fi rst person


StartingOut


Ryan Smith says seeking out opportunities while at university is essential to landing a journalism job


P


reparing yourself for a career in Journalism is all about seizing opportunities. Being


reluctant to take risks and playing it safe is a guaranteed way to set yourself up to fail. Luckily, opportunity is all around us


and chances to try something new and fi ll your CV come along often for student journalists like myself; if you know how to spot them, you’re halfway there. There are plenty of opportunities at


university. Student media is always brilliant for the CV and provides a very helpful way to ease yourself into the habit of writing copy for a deadline. As well as being helpful in increasing your time-management skills, writing for the student newspaper helps you get used to the idea that strangers will read your work and will, without doubt, have an opinion on it. I’ve contributed to the University of Portsmouth’s student newspaper for the entirety of my time there and I have found that, with time, my articles have become less clunky and now fl ow much more smoothly. If you’re fortunate enough to attend


a university that hosts NCTJ exams, it’s crucial that you try and obtain the NCTJ diploma while the university is willing to pay for you to sit the exams. Although the assessments can be gruelling and topics like public affairs and essential media law require a lot of revision, it is important to understand that these are professional qualifi cations and every little helps when you’re compiling your CV for future work. I made the mistake of not taking these qualifi cations seriously in my fi rst year and, as a result, I had to


22 | theJournalist


retake essential media law in my second year. Although I’m only two qualifi cations


away from obtaining the diploma, I could have saved myself a lot of aggravation and work had I taken the NCTJ exams more seriously when I started university. Journalism students don’t have the indulgence of spending a year getting along by the skin of their teeth with pass marks and going out every night – as soon as we get to university, it’s game on.


A


s well as seizing chances within university, it is important to seek opportunities outside it.


Whether online or in print, local media is a great place to start when it comes to compiling a portfolio of published work to show to potential employers.


Local publications are often looking


for unpaid freelance contributors (see also Page 20) and this is also a fantastic way to practise your writing. I have been added to the contributor list of local lifestyle magazine Mayhem! and wrote a piece for it on how manners open doors. This kind of work is great for honing your writing skills. The About My Area website is also always looking for local students to contribute and is probably available anywhere in the country.


Experience in a workplace is also


important. I’ve spent time at GT magazine and Kazoo PR. As well as being brilliant additions to your CV, work placements are useful for learning how to navigate a journalistic or public relations environment.


Although interning at GT helped my hone my writing skills, my internship at Kazoo was especially helpful in improving my administrative skills. You would be surprised how simple activities like covering the reception desk and putting together media lists are good practice for when you graduate. Internships are also great for building your networks and forging professional connections with employers and perhaps future colleagues.


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Writing for the student newspaper helps you get used to the idea that strangers will read your work and, without doubt, have an opinion on it


e often get hung up on missed opportunities and chances we never took, but it’s always important


to remember that we cannot go back and change what’s in the past and opportunities are everywhere. Always bear in mind that, if your job


applications aren’t successful, you should never take it personally. Journalism is very competitive; even unpaid internships can be hard to line up sometimes. Every position will most likely have a lot of applicants; you will probably have to face some rejection before you land your break into journalism. Filling your CV with as much experience as possible is important if you are to stand out from the crowd. It’s vital to remember that persistence is king and, while it’s important to take risks and chances when they come along, you must go out and search for them with as much nerve and enthusiasm as possible.


@smith_ry


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