Chris Brown, San Diego Writing Examiner, Examiner.com
May 3, 2011
For those San Diegans with a love of the truth, and a knack for always being right, journalism offers the outlet to most directly express themselves, their beliefs, or the hard facts to their community and abroad.
Career: Journalist
National Average Salary Range: $25,491-$45,691
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s in English, Journalism, or Communications
- Published Writing Samples
- Experience at a Newspaper or Magazine (including College Newspapers)
- Knowledge of AP (Associated Press) style and familiarity with Chicago Manual of Style guide, MLA style, and APA style
Basic Computer Programs:
- Microsoft Word, Excel
- Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
- QuarkXpress
Journalism is one of the most glorified, and therefore competitive, job markets for those conceited enough to consider themselves a writer. Although, with the growth of internet based media, the field has been undergoing a drastic change over the last ten years.
While print media is more competitive than ever, the growth of online publications has opened up the field for a large number of new writers. Despite this, San Diego offers numerous positions for those looking to be able to feel the paper between their fingers as they read.
San Diego as a large city, has the advantage of a diverse number of local publications including the twenty-third most circulated newspaper in the nation, the “San Diego Union Tribune”. For the journalistic hopeful this is a huge benefit because the city can offer the full range of career opportunities from small entry-level writing gigs to large-scale staff writing.
So how does one break into the competition?
A specialized expertise can be one way to be placed above the competition. For example, a particular knowledge of aerospace or the Charger’s defensive line can give an applicant the edge which will catch the attention of an editor looking to hire.
Despite whatever education one has, nothing can be traded for experience. Most applications for paid writing require published work samples and establishing experience through those samples is key to obtaining a chance to prove one’s writing ability.
Many online publications offer great opportunities to break into the field and build a portfolio of published work.
One such publication is this very site, Examiner.com. Examiner is an excellent starting point because not only does it not require previous online journalistic experience, but the site offers free online training through its Examiner University. The Examiner University hosts lessons in everything from basic web publishing skills to writing in AP style.
Another option is contacting one of San Diego’s alternative print papers, such as the “San Diego Reader” or “San Diego CityBeat”, to inquire about writing some freelance articles. One can also submit an article ‘on spec’, meaning on the speculation that the editors will publish it if they deem it valuable to do so.
Pay will most likely be little to none, but valuable experience as well as a high readership can help accelerate a career. Acquiring published articles and honing one’s written skill is the most important thing to be done at the outset of a journalism career.
If one continues to write articles then, after persevering through hundreds of applications and a lot of luck, they may be able to display their topmost written skills when their break arrives.
For more information on what it takes to enter into journalism visit eHow and HowToDoThings.com’s articles on “How to Become a Journalist”.
For a basic overview of writing careers Writers & Others Who Have a Way with Words by Robert Bly is a good read.
If one continues to write articles then they may be able to display their topmost written skills when their break arrives.
C.B. James Writing 