While on my penpal journey, I have connected with a few people who are in the media and news industry themselves. I've been caught up on all my letters for a while now so I thought I'd seek out a few more pen pals to add to my list. I made a post in a Facebook group and asked for people specifically in the media industry. While I did find one or two, I also found a mentoring opportunity.
My newest pen pal, Kassandra, is a 15 year old girl. I was hesitant at first, being almost half her age. Her mom Brandi reached out to me and asked if I'd consider writing to her as she is interested in learning more about the field of journalism. Without a doubt after that conversation, I jumped in.
I wrote Kassandra an open letter on what it truly takes to become a reporter. I wasted no time in letting her know that sometimes, it's night shifts, working on the major holidays, and it's a crazy lifestyle. I was honest, but I also made sure to let her know that for me, the field of journalism has been the best thing I've done with my life.
Brandi was so grateful that I took the chance and started writing to Kassandra. If I had the opportunity that Kassandra did when I was 15, I would have loved it. I've always been fascinated by writing but to actually be able to discuss the thoughts I had at her age with someone who was actually in the field would have been so beneficial.
In my first letter to Kassandra, I also included some of my favorite interviews that I've ever done. I figured it didn't hurt to show her the true power of how you can combine your passions outside of work into actual stories. Being a big gymnastics fan, I was able to interview some local gymnasts as they prepared for their collegiate gymnastics careers. I was able to interview Paula Abdul and get the story on the cover of an international chronic pain magazine.
As I've been writing with Kassandra, I've been thinking more and more about the best pieces of advice that I would give to young people who are thinking about a career in the media industry. I've compiled the top three that I wish I would have known.
1. Working Knowledge is Key
I personally feel that my interest in so many different topics has helped me to have a wide range of knowledge that I can write about all kinds of subjects. Growing up, I'd watch football with my dad and he taught me about the game. I'm familiar with terminology, positions on the field, some of the most important stats, and because of that, I feel confident when I'm asked to cover a football game. I also have an interest in music and television that when I have to interview members of Hollywood, I don't feel shy or intimidated. Just a small working knowledge of a vast array of interests will help you feel ready to tackle any assignment.
2. Understand the Freelancer Mindset
I have worked as and worked with many freelance writers in my life. I know what it's like to work for a very small amount of money for what can sometimes be a big story. In order to be a successful writer, you need to understand the scope of what a freelancer is responsible for. While working for a newspaper in New Jersey, I was a freelancer that covered an entire town. I had to be at every council meeting, board of education meeting, high school sports games, town wide events, planning and zoning board cases, and more. I covered the township Thanksgiving Day parade, the holiday open houses, Black Friday, and Chinese New Year celebrations. It required many late nights, early mornings, and holiday weekends. However, the passion and drive I had for my career outweighed that. Sure, there were times when all I wanted was to celebrate the 4th of July with my family, but I also knew the importance of covering the town to it's fullest. Be prepared to work, but also remember to sit back and have fun sometimes too.
3. Make Connections
I will never forget my first day on the job as a freelance reporter. I was tasked with attending a township council meeting and I was NERVOUS. I took a seat towards the back of the big council chambers and was very shy. (Those of you who know me, me being shy is the last thing you'd categorize me as.) After the meeting started, I was packing up my notebook and binder and a man approached me. He introduced himself as the mayor of the township and asked me to stop by his office at Town Hall. While in his office, I explained about the new publication that was coming to town, how I was the editor in chief, and the scope of what the publication was trying to accomplish. I left Town Hall that night with phone numbers for every council member, the mayor's personal cell phone number, a calendar of events for the remainder of the year, and important potential story ideas. The mayor, to this day, is one of my closest contacts and he still comes to me with story ideas. I cannot begin to express the importance of connections in the media industry. If you treat your source like a person, they will likely keep coming back to you time and time again.
There are a million other things I could share about making it successfully in this industry, but we'll save those for another blog post. My key takeaway; show up and do your job right. Own up to your mistakes in stories, and be honest. You'll make the right connections and be a better reporter because of it.
Signing off,
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