of experience.
But you are only half the picture. The other half is the media environment we're in. Things are changing quickly -- very quickly. Try to use that to your advantage. If you apply for traditional jobs, which are decreasing, you are going to have very difficult competition from vastly more experienced, but displaced, journalists who are looking to get back in.
Rather than compete with all that experience, explore the developing parts of journalism where your experience deficit is not as large.
While it will take a lucky break and a number of years for you to catch up to newspaper reporters, you can become competitive much more rapidly on newer news platforms such as podcasting, video, Soundslides and even blogging. It does not take a lot of time or money to learn the basics of these tools and to start making something.
The more you can equalize the experience differential, the more will depend on your talent, work ethic and, to some extent, connections. Those have to be right, too, for you to break in.
Coming Monday: This journalistic transplant is looking for new work. But doesn't it seem awkward that she should have to shop her 30-year resume to the kinds of people she used to hire?
Having worked with new journalists who only had experience with...
