Trying to break into journalism
February 6, 2016 7:26 PM Subscribe
I recently graduated with a degree in film from a Chicago school, but more and more I find myself only interested in documentaries, podcasts and articles. How can I break into journalism at a time when the future of journalism is so uncertain?
I've made a start as a freelancer, covering events, crime, protests, etc. as a photo/video journalist. While my photos and videos are certainly high quality, I haven't made nearly enough money to live off of. I have applied for several jobs, but they nearly all want someone with 5+ experience. What can I do to get myself started? And/or what kind of job should I look for that will pay the bills and allow time to freelance and gain experience? I understand it isn't the best time to get into journalism (especially without a journalism degree) but surely there must be some path to follow.
I've made a start as a freelancer, covering events, crime, protests, etc. as a photo/video journalist. While my photos and videos are certainly high quality, I haven't made nearly enough money to live off of. I have applied for several jobs, but they nearly all want someone with 5+ experience. What can I do to get myself started? And/or what kind of job should I look for that will pay the bills and allow time to freelance and gain experience? I understand it isn't the best time to get into journalism (especially without a journalism degree) but surely there must be some path to follow.
You need to pick a niche (or beat) and stick with it. Publish on that beat weekly or more. Become the expert in that field and everyone will eventually (~5 yrs) go to you to report that beat.
posted by nologo at 8:46 PM on February 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by nologo at 8:46 PM on February 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I could pontificate about the weaknesses, strengths and possible future of journalism forever. You want experience, and I recommend starting at a community radio station with a news and public affairs department.
Community radio stations are usually all volunteer operations that are like commercial and public radio stations in every way except they don't play commercials (they call them "underwriting" which makes them slightly less annoying, and they don't take government money at all, which gives them an slightly better air of respectability amongst their audience, which is usually center to left on the political spectrum).
Because they tend to be volunteer oriented, they are ALWAYS looking for people with motivation and willing to give of their time. I volunteer at KBOO in Portland, and last year, after volunteering for there for about 18-months in the news department, I was given the opportunity to lead a team and do an 8-part expose on the effects of the American Legislative Exchange Council on the Oregon legislature with a grant from the Fund for Investigative Journalism. Now, that's on my resume, I'm known in the community, and more doors are open.
But I also started a podcast there where I've had to chance to interview everyone from Wanda Sykes to Bela Fleck to Herbie Hancock to novelist Sue Grafton. Community radio stations and the opportunities they provide are not to be discounted.
I've compared community stations in the U.S. to radio stations in the Chatanooga area and didn't find a match. But I'd contact the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters at 615.365.1840 or info@tabtn.org. Maybe they can find you a community station or give you other advice to get started.
posted by CollectiveMind at 9:24 PM on February 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
Community radio stations are usually all volunteer operations that are like commercial and public radio stations in every way except they don't play commercials (they call them "underwriting" which makes them slightly less annoying, and they don't take government money at all, which gives them an slightly better air of respectability amongst their audience, which is usually center to left on the political spectrum).
Because they tend to be volunteer oriented, they are ALWAYS looking for people with motivation and willing to give of their time. I volunteer at KBOO in Portland, and last year, after volunteering for there for about 18-months in the news department, I was given the opportunity to lead a team and do an 8-part expose on the effects of the American Legislative Exchange Council on the Oregon legislature with a grant from the Fund for Investigative Journalism. Now, that's on my resume, I'm known in the community, and more doors are open.
But I also started a podcast there where I've had to chance to interview everyone from Wanda Sykes to Bela Fleck to Herbie Hancock to novelist Sue Grafton. Community radio stations and the opportunities they provide are not to be discounted.
I've compared community stations in the U.S. to radio stations in the Chatanooga area and didn't find a match. But I'd contact the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters at 615.365.1840 or info@tabtn.org. Maybe they can find you a community station or give you other advice to get started.
posted by CollectiveMind at 9:24 PM on February 6, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm not so familiar with the photo/video side of journalism, so take this with a grain of salt, but does your budget allow you to take a full-time paid internship or two? If so, I'd take a look at that. Anecdotally, most of the people I know who got ended up getting hired in the journalism industry got a toehold in that way. (And of course, that's a system that's problematic for all sorts of reasons, but it is what it is.)
If you're going that route, look for places that have a record of both giving interns the chance to take on substantive assignments and of hiring at least occasionally from their intern pool. At the very least, this should hopefully net you some good references and connections.
posted by eponym at 8:27 AM on February 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
If you're going that route, look for places that have a record of both giving interns the chance to take on substantive assignments and of hiring at least occasionally from their intern pool. At the very least, this should hopefully net you some good references and connections.
posted by eponym at 8:27 AM on February 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
i got a grad degree from a photojournalism program; i work in media now but am not a photojournalist.
i'd say work on building a coherent portfolio and get to know some photo editors.
if you want to be a photojournalist/video journalist, your portfolio needs to check off certain boxes. at least at first, before people know you, the portfolio is the only evidence they have that you can deliver...the standard "photojournalism student" portfolio usually consists of:
-awesome singles (but the fewer the better. you are only as good as your weakest image.)
-sports action
-sports feature
-a photo story. tell one substantive story in ~12 frames or so
-portraits
-interesting/quirky feature photos
-spot news/unfolding action
on the video side: can you make a compelling 2-3 min video story by combining interview and verite footage, are you a good video editor? can you get out and find the story?
keep making stuff until it reflects those criteria; show your portfolio to editors and pitch them new stories.
you could try freelance photo/video work. universities, non profits, corporate videos, weddings. but man, it's hard! it's almost easier to have a non-photo related, well-paying job, imo. maybe dabble for a while and go back to school, not so much for the degree as the connections...?
posted by iahtl at 11:14 AM on February 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
i'd say work on building a coherent portfolio and get to know some photo editors.
if you want to be a photojournalist/video journalist, your portfolio needs to check off certain boxes. at least at first, before people know you, the portfolio is the only evidence they have that you can deliver...the standard "photojournalism student" portfolio usually consists of:
-awesome singles (but the fewer the better. you are only as good as your weakest image.)
-sports action
-sports feature
-a photo story. tell one substantive story in ~12 frames or so
-portraits
-interesting/quirky feature photos
-spot news/unfolding action
on the video side: can you make a compelling 2-3 min video story by combining interview and verite footage, are you a good video editor? can you get out and find the story?
keep making stuff until it reflects those criteria; show your portfolio to editors and pitch them new stories.
you could try freelance photo/video work. universities, non profits, corporate videos, weddings. but man, it's hard! it's almost easier to have a non-photo related, well-paying job, imo. maybe dabble for a while and go back to school, not so much for the degree as the connections...?
posted by iahtl at 11:14 AM on February 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am a former radio and documentary producer and landed several great jobs in journalism before changing careers to find more of the challenge I wanted. Key to getting the jobs you want is unfunded concept project management. What does that mean?
Let's say you hypothetically found a story in your daily beat(s) that seems worth telling an extended story about. Say, the living conditions of mentally ill adults who have been barred from entering hospitals. How do you tell this important story? You produce as much as you possibly can of a portfolio to sell the story to a grantor or funder.
Others talk about niche building but the most successful journalists (Greg Palast being a good example) are able to be just generalist enough to capture zeitgeist and just specialist enough to allow others to tell their story of him telling his story. Morgan Spurlock is a really good example of this approach. Although he created a feature, most if not all media entrepreneurship approaches are for the purpose of finding a full-time role. Create as much as you can of a portfolio, complete with features you're developing and how you are key to completing them.
As for jobs, the Collegiate Broadcasters Association has an excellent mailing list for jobs. You can frankly work anywhere to get funding to produce but if you feel you must get more field production experience I would look for a small station willing to hire a jack of all trades then start producing anything the producers think could draw revenue. Cut yourself into the local advertising market as a commercial director, for example. Message me if you want to talk.
posted by parmanparman at 11:18 AM on February 7, 2016
Let's say you hypothetically found a story in your daily beat(s) that seems worth telling an extended story about. Say, the living conditions of mentally ill adults who have been barred from entering hospitals. How do you tell this important story? You produce as much as you possibly can of a portfolio to sell the story to a grantor or funder.
Others talk about niche building but the most successful journalists (Greg Palast being a good example) are able to be just generalist enough to capture zeitgeist and just specialist enough to allow others to tell their story of him telling his story. Morgan Spurlock is a really good example of this approach. Although he created a feature, most if not all media entrepreneurship approaches are for the purpose of finding a full-time role. Create as much as you can of a portfolio, complete with features you're developing and how you are key to completing them.
As for jobs, the Collegiate Broadcasters Association has an excellent mailing list for jobs. You can frankly work anywhere to get funding to produce but if you feel you must get more field production experience I would look for a small station willing to hire a jack of all trades then start producing anything the producers think could draw revenue. Cut yourself into the local advertising market as a commercial director, for example. Message me if you want to talk.
posted by parmanparman at 11:18 AM on February 7, 2016
Also, take care to learn procurement.
posted by parmanparman at 11:19 AM on February 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by parmanparman at 11:19 AM on February 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
also wanted to add, upon re-reading your post: if you're already getting work, that's great. keep building relationships with those editors, be proactive, remind them that you exist and are making good work! send updates! risk being a little annoying.
posted by iahtl at 11:20 AM on February 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by iahtl at 11:20 AM on February 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Just wanted to say that your lack of journalism degree is almost certainly not going to hold you back.
posted by kat518 at 1:15 PM on February 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by kat518 at 1:15 PM on February 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
Find a niche, and do something different to stand out. That isn't easy and the profession doesn't pay as well as it should. When I broke in, I put a guarantee on my résumé, stating if the editor wasn't satisfied with my work after 30 days, I forfeited that month's wages. Keep pitching and suggests beats you can cover rather than relying on someone thinking it up for you.
Good luck.
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 4:48 PM on February 7, 2016
Good luck.
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 4:48 PM on February 7, 2016
The hard part is getting a job that actually pays decent wages. You're in a weird in-between where people would still want your work but won't pay you a full-time salary and benefits to do all the work they need. Unfortunately, I think journalism becomes more competing as relying on stringer as a cost-saving measure becomes more common.
I think honestly you may need to try to get a job that uses your same skills but is in a different, more stable field, and then continue to freelance on the side so you can build your portfolio and network. Or, heck, even intern somewhere on the side. Could you consider doing something in the digital sphere for a company or non-profit and produce films/reports for them on staff? I think your non-journalism job may be in digital content creation or something like that. Then while you have that job, you can continue to pitch and do freelance work or you could also consider interning and hope you get a job out of it.
As for finding a job that will afford you the time to continue your passion, that I think is just going to depend on the specific company/organization. Be sure to ask about work-life balance. That is code for, "Are you going to make me work 12-hour days and on weekends?
Ask about what a normal day for the person in your position is and be clear on the expectations. Try to get to know the office culture.
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:38 PM on February 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think honestly you may need to try to get a job that uses your same skills but is in a different, more stable field, and then continue to freelance on the side so you can build your portfolio and network. Or, heck, even intern somewhere on the side. Could you consider doing something in the digital sphere for a company or non-profit and produce films/reports for them on staff? I think your non-journalism job may be in digital content creation or something like that. Then while you have that job, you can continue to pitch and do freelance work or you could also consider interning and hope you get a job out of it.
As for finding a job that will afford you the time to continue your passion, that I think is just going to depend on the specific company/organization. Be sure to ask about work-life balance. That is code for, "Are you going to make me work 12-hour days and on weekends?
Ask about what a normal day for the person in your position is and be clear on the expectations. Try to get to know the office culture.
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:38 PM on February 7, 2016 [1 favorite]
« Older Corporate housing or short or long term housing in... | Which gangster invented supermarket sex? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Go shoot. Submit. Repeat. Keep learning. Unless one can clearly stand out from the others doing the same thing, making enough as a journalist to live off it will be iffy - just as it was at the lower rungs of journalism before the net.
posted by Homer42 at 8:14 PM on February 6, 2016 [1 favorite]