Q. I’m currently a senior journalism major who is in line to graduate in May. With the current state of my profession, I decided to stay an additional year in school to improve my writing while taking different classes that will boost my overall knowledge of journalism. I just wanted to know what you think about my plan.
I plan on taking classes I wasn’t required to take (mass media ethics, for example) and other classes that seem beneficial. I’m taking an audio/video class and hope to take additional classes involving the use of video and multimedia. With my career goal of becoming a sports journalist, I want to take advantage of coaching classes in sports so I can get to know particular sports better. I’ll then add a few public relations/marketing courses for a different set of skills. I have two semesters to fill up with classes of my choosing.
While doing this I will be freelancing for the sports section (and news on occasion, I bet) of a 20,000-plus daily newspaper, a gig I really enjoy. I will be finishing my stint as editor-in-chief of our college newspaper after this semester, which I’ve been a part of for four years in various positions (associate news editor, news editor, sports editor).
I think the experience I have could land me a job, but I still worry. Along with work on the college newspaper and my freelancing, I have completed two internships, one in the sports department of the Times Union in Albany, N.Y., a 100,000-plus circulation newspaper.
Is all this enough? That is what I keep asking myself. Maybe in a year the economy will have improved and a few more journalism jobs will be available. I have to remain hopeful. What do you think?
Ryan
A. I did a similar thing in a bad economy in the mid 1970s and it helped me get onto an editing track that sustained me for more than 30 years.
Today’s problems are of a different nature. While people predict we will be coming out of this economic swoon by May 2010, I don’t think anyone has a handle on where traditional journalism will be at that point. The best part of your plan is that you are developing alternative career paths. That is smart.
Stay hopeful, yes, but be realistic and think broadly. Pay attention to emerging career fields that interest you, max out your digital skills and try to be more entrepreneurial. Start something. You may make a bigger impression and learn more on the basis of how much initiative you take rather than on how many places you work.
Coming Thursday: This reporter wants to get some new skills to move beyond business reporting. Is it better to learn digital skills in classes or on her own at home?