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James Stairs
OCCUPATION: Overseas Journalist AGE:
35 BASED: South Africa
A native of Hemmingford, Quebec, 35-year-old James Stairs is at the top of his game. With a degree in English and a post-grad in journalism, his articles have been published in more than 30 newspapers around the world, including the National Post and Montreal Gazette in Canada and the Bangkok Post and the Kuwait Times abroad. The best part of his job, Stairs says, is that it never gets boring.
THE DAY-TO-DAY GRIND: Most of Stairs’ pieces are hard news stories, but as a freelancer he has to work hard to stay ahead of the competition. “I watch what’s going on closely and jump into a big story when I see a gap and feel there is a market. I work alone a lot, try and head away from the pack.”
HIS SHINING MOMENT: “It’s the little moments and the people you meet that are, without a doubt, the most satisfying. I’ve been in the middle of some pretty rough situations—and when people take the time to talk to you during a conflict or a disaster and actually inquire how you are doing, it is quite incredible. I once had a great conversation with the Sheriff of Belfast during a pretty violent riot. A cop in Quebec once apologized for tear-gassing me. That was nice.”
THE TOUGH STUFF: “Challenges usually revolve around money, diseases, work visas, and people who might want to hurt you.”
TRAVEL TIME AND LIFESTYLE: Stairs now lives and works out of South Africa. He says he chose to work
as a freelancer mostly because of circumstances. “I started out in daily news in Canada and wanted to live abroad so I just took my laptop and camera and set up office here.”
WHAT YOU NEED TO GET INTO IT: Journalism train- ing may help establish your credibility, but it’s not a must. Many skills and techniques can be learned on the job—the most important thing is garnering a reputation and building connections. “Research your favourite writers and see what their backgrounds are. You might be surprised at how many great journalists don’t have journalism degrees. Many people today are targeting their training and are being hired with degrees in his- tory, law or business. Figure out what you want to report on, and learn as much as you can about that particular subject.”
THE PERSONALITY FACTOR: It takes creativity, a thick skin and an ability to be realistic about what your clients want—while knowing what your compe- tition is up to. Stairs stresses the importance of being humble and respectful of other cultures. Perseverance is the most crucial trait to have.
THE MONEY FACTOR: “I know people who lose money and I know people who do quite well. No matter where you are, freelance journalism is not a profession where you will make a lot of money.”
OTHER OPTIONS IN THE FIELD: Opportunities for overseas reporting are available for broadcast and print journalists—though some journalists now do both. Staff positions are available at major publications or press agencies, though these are becoming harder to come by.
WORDS OF WISDOM: “Keep at it if it’s what you really enjoy. There are a lot of great stories to tell and people want to know about the world, even if it doesn’t seem like it sometimes.”
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