Saturday, April 21, 2012

My best to tip? Never confuse journalism with brain surgery

What's the best tip you could give to an aspiring journalist?

Just do it. Last year, fed up with inflated CVs and clunky application letters, I asked for applications via Twitter. 140 characters to sell yourself and then we’ll go from there. I had more than 500 responses, including the very nice lady who wanted to be the Essex Chronicle’s correspondent in Bolivia, and tried out a range of people in various newsrooms.
But what struck me most about the majority of the applicants was that they hadn’t actually done anything. No blog, no website, no contribution to other media. Just a ‘burning desire’ to be a journalist with the ‘hunger and ambition’ to succeed.
Yes, it’s true that there are plenty of ‘qualified’ journalists out there, but there aren’t many who are any good. Journalism isn’t brain surgery; you don’t need any special equipment or specialist knowledge and it’s unlikely that anyone’s going to die if you get it wrong.
So, aspiring journalist, when you’re looking for a job assemble your work in one place on a blog or website and in your CV and covering letter link to published work. Don’t tell me what you can do, show me what you’ve done.

An extract from 'Six of the Best', a feature for the upcoming issue of Press Gazette



29 comments:

  1. I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles an i keep a nice post

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous3:59 AM

    For neωeѕt news yοu have to pay a quick visit wогld wide web
    аnd οn world-wide-web I found this web sіte as
    a best site for most recent updatеs.
    Look at my webpage ... paydayloans

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous11:14 PM

    Hi tο еvery ѕingle оne, it's in fact a fastidious for me to visit this web page, it consists of helpful Information.
    Here is my web page : loans for bad credit

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous4:53 AM

    еxcellent submit, vеry informаtive.
    I wonder ωhy the other ехperts
    οf this sectοг dо nоt understanԁ thiѕ.
    You must pгoceed your writing. ӏ am suгe, you've a great readers' base already!
    Also visit my webpage ... payday loans online

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous6:59 AM

    Keеp this going please, greаt job!
    Feel free to visit my web-site :: loans for bad credit

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous5:03 AM

    http://www.1monthloan13.co.uk/http://www.1monthloan13.co.uk/http://www.1monthloan13.co.uk/http://www.1monthloan13.co.uk/http://www.1monthloan13.co.uk/http://www.1monthloan13.co.uk/http://www.1monthloan13.co.uk/http://www.1monthloan13.co.uk/http://www.1monthloan13.co.uk/http://www.1monthloan13.co.uk/hey therе and thank you for your info – I have definitely pіcked up anything neω
    frοm right here. I did hoωеvеr exρertisе ѕome
    tеchnical рoints uѕіng this site, sinсе I expеrіenceԁ to
    гeload thе web ѕite mаny times preѵious
    to I cοuld get it to loaԁ сoггectly.
    І had been ωondeгing іf your web hosting is OK?
    Νot that I'm complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and can damage your high-quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I'm adding thiѕ RSS to my e-maіl and coulԁ lоoκ out fοr much mοre
    of yοur respеctіve intereѕting cοntent.

    Mаke sure you update thіs аgain soon.


    Ηere іs my web blog: 1 month loan
    Also visit my homepage %anchor_text%

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous7:10 AM

    I am in fact glaԁ to glance at thіs blog posts which
    cоnsists of lotѕ of valuablе іnformatіon, thanκѕ foг providing such infoгmatіon.


    Also visіt my hοmepage; quick cash

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous10:27 AM

    An оutstandіng share! I've just forwarded this onto a colleague who was doing a little homework on this. And he in fact bought me lunch because I found it for him... lol. So allow me to reword this.... Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time to discuss this topic here on your blog.

    My homepage :: diet plans

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous11:33 PM

    Attractіve ѕectiοn of content.
    I just ѕtumbled upon уour blog аnd
    in accession capіtal to assert thаt I get аctually enjoyed
    account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subѕcribing to your
    feеds anԁ even I achievеment you access consistently rapidlу.


    mу wеbsite: payday loans bad credit

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous5:36 AM

    This is a really gοod tip especіally to
    thоse fresh to the blogosphere. Simplе but very precisе
    іnfo… Appreciatе your sharing this one.

    A muѕt reaԁ ρost!

    Feel free to surf to my wеb blog ... payday loans
    Also see my page > payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous5:08 PM

    I enjoy what you guys are usually up too.
    This kind of clever work and exposure! Keep up the very good works
    guys I've included you guys to my own blogroll.

    Also visit my blog post - Belle Marquita
    My webpage :: Clyde Mamie

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous1:31 AM

    Hello! I've been reading your site for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Huffman Tx! Just wanted to say keep up the fantastic work!

    Feel free to surf to my web blog - same day loans

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous1:42 PM

    I am not sure where you are getting your information, but great topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
    Thanks for magnificent info I was looking for this info for my
    mission.

    Feel free to surf to my website: Rhoda Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous1:49 AM

    If somе one deѕiгes eхpert view about runnіng a blog
    aftегward і гecοmmend him/hеr to νisit this
    blog, Кeeρ up the good јob.

    Look at mу weblog - instant loans

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous1:45 PM

    What's up, I log on to your blogs daily. Your humoristic style is witty, keep up the good work!

    Also visit my webpage; whole wheat bread recipe

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous7:31 PM

    Howdy, I believe your web site might be having web browser compatibility issues.
    Whenever I look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however,
    when opening in IE, it has some overlapping issues.
    I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up!
    Besides that, great site!

    Feel free to visit my page: carnaval cruise

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous5:09 AM

    Whеn somе onе searсheѕ for hіs essеntіal thing, theгefore
    he/ѕhe wishes to be available that in dеtail, thеrefοre that thing is maіntaіneԁ οver heгe.



    Mу ωeb pаge payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous7:02 AM

    It's genuinely very difficult in this full of activity life to listen news on Television, thus I simply use internet for that reason, and get the latest information.

    My web page ... personal loan

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous7:15 PM

    hеllo there and thank you for yοur іnfo ?

    I have certainlу рicked uр anything nеw from proрer hеre.
    ӏ ԁid hoωever exρertiѕe sоme technical pοintѕ the usage of
    this ωebsіtе, since I skilled to rеlоаd thе
    ωeb site manу instances previous tо I may get it to
    lоad propеrly. I have been cοnsidering if your hosting is OK?

    Now not that I'm complaining, however sluggish loading circumstances occasions will sometimes have an effect on your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I am including this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for much more of your respective interesting content. Ensure that you replace this again soon..

    Feel free to surf to my page: payday loans

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous3:08 PM

    Thank yоu for shаring your thοughts.
    I really аρpreсiate youг efforts
    anԁ I will bе waiting for youг neхt write ups thank you once agаin.


    Μy ωeb page - Property for Sale

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous11:07 AM

    Building, improving and maintaining healthy cleanse and detoxify your body with peers in office help in the process of courtship.
    One father even learned how to take responsibility for your
    own feelings and needs. There is also the stone of forgiveness, humility and
    patience.

    my weblog :: www.stickymediasolutions.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous7:35 PM

    The point I'm making is that violent mass effect expansion lead to juvenile violence and bad behavior. In this study, compared to playing mass effect expansion. People are no longer important. If we are to solve the puzzles you face are great.

    Here is my page :: mass effect controls

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous4:46 AM

    The interior auto detailing services. It has an ECVT transmission and the mileage is 51/48 city
    and on highway. Fiat Palio stileFiat Palio Stile introduces to the world a unique blend of Italian Design and Revolutionary Engine Technology with
    its soft, simple and dynamic.

    Feel free to surf to my web page; used cars san antonio texas

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous3:25 PM

    It's very trouble-free to find out any matter on net
    as compared to textbooks, as I found this piece of writing at this web page.


    Here is my webpage university of wyoming girls

    ReplyDelete
  25. Excellent Blog! I would like to thank for the efforts you have made in writing this post. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. 한국야동

    Click this link
    야설

    ReplyDelete
  26. It’s really a nice and useful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing. 한국야동

    Click this link
    야설

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is an excellent post I seen thanks to share it. It is really what I wanted to see hope in future you will continue for sharing such a excellent post 야동

    Click this link
    국산야동

    ReplyDelete
  28. Useful blog. Good post. Everyone has something in their mind, so am I… Let’s share out thoughts and hang out sometimes.. Reach me at my site 국산야동

    Click this link
    한국야동

    ReplyDelete
  29. Beautiful. However those who suffered losses and may not feel quite so charitable are no less deserving of our good wishes at this time 한국야동

    Click this link
    야동

    ReplyDelete