Gone are the days of His Girl Friday when journalists only needed a bold personality, a notepad and a well-cut suit in order to make it. In the 21st century, writers need to master entirely new skillsets just so they can compete. With this in mind, we asked a few veteran journalists about the essential tools that every aspiring writer should keep under his or her belt.
Once you’ve checked off everything on this list, you’ll be well on your way to earning that reporter’s hat.
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1. Hone your digital skills.
Writing and editing skills are obviously a must in the journalism industry. Yet having those abilities isn’t going to get you to stand out for employers. You need to master the digital aspects of the trade as well. A firm understanding of WordPress, Photoshop and various social media platforms will ensure that you’re more marketable as a writer.
“It’s important to learn the basics of video and audio editing and photography,” says Andrew Bowen, a freelance radio journalist. “Every journalist has to be [experienced in] multimedia.”
If the idea of teaching yourself how to master a slew of different programs is intimidating, then you might want to consider taking an online training program. Mediabistro offers courses that can help you hone your digital media skills. And if you need to zero in on a specific platform, such as Photoshop, you can also find beginner-level tutorials on YouTube.
2. Find your niche.
The term “journalist” covers a wide range of jobs. To develop your beat, find a topic you’re qualified to cover, and then write about it as much as you can. Whether you’re interested in finance, music or the environment, becoming an expert in your field will give you the credentials that will make media companies interested in your work.
As Bowen explains, “I think it’s important for journalists to figure out what kind of stories they’re drawn to and interested in. When you’re interviewing for a job, think of your career like a story you’re writing—with a beginning, a middle and an end—and a theme that connects it all.”
This list, “101 Niches to Write About,” is a great place to start figuring out what you might want your specialty to be.
3. Set up a website.
There’s no getting around it. Journalists these days need an online space to highlight their work. As soon as you can, set up a virtual portfolio. Once it’s finished, link to it in all of your professional email correspondence and on your social media accounts. Your pitches will gain a whole new level of credibility when an editor or employer can click on a link and see that you’ve amassed an impressive amount of editorial clips.
For those of you who want to make your portfolio as visually appealing as possible, websites like Pressfolios and Clippings.me are great places to start.
Still compiling those clips? Consider joining Mediabistro’s Freelance Marketplace, a database where editors and managers looking to assign short or long-term freelance projects can check out your profile and immediately start a dialogue.
Bonus points for platforms like Contently, which connects to your social media accounts and automatically pulls your published Web articles into your portfolio, as well as the number of shares, tweets and Facebook likes your work has received. (Full disclosure: I am a writer for Contently.) These days, publishers love journalists with an online following, especially those who frequently share with followers links to their work (and, thus, to the publishers’ site).
4. Learn a different language.
Knowing at least one other language will do wonders to set you apart from your competition and help you interact with your sources on a deeper level.
Bowen has experienced this firsthand: “Even when you’re pursuing a source who speaks fluent English, approaching them in their [native language] can be disarming, and can open up new levels of communication,” Bowen says. “And being able to read press coverage in another language can also help you approach a topic from a different angle.”
Journalist Caroline Mortimer has had a similar experience to Bowen, which she explains on the Wannabe Hacks blog: “I am a researcher at a TV company at the moment, working on a documentary…I make inquiries and conduct interviews in slightly nervous French and broken Italian but I am able to reach people I would not have been able to if I had just shouted down the phone in English.”
5. Be a good communicator…
Like it or not, journalism is an art that involves a lot of interaction with other people. If this idea alone makes you uncomfortable, then you might want to consider a different career path. On the other hand, there are a variety of ways to improve your people skills.
According to CNN International and CNN.com reporter Susanna Capelouto, learning how to communicate—to anyone—is one of the most crucial skills a journalist can have. “Be friendly when you talk to receptionists, secretaries, PR flacks or any gatekeeper who is your ticket to getting that interview you need for your story,” Capelouto says. “Show respect and call them by their name.”
On the flip side, journalists should be comfortable prodding their sources for more information and viewing issues from multiple perspectives. “Be willing to challenge yourself to understand and analyze arguments on all sides of issues—especially the most polarizing ones,” explains Patricia Phalen, associate professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University.
6. And a good listener.
While it’s a journalist’s job to ask the tough questions, listening is just as important in this role. After all, how else are you supposed to get people to open up to you? Sometimes a listening ear is all someone needs to feel comfortable enough to give you the information you’re seeking.
“This is particularly true for working in the one-dimensional world of audio, where we constantly look for that emotional soundbite,” Capelouto says. “It’s not just what people say, but how they say it. If you listen carefully, you will be able to get what we still call ‘really good tape.'”
7. Don’t take rejection personally.
Having thick skin is another essential tool of a successful journalist, as is not letting negative feedback or constructive criticism deter you.
Radio producer Jess Engebretson stated it best: “As an aspiring journalist, you will be rejected a lot. Your pitches, your job applications, your grant applications—most of the time, they will be rejected. Remember two things.
One, the rejection may have nothing to do with the quality of your work or your journalistic potential. The publication may have run a similar story two weeks ago, or have funded a similar grant proposal last year. Two, even if the rejection does have to do with the quality of your work, don’t despair.
One person’s judgment of a particular piece of your work is not a referendum on your worth as a human being. The skills you need can be learned. Ask for feedback. Listen to it. Keep trying.”
With this in mind, get out there, future journalists!
