The things you do in college determine your life path. To get jobs in media industry, you need to be willing to look beyond your books and take up projects that will help you move a step closer to your dream career.
Here are 5 things you can do in college that will help you land jobs in media industry:
1. Take up blogging
Getting jobs in media industry cutting the stifling competition is extremely difficult. Initially, blogging started off as a past time but it has really taken off in the last few years. From food and fashion to travel and technology, blogs belonging to a variety of genres have sprung up by the thousands. In fact, various organizations have started employing bloggers and content writers to fuel marking activities. That said, writing ‘Dear Diary’ styled blogs will not do the trick. You’ve got to dip your feet into the sea of professional online journalism if you want your future prospective employers to take you seriously.
Today, even the biggest newspapers and magazines run successful blogs alongside their print publications. You can start with platforms like Medium or WordPress and take it forward from there. Focus on building a loyal reader base. For all you know, your reputation as an independent blogger could further your chances of landing you a job in a well-known online publication or media outlet.
2. Be versatile to become a successful journalist
Why limit yourself to print when the world is embracing everything from TV and radio to video and podcasts? If you are the one of the run-of-the-mill, using tried and tested ways shall not make the cut when looking for jobs in media industry? If you aren’t camera shy and have the ability to share regular content in an interesting manner, then you should consider vlogging or running your own podcast! Doing this will help you get your foot into the door of various publication houses and you won’t have to struggle as much as you would have to otherwise to land a job.
3. Social network the right way
While you may use Facebook or Instagram for fun, social media can play a big role to help you get a job in the field of journalism. You can use social media platforms to air your views on relevant news matters. In fact, successful journalists, famous bloggers, vloggers and twitter personalities are headhunted for jobs in media industry because of their large social media following. The reasoning for this is that when a media house hires someone with a considerable social media presence, they get to tap into that presence. However, note that gaining a considerable following on social media takes building a dedicated audience which is a translation of producing meaningful content.
4. Intern at companies in your industry
Internships are more likely to land you a job as compared to anything else. But make sure you intern in companies that are relevant to fields of journalism and communication. In addition to helping you build a credible CV, internships help you get a taste of how the industry functions. Interning at media houses like The Hindu and the economic times can give you some on-field experience.
5. Learn additional skills
In the digital age, you need to have a wide range of skills to be successful as a journalist. With all the multimedia platforms available today, journalism has become a multifaceted multimedia profession. Try learning how to-
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- Do photography – In addition to reporting facts, a journalist is also required to click pictures if the camera-person isn’t around or won’t reach the site on time. Therefore, click as many professional-looking shots you can (not selfies!). This way, you can boast about your photography skills to future employers.
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- Build or edit a website – If you want to make a career in online journalism, you might be required to upload your articles, along with multimedia, on the back-end. Learn how to edit a website. It will open more doors for you.
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- Use Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft Office software – A reporter is required to make a rough draft of his articles before he submits them to the editor. For that, you’ll need to know how to use Microsoft Word. Also, you never know when you might have to use other tools belonging to the Microsoft Office. It’s better to hone your skills in them.
- Implement basic SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – This is again true if you want to make a career in online journalism. Use the correct search words so your articles get found by crawlers on the web. Read up on SEO to enhance your knowledge on the same.
Pursuing the following activities will improve your chances of landing a job in the field of journalism. Focus on building your portfolio and the great hunt for employment will become easier than you think!
Since you’re here, take a look at What is Journalism – All You Ever Wanted to Know!
