Research Assessment #2

Date: Oct 19, 2016

Subject: Journalism
MLA Citation: Goudreau, Jenna. "Top 10 Tips for Young Aspiring Journalists."
Forbes. Forbes
Magazine, 09 Nov. 2012. Web. 20 Oct. 2016.
<http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2012/11/09/top-10-tips-for-young-aspiring-journalis
ts/#5c5e1ee638df>.
Analysis:
Journalism is an incredibly competitive career. Because of this, I have been doing research to find
guidance on how to break into the field. In my search, I have found an article that gives ten specific pieces
of advice for aspiring journalists.
The article begins by speaking about what lies in the background of a career in journalism:
inspiration and education. The author says that it is necessary to receive a college education with a major
in journalism or communications, which is what I plan to do. This section of the article also mentions that
one must have an original source of inspiration, a passion, for journalism in order to succeed in it. I know
that I have a passion for writing as a whole; English has been my favorite class since the fourth grade, and
I have always loved to create and communicate my thoughts and opinions. However, Im still not entirely
sure that journalism specifically is my passion. Thats why I am participating in ISM- in my study this
year, I hope to be able to grow my passion for writing and to discern exactly which type of writing I
would like to pursue.
The article then moves on to talk about job opportunities for journalists, as well as the locations in
which the most opportunities are present. It is emphasized that the field of reporting is indeed contracting,
and it is highly competitive. However, the author does say that if one has a true talent and true motivation,
it is possible to do well in the field. She also recommends to take on a many internships and gather as
much experience as possible in order to set oneself apart from the pack, which I hope to do in college.
This only reconfirms my beliefs that journalism will be a difficult career to enter, which means that I will
have to be very dedicated. I have always had a very strong drive to do my best, and that drive will be put
to the test considering the competitiveness of this career. It is also mentioned that location has a huge
impact on how ones journalism career may pan out. I learned that there are five major markets for
journalism in the U.S.: New York, NY, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and San Francisco. This
works out for me, as I have always had a dream of moving to NYC. I plan to either go to college in New
York, or to move their right out of college, in order to start my career in one of the biggest markets there

is. Hopefully by doing this, I will be able to have a successful career in a field that is difficult to thrive in
outside of major cities.
The author then moves on to talk about the actual process of getting a job in journalism. The
article again mentions that internships, especially internships at companies or magazines with
recognizable names, are very important. Experience--having a portfolio of work--is the defining factor in
a job application for journalism. I hope to participate in internships at magazines during college in order
to rack up experience. I also think it would be a good idea to write for some sort of school newspaper or
publication in order to get more of a background in writing. The author proceeds to talk about entry level
jobs for journalists: editorial assistants, low-level reporters, etc. She mentions that a common path for
journalists is to first become a reporter and then work ones way up to becoming a manager or an editorial
director at a magazine. I hope to follow a path similar to this, as I would love to be able to make decisions
for a magazine as a whole.
The next section of the article is mostly concerned with timing and pay. According to the author,
it is very important to start off early in journalism. I do intend to do just that by conducting this study of
the field in ISM. I also hope to get an internship early on in college. A head start is very important in a
career as competitive as this, and I plan to do everything I can to get one, just as this article advises. The
author then brings up the average writers salary, which is $55,000. This certainly is not an ideal salary in
todays world. I have learned that I will have to make sacrifices in order to do what I love: I will most
likely start out in very low paying jobs, and I may never make more than $60,000 a year. However, the
article does say that it is possible to make much more than $60,000 in journalism if one has true success. I
hope to be one of those successful writers one day so that I can do what I love and live comfortably. I
believe that it all starts here, in ISM, where I hope to get ahead and be able to set myself apart from my
competitors.
The ninth tip is about relationships; apparently it is very important to keep every contact one
makes and to connect with as many people as possible. I have decent interpersonal skills that I plan to
maintain, and grow, in order to be able to uphold this portion of the career. I want to be able to have
several contacts and to be able to get as many opinions as possible when working, and in order to do so, I
am already working on gaining contacts through ISM.
The final tip in the article is that one must risk it all in order to reap the rewards of a career in
journalism. The author emphasizes, yet again, that it can be a very difficult path, but also that it is a path
well worth the risk if one is able to make it to the end. I hope to be able to use my determination and
talent to get myself to the level of success that I wish to have. I can not wait to continue my study of
journalism through ISM, or to get started in this field.

In conclusion, this article gave me several pieces of advice that I very much intend to follow. I
now know that I must risk a lot in order to be a part of this competitive field, but I do believe that it is
worth it.
(article below)

Top 10 Tips For Young Aspiring Journalists

As a member of the media and purveyor of career advice, some of the top questions I receive by
email and in person are how I got to where I am today and whether I recommend pursuing
journalism as a profession. Most come from students in high school or college, and this one
seemed so sincere that I decided to answer it in public, to perhaps help other young, aspiring
journalists.
Hello Ms. Goudreau,
As with many other high school juniors, life is rapidly unfolding and confusion and chaos are in
full force; primarily, due to the choices and considerations for careers, jobs, college, and the
future ahead. I enjoy writing and would love to become a Journalist, but (there is always a but), I
am apprehensive, as I also live Florida as you did. Prospective jobs in the field seem slim, and
competition and relocation seem eminent. Since you have made the big steps, and have been
witness to the process, is there any advice that you could provide to someone who is in the
indecisive state of confusion? In other words, what are some tips and advice you would have
given to yourself before you started on your journey, such as the process, imperative education,
job opportunities, and pay? I would to do what I love, but in this economy, choices like this are a
big risk. Any advice or mentoring-like comments and suggestions would be appreciated. Also, if
you could write an article about this topic it would be helpful to a great deal of people. Thank
you in advance.
Sincerely,
Alyssa T.
P.S. What instigated your love for putting pen to paper? My middle school English teacher and
the film His Girl Friday, starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, made me more interested in
journalism.
Thank you for your question, Alyssa. Let me break it down in parts.
1. Inspiration
My love for putting pen to paper started early. Before I could even read, I begged my mom to
teach me. Once I could, I loved writing stories. In elementary school I wrote and bound a
10-page book on friendship, wrote song lyrics for our all-girl rock band The Crying Onions and
worked on the school newspaper (more like pamphlet, filled mostly with my poems about the
weather). It all sounds very adorable, and Im sure it was, but the point is: I have always been a
writer and storyteller.
When I started asking more practical questionshow do I earn money with my
skills?journalism seemed obvious. You get to learn every day, meet interesting people, write
and speak about new ideas, and occasionally get a sweet swag bag. How do you know you love it?

I cant answer that for you. But if you choose to pursue this field, youll need to have talent and
passion to ride out the hard times.
2. Education
I got undergraduate journalism and sociology degrees from N
ew York University. I recommend
pursuing a journalism degree and double majoring in something wildly different to diversify
yourself. If I could do it again, I would double in computer science. Some of my colleagues in the
industry didnt study journalism and have been very successful. Its not required, but it makes it
easier.
Still, journalism is a doing field. At the end of the day, you need to be able to talk to people, see
trends, organize your research and communicate it in an engaging way. Online, the editing
process is changing. More and more, the onus is on individual journalists to come up with the
ideas and report, write, edit, publish and promote the work themselves. That takes
independence, drive and attention to detail, which cant be taught in a classroom.
3. Job Opportunities
Although media is evolving rapidly, I still put journalism jobs in two buckets: broadcast and
print. In broadcast, meaning TV and radio news, you can either be an on-air personality or a
writer/producer of pieces that end up on air, or a mix of both. My work has mostly been on the
print side, but if I could go back, Id take at least one broadcast-journalism class. Online writers
are now asked to create their own web videos, and print writers generally are often asked to go
on the air to promote their work. By print I mean physical and digital newspapers and
magazines, wire services and websites.
On the whole, the field is contracting, but if youre good and smart about it, you can find work.
Helpful resources are mediabistro,JournalismJobs and Indeed. One good option for young,
aspiring journalists is to get in the door at a wire service like the Associated Press or Dow Jones.
They administer news tests through universities and, if they like you, place you in one of their
markets. I was offered a reporter position in Florida just out of school but, for reasons Ill
discuss shortly, turned it down. While I had different plans, this is a great opportunity for many.
4. Location
In media, the market youre in means a lot. While an accountant or nurse can find jobs all
around the countryand world for that matterthe market a salaried journalist works in greatly
impacts their career. Most national media companies in the U.S. are headquartered in New
York, NY. Youll also find major bureaus in Atlanta, Washington, D.C.,Los Angeles and San
Francisco and overseas in places like London and Hong Kong.
When I was in school, the traditional wisdom was that you start out in a small market and work
your way to a major market like New York. However, I was already living and working (in media
internships) in New York and thought it would be better to start in the biggest market. Both
strategies work, but know that there are more journalism job opportunities here and in urban
centers than anywhere else.

5. Competition
This is a competitive field. Period. Its competitive to get a job, especially now that there are
fewer of them. Its competitive to keep the job you have and much more so to move up. Its
performance based. On TV, you need ratings and major gets. In print, you need big ideas, good
relationships and solid writing. Online, you need traffic, social media audience and compelling
work. You need to bleed story ideas and execute them well. Its hard to sustain, but its possible.
6. Process
In terms of the process of getting a job and moving up the ladder, heres what I did. In college, I
did two internships at major magazinesone paid full-time position for three months and one
for-credit part-time position for five months. I wrote for both the publications while there. I also
wrote for the school paper and did freelance work. That meant when I started looking for
full-time salaried jobs I had a portfolio of work and work experience at big brand names.
My first salaried job was as an editorial assistant, in which I also wrote for the magazine and
website. I was promoted to reporter a year and half later. Some journalists remain reporters for
their entire careers, getting bigger and bigger assignments. Some become editors and move up
the ladder as managers and editorial decision-makers.
7. Timing
I recommend starting early. Some people make mid-career switches to journalism and are
successful, but I believe the earlier you start and succeed, the higher youre likely to rise.
Internships are a great way to get in the door and meet people in the field. Some of them pay, so
try to find those. Also, the bar is lower for editorial assistant positions. Theyre usually
lower-paying and staffed by young people. You dont have to start there, but the intermediate
reporting and editing jobs can be fiercely competitive.
8. Pay
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reporters, correspondents and broadcast news
analysts earn a median salary of $36,000. Writers and authors (including advertising, magazine,
book, TV and film) earn a median salary of $55,000. Editors earn a median salary of $51,000. In
bigger markets and bigger outlets, youll earn on the higher end of the spectrum. Many reporters
supplement their income with side projects like book deals, speaking engagements and regular
columns (for those in broadcast) or regular TV appearances (for those in print).
Negotiate. In my first job, I didnt. That was really dumb. I was offered the exact amount I
expected and took it. At the time, I didnt even know I was supposed to negotiate. Always ask for
more money. The best time is when youre first coming into a job, immediately after an offer is
made. Check sites like Salary.com and Glassdoor.com to learn what the median is for the
position, company and market. They may say no, but if you dont ask, youre ensuring you wont
get more.
9. Relationships
This is a relationship business. If I could turn back time, I would have invested even more in
building and maintaining strong relationships with mentors, colleagues and peers. Journalism

professors are often working in the field and can introduce you to the right people. Many of your
classmates and internship peers will go on to work in the industry and can make great contacts.
Your bosses and colleagues, whether they remain in your company or leave, can advocate for you
if a position opens up. Additionally, good relationships with sources and subjects will make you
better at your job. Do not underestimate or shortchange your relationships.
10. Risk vs. Reward
So what does it all mean? The industry is contracting, competition is fierce, the pays not so hot,
and you have to be really good and, frankly, emotionally stable to deal with the highs and lows.
The industry is changing, but it wont disappear. People are consuming news more than ever and
with a voracious appetite. There will always be demand for trusted news sources.
In the last few years, Ive written over 500 stories. Ive interviewed heads of state, corporate
CEOs, billionaires and celebrities. Ive traveled to C
hicago, Seattle and Melbourne, Australia.
Ive had a coffee tasting with S
tarbucks master blender and a soup tasting withCampbells head
chef. Ive spoken at conferences, on panels and on television and given a seminar to other
writers. I think thats pretty cool. Im glad I ended up here.