From an early age, Canadian native Vinita Singla has had a knack for all things journalism.

That passion and drive has taken Singla from a small city in British Columbia to internships at Mediabistro, NY1 News, WPIX-TV, and CNN, with bylines at the New York Post, CNBC, NBC New York and Huffington Post.

Combining her passion for journalism and voice acting, Singla joins Mediabistro as a guest instructor of the Writing for Audio online training course, where she introduces techniques on how to effectively “write for the ear” and communicate succinctly in the booming world of podcasts, radio shows, podiobooks and audio blogs.

Vital Stats:

Name: Vinita Singla
Title: Freelance Multiplatform Journalist and Voice Actor
Years at current postion: I have been freelancing in journalism since 2007.
Hometown/where are you from?
I was born in Penticton, British Columbia, a small city—population approx 33,000—in Canada. I love visiting my hometown, especially because it’s a wonderful respite for me from life in Manhattan.
Where do you live and work? New York, NY

Education

College:

• Ryerson School of Journalism
• The University of British Columbia
• The City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism
• Queen’s University

Major: M.A.’s in Journalism and Political Studies

Social Info

Twitter: @vinitasingla
LinkedIn: Vinita Singla

What was your first real job? How did you get it?

My first real job was as a production assistant on American Morning at CNN-NY.

I was offered the position in 2008 after a few months of interning at CNN. I believe that I was offered the opportunity because senior staff recognized my story pitches, work ethic and enthusiasm.

Please describe what you do in your job in 1-3 sentences.

Since my time at CNN, I have produced news segments, worked as a health editor at NBCNewYork.com, reported news at the New York Post and hosted a live business news show from the Nasdaq for NDTV Profit, a cable news channel in India.

All my jobs involve me pitching story ideas, conducting interviews and creating compelling content—on deadline—while reporting news. That is what I do.

Is this where you always thought you’d end up? Or has your career been a wild ride of curveballs and left turns?

Wild ride…

I feel fortunate that I have been able to maintain a freelance career since I graduated from journalism school in 2008. My journey has been a bit of a wild ride in that one gig will often lead to another opportunity or to a connection who ends up having a significant impact on my career direction. I am grateful that I’ve had opportunities to work in New York print, digital and TV newsrooms with talented co-workers who strive to keep up with story developments.

What inspired you to break into this role?

Since I was very young, I’ve always been drawn to news, storytelling and writing.

When I was eight-years old, I’d instinctively highlight the who, what, where, when and why in a newspaper story. Writing structure fascinated me. I also loved watching CNN as a teenager and then an adult while studying politics in Canada. As I matured, I realized the impact that storytelling can have on others, which is one of the main reasons I pursued journalism.

What about your job gets you excited to jump out of bed every morning? What makes you want to hide under the sheets?

My favorite parts of working in news are interviewing people, finding a unique story and then seeing that story come alive. I also am driven by breaking news situations. During those times, there is a unique newsroom energy, which is a real treat for me to be a part of.

What makes me hide under the sheets?
Nothing, really. I’m a reporter because I love to explore places, see different cultures and hear new ideas.

How do you stay on top of trends in your field?

CUNY offers many journalism workshops to the public through a program called CUNY J+. CUNY J+ has helped me keep abreast industry trends.

I also find workshops, meet ups and conferences hosted by the South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) to be very helpful.

What do you want to get better at/skills you want to develop and why?

I want to improve at being able to digest and retain more content on multiple platforms every day. At the same time, I want to take more digital breaks.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about this field/role?

In a newsroom, I often feel an adrenaline rush, especially while covering breaking news but at the end of the day, covering news is work and one needs to be prepared for long days, attention to detail and never-ending deadlines. Hosting, producing and covering news are not glamorous jobs.

What’s the one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to break into this field?

As you build your career, take one step at a time.

If you’re unable to land your dream job right away, know that another opportunity awaits you. For those breaking into the field today, remember that with so many media outlets, if you really want to work in news, you are bound to land a gig.

Why did you choose to become a Mediabistro instructor and why do you think it’s important for people to learn the skill you are teaching?

My very first internship in the city was at Mediabistro. I moved to the city in 2004 from Toronto, Ontario and I’ll always be grateful to Mediabistro for giving me a chance. So in a way, I’m giving back.

Learning to write for the ear, specifically radio, has been invaluable to me. Audio is booming right now and many writing techniques overlap between radio, TV, social media and digital. So with constant content overload, I believe it’s beneficial for everyone to learn how to write and communicate succinctly.

What tips do you have for students taking your course?

Writing is a craft. Like any craft, you will need to practice your craft to become a master.

What are you reading and/or watching right now?

Every day I read parts of The New York Times, Washington Post and New York Post online or via an app.

I listen to The Takeaway, hosted by John Hockenberry for his intelligent questions, analysis and communication skills.

I also subscribe to the The Daily—a 20-minute NYT audio report hosted by Michael Barbaro—for a quick synopsis of what I should know. I love Kai Rysdall’s well-produced and executed Marketplace.

Check out Vinita’s course Writing for Audio to learn everything you need to know on how to conceptualize, write and record for a podcast, radio show, podiobook or audio blog.

When you find something you love to do you should just go for it…or at least that’s what Karine Bengualid did.

Starting off her career in media as an intern—under renowned publicist Howard Bragman in Hollywood—followed by a number of in-house PR/Marketing jobs, Bengualid’s love for writing turned into a full-fledged career after a chance request by a friend.

Bengualid is now sharing her passion for writing and industry insight with Mediabistro as a guest instructor for online training course B2B Copywriting.

Vital Stats

Name: Karine Bengualid
Company: Brought to you by the letter K (self-employed)
Title: Chief Copywriter
How long have you been working in this field: Started freelancing in November 2014, started company (brand) in June 2015.
Hometown/where are you from? Born in Montreal, Quebec, until I was 9 y.o. Lived in Toronto, Ontario, until October 2014.
Present hometown/where do you live and work? Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Education

College: York University (Toronto) and Seneca College
Major: York University: B.Sc. major in animal biology
Seneca College: Corporate Communications diploma
York University: B.A. Film and creative arts

Social Info

Instagram: @karine.theletterk
Twitter: @karineben
LinkedIn: Karine Bengualid

What was your first real job? How did you get it?

My first job in PR/Marketing/Communications: I snagged an internship at Bragman Nyman Cafarelli PR in Beverly Hills. I landed it through cold-calling and faxing my résumé to death. I worked in the ‘special events’ department handling media relations for red carpet events. Some pretty awesome events we worked included Premiere Women in Hollywood Luncheon, 25th-anniversary Paramount DVD releases of Grease, Urban Cowboy, and Footloose, one-night-only reading of The World of Nick Adams (Hemingway) with 12+ A-list celebrities…What a ride!

Please describe what you do in your job in 1-3 sentences.

I like to say I’m a storyteller. I provide content strategy and write copy (blogs, social media, newsletters, etc.) to help establish them as industry experts and help keep them relevant online. I also help aspiring writers with their non-fiction books (either ghostwriting or editing their book).

Is this where you always thought you’d end up? Or has your career been a wild ride of curveballs and left turns?

Loaded question. Originally, I wanted to be a doctor (hence the science degree in biology). But yada yada yada, I discovered communications and PR, found that I always loved writing and planning events, and basically ‘marketing’ everything.

Did I ever think I’d be an entrepreneur? Never in a million years.

What inspired you to break into this role?

I always loved writing. And I was always good at it. In my in-house marketing jobs, I always ended up being the brand writer. One day I got a request to help with writing for a friend, and I accepted. I had just moved to Vancouver and wasn’t working yet, so the extra money was welcome. I discovered I loved doing ONLY the writing and I loved not going into an office to do it. I was hooked!

What about your job gets you excited to jump out of bed every morning? What makes you want to hide under the sheets?

I love what I do because I get to learn about a variety of different industries and it keeps me on my toes. I also love working with different clients too—keeps it fun and exciting since everyone needs something different.

But I never make time to do administrative tasks and definitely cower when I think about looking for new clients. Sales…Yuk!

How do you stay on top of trends in your field?

Social media, newsletters, workshops, etc. Everything digital is always evolving so sometimes it’s hard to keep track.

What do you want to get better at/skills you want to develop and why?

SEO, because it’s always evolving and changing.

The algorithms are always being rewritten to knock the black hat hacks off their game. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, BOOM!

Google does it again. Thanks Google!

What leaders or companies in your field do you follow? What do you like about them?

Copyblogger–it’s all about copy and content, and is a good read.

Hubspot–for all things marketing and CRM. Lots of great analytics, trends insights and general state-of-the-(marketing)-union type stuff. It’s a must for anyone in marketing (and sales).

What’s the biggest misconception people have about this field/role?

I find when I say I’m a copywriter I get one of two responses: The first is overwhelmingly people think I mean “copyright” (the legal stuff) so I like to clarify that I’m a “Copywriter with a ‘W’”. The other is people assume I write fiction. But I don’t. Sadly.

But the question I get asked a lot (from potential clients) that I actually enjoy is “How can you write about an industry you know nothing about?” The simple answer is I learn about the industry. That’s my job. Just like when you hire someone from a different industry to come work for you, they might not know about your industry, but it’s part of the job to learn. Same goes for freelancers; except our learning curve is cut very very short.

What’s the one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to break into this field?

• Start first. Learn later, or learn as you go.
• Don’t try to use fancy-schmancy words to make yourself ‘sound’ smarter, just use clear language.
• Have fun!

Why did you choose to become a Mediabistro instructor and why do you think it’s important for people to learn B2B Copywriting?

When the opportunity came up, it sounded super fun to be able to teach others what I know and do. And I love that Mediabistro makes these courses so affordable for people, there’s really no excuse NOT to learn new skills or ameliorate your current skillset. So even if you’re not getting this covered by your employer (or if you’re a freelancer like myself), these types of courses are a great way to beef up your expertise.

What tips do you have for students taking your course?

Try to apply the learnings of the course to real life. If you are currently working for a company, use that brand for the assignments and to see how the material applies. But even if you’re not, try using brands that already exist—this will make it more realistic and help you to better understand the material.

Have fun with it. Copywriting is creative, and nowadays, there’s no excuse not to have fun, even when it comes to B2B.

What are you reading and/or watching right now?

I do a lot of reading as it is for work with all the research and even my own writing, so in my spare time I like to watch mind-numbing TV and movies. The Amazing Race and The Amazing Race Canada—I like to think about what challenges I could do and which ones would eliminate me automatically (which is most of them). I love Gotham, Homeland, American Horror Story, Riverdale, Speechless, The Mick, Trial & Error. I was really disappointed they cancelled Scream Queens.

Check out Karine’s new course B2B Copywriting, now available for just $20 during our Summer Skills Camp Sale!