Journalism Grads: 30 Things You Should Do This Summer
Thursday, June 25, 2009
You could spend this summer working on your killer tan... or you could use the downtime to get heads up on the thousands of other grads competing for journalism jobs. Use this checklist to improve your journalism skills and set yourself apart from the pack:
1. Start a blog and post at least twice a week
2. If you already have a blog, write a post that gets retweeted 20 times
3. Shoot 100 amazing photos and post them on Flickr
4. Friend at least 50 journalists on Twitter who in turn follow you back
5. Become a part of a crowdsourcing project (start here)
6. Improve at least 5 Wikipedia entries
7. Create an audio slideshow using Soundslides
8. Shoot and edit a 3-minute video and post it to YouTube
9. Design a website from scratch using HTML and CSS
10. Create and maintain a Delicious account with at least 50 links that you find interesting
11. Create an online portfolio
12. Learn at least one other form of blogging (e.g. photoblogging, videoblogging, liveblogging)
13. Crop, resize, and color correct 50 photos using photo editing software
14. Start your own podcast
15. Create a profile on LinkedIn
16. Learn another computer language besides HTML (e.g. XML, PHP, MySQL)
17. Create an avatar and use it on all your social networking profiles
18. Learn how to create a basic slideshow in Flash
19. Subscribe to at least 25 non-journalism blogs using an RSS reader
20. Record, edit and embed a 3-minute piece of audio.
21. Interview 10 people using a handheld audio recorder
22. Interview 10 people using a video camera
23. Create a map mashup using a CSV file
24. Set your social network profiles to private or remove any incriminating evidence
25. Create a multimedia project that incorporates, video, audio, and text
26. Create a Flash project that uses ActionScript 3.0
27. Write a blog post that is Dugg at least 20 times
28. Join Wired Journalists
29. Attend a multimedia training workshop or take an online course
30. Remind yourself why you want to be a journalist
UPDATE: Check out the follow-up post Why having technical skills alone just won't cut it
Also on 10,000 Words:
• How to make the most of your journalism internship
• 15 Journalists' outstanding personal portfolios
• Why J-Schools matter
• 10 Journalists you should follow on Twitter
1. Start a blog and post at least twice a week
2. If you already have a blog, write a post that gets retweeted 20 times
3. Shoot 100 amazing photos and post them on Flickr
4. Friend at least 50 journalists on Twitter who in turn follow you back
5. Become a part of a crowdsourcing project (start here)
6. Improve at least 5 Wikipedia entries
7. Create an audio slideshow using Soundslides
8. Shoot and edit a 3-minute video and post it to YouTube
9. Design a website from scratch using HTML and CSS
10. Create and maintain a Delicious account with at least 50 links that you find interesting
11. Create an online portfolio
12. Learn at least one other form of blogging (e.g. photoblogging, videoblogging, liveblogging)
13. Crop, resize, and color correct 50 photos using photo editing software
14. Start your own podcast
15. Create a profile on LinkedIn
16. Learn another computer language besides HTML (e.g. XML, PHP, MySQL)
17. Create an avatar and use it on all your social networking profiles
18. Learn how to create a basic slideshow in Flash
19. Subscribe to at least 25 non-journalism blogs using an RSS reader20. Record, edit and embed a 3-minute piece of audio.
21. Interview 10 people using a handheld audio recorder
22. Interview 10 people using a video camera
23. Create a map mashup using a CSV file
24. Set your social network profiles to private or remove any incriminating evidence
25. Create a multimedia project that incorporates, video, audio, and text
26. Create a Flash project that uses ActionScript 3.0
27. Write a blog post that is Dugg at least 20 times
28. Join Wired Journalists
29. Attend a multimedia training workshop or take an online course
30. Remind yourself why you want to be a journalist
UPDATE: Check out the follow-up post Why having technical skills alone just won't cut it
Also on 10,000 Words:
• How to make the most of your journalism internship
• 15 Journalists' outstanding personal portfolios
• Why J-Schools matter
• 10 Journalists you should follow on Twitter
21 Comments
Mark S. Luckie Says:
You're right Mindy trying to accomplish all this in one summer would be a tremendous effort! And I would love a set of merit badges.
ohradiogirl Says:
Very nice list. Something to 'nip' at throughout the summer (and then some). I could incorporate some of this into class assignments too. Thanks.
Clea Simon Says:
May I add an old-school suggestion here? Report on something that hasn't been written about already. Too many bloggers are simply rehashing and, really, if you're a recent grad your opinion isn't going to be that interesting. Report on something. Anything. Get more than one source. Let people know something they didn't before.
Greg Linch Says:
You skipped this:
0. Find a way to financially sustain acts of journalism online.
;)
0. Find a way to financially sustain acts of journalism online.
;)
Drew Jaynes Says:
I've already completed at least six on this list, so it's only right if I try to do all of them right? Ive also tweeted/txted out the list to all of my shooters and my college paper. Maybe it will be a fun project for summer homework? Another quality post from 10000words!
Kirstin Marquardt Says:
Thank you! These recommendations are a perfect starting position for my suggested Workshop in 2010.
Steve Weber Says:
You forgot:
Drink a six-pack and e-mail your application to nation's Top 10 Party Schools.
Seriously, I remember after I graduated (in 1987) from J-school, reading this stat in the Editor & Publisher: More people graduate from journalism school every year in the U.S. than the total jobs in the field.
Even worse today, I'm sure. Especially if your degree is from a party school.
D'oh!
Drink a six-pack and e-mail your application to nation's Top 10 Party Schools.
Seriously, I remember after I graduated (in 1987) from J-school, reading this stat in the Editor & Publisher: More people graduate from journalism school every year in the U.S. than the total jobs in the field.
Even worse today, I'm sure. Especially if your degree is from a party school.
D'oh!
Matt Harris Says:
Yep, I'll make sure to do that after I make time to file my three daily stories and one Sunday story.
I understand the need to bolster one's skill set. But what happened to the days when we actually, you know, worried about reporting rather than slavishly trying to master every piece of technology?
Our industry's struggle has turned us in to Chicken Littles. Hell, most news products, after you strip out debt servicing costs racked up by dumb owners, still turn a 10 percent to 15 percent profit.
To me, improving my journalism skills means mastering reporting techniques so as to have the CONTENT to put on these platforms. It seems like we forget that sometimes.
I realize we need to adapt, but we shouldn't put "skills" ahead of our fundamental job: gathering, assembling, contextualizing and disseminating facts.
I understand the need to bolster one's skill set. But what happened to the days when we actually, you know, worried about reporting rather than slavishly trying to master every piece of technology?
Our industry's struggle has turned us in to Chicken Littles. Hell, most news products, after you strip out debt servicing costs racked up by dumb owners, still turn a 10 percent to 15 percent profit.
To me, improving my journalism skills means mastering reporting techniques so as to have the CONTENT to put on these platforms. It seems like we forget that sometimes.
I realize we need to adapt, but we shouldn't put "skills" ahead of our fundamental job: gathering, assembling, contextualizing and disseminating facts.
Says:
"16. Learn another programming language besides HTML (e.g. XML, PHP, MySQL)"
Only one of the four you name above (PHP) approaches an actual programming language. HTML and XML are markup languages and MySQL is an open-source relational database.
Perl, Python or Ruby are programming languages students might want to explore for general purpose programming (e.g. slicing and dicing data, visualizations, web scripting).
Otherwise, this is a broad and ambitious list for up-and-coming journos. Nice job.
Only one of the four you name above (PHP) approaches an actual programming language. HTML and XML are markup languages and MySQL is an open-source relational database.
Perl, Python or Ruby are programming languages students might want to explore for general purpose programming (e.g. slicing and dicing data, visualizations, web scripting).
Otherwise, this is a broad and ambitious list for up-and-coming journos. Nice job.
Bob Says:
Any of those would be valuable. For #31, how about reading a good book, one that includes great writing, and reporting that inspires? Something by Gay Talese, John McPhee, Jimmy Breslin, Tom Wolfe...
OK, so I'm showing my age. Here are a couple of lists:
http://tinyurl.com/lp9czh
http://tinyurl.com/64frob
OK, so I'm showing my age. Here are a couple of lists:
http://tinyurl.com/lp9czh
http://tinyurl.com/64frob
Mike Says:
Great post Mark! I work at Demand Studios and we are hiring writers every day. It's not specifically journalism but it's a great way to start becoming productive and experienced as a writer while making money. I think we would be perfect for many of your readers. We produce articles for high-quality websites with high traffic. If anyone is interested they should go to DemandStudios.com. Could be a great idea for a recent grad.
Mark S. Luckie Says:
Adding this one from Ryan Lytle: Get a business card
http://ryanlytle.tumblr.com/post/130129984/10-000words-net-how-to-make-the-most-of-your
http://ryanlytle.tumblr.com/post/130129984/10-000words-net-how-to-make-the-most-of-your
Dave Potts Says:
Here's another idea: find someone else in your area who has similar interests, but opposite skills. Team up and mentor each other.
Example: a video/multimedia producer might want to work on improving his or her writing skills. By teaming up and working on a project with a writer who wants to improve their multimedia chops, both end up benefiting.
Example: a video/multimedia producer might want to work on improving his or her writing skills. By teaming up and working on a project with a writer who wants to improve their multimedia chops, both end up benefiting.
Says:
what about write at least 5 articles on the state of the media industry? i think that's a requisite for those holding those expensive little pieces of paper from j-schools.
Says:
Wow, if you did all that you’d have quite the resume but probably wouldn’t be good at much of anything by the end of summer. Got clips? I’d learn to write and report first since half these things will be outdated in a year. Although, learning video and knowing web basics is smart.
Says:
I actually tried earning all my "badges" in a few months -- I have bald spots as a result ; ).
The lesson that I learned is: People come first. The tech skills are nice but partner up with someone who can do things you can't yet and tell their stories already!
The lesson that I learned is: People come first. The tech skills are nice but partner up with someone who can do things you can't yet and tell their stories already!
Says:
Major FAIL!
This isn't about becoming a better Journalist - its just average social skills!
Where is the 'read something that makes you uncomfortable?'
Learn how to put a logical argument together?
Learn to read between the lines.
Learn what 'follow the money' means and practice with the content of your next post.
Learning to cut n paste press releases is not a skill we need more of! - The next big thing is thinking skills!
Just remember that the biggest story of 2009 (expenses) was started by a US reporter using proper reporter skills!
This isn't about becoming a better Journalist - its just average social skills!
Where is the 'read something that makes you uncomfortable?'
Learn how to put a logical argument together?
Learn to read between the lines.
Learn what 'follow the money' means and practice with the content of your next post.
Learning to cut n paste press releases is not a skill we need more of! - The next big thing is thinking skills!
Just remember that the biggest story of 2009 (expenses) was started by a US reporter using proper reporter skills!
Says:
I've got a few:
31) Reflect on the fact that your industry is run by a bunch of aging baby boomers who said, "What's a blog?" back in 2001 and insist they're getting "more hip" every time they do something gimmicky in an attempt to draw in a younger audience.
32) Concentrate on being more beautiful -- in television journalism, actual reporting skills are way down on the list, below how good your legs look in a miniskirt, and how flirty you can be with men 25 years your senior.
33) Find a comfortable computer chair. Venturing outside of your hotel room or newsroom is a thing of the past -- repeating what other people have posted on Twitter and Facebook is where it's at. Who do you think got the scoop -- that miserable hack who pounded the phones getting confirmation of Michael Jackson's death, or the beautiful blond who told us someone posted, "OMG Michaels dead!1!11" on Twitter?
34) Speaking of celebrities, get to know them. Study them. Be able to name every American Idol winner and runner-up, even if you can't name your own congressman or explain what an appropriations committee is. Audiences want hard-hitting, investigatory pieces about their favorite celebrities, and the media outlet that knows what Paris Hilton ate for lunch is the media outlet that will weather the economic storm.
35) Along with being beautiful, be opinionated! Objectivity is for dinosaurs, so pick a political party and champion it like you were on their PR payroll. Being a known partisan will give weight to your words when you're on cable news, winning an argument simply by being louder.
31) Reflect on the fact that your industry is run by a bunch of aging baby boomers who said, "What's a blog?" back in 2001 and insist they're getting "more hip" every time they do something gimmicky in an attempt to draw in a younger audience.
32) Concentrate on being more beautiful -- in television journalism, actual reporting skills are way down on the list, below how good your legs look in a miniskirt, and how flirty you can be with men 25 years your senior.
33) Find a comfortable computer chair. Venturing outside of your hotel room or newsroom is a thing of the past -- repeating what other people have posted on Twitter and Facebook is where it's at. Who do you think got the scoop -- that miserable hack who pounded the phones getting confirmation of Michael Jackson's death, or the beautiful blond who told us someone posted, "OMG Michaels dead!1!11" on Twitter?
34) Speaking of celebrities, get to know them. Study them. Be able to name every American Idol winner and runner-up, even if you can't name your own congressman or explain what an appropriations committee is. Audiences want hard-hitting, investigatory pieces about their favorite celebrities, and the media outlet that knows what Paris Hilton ate for lunch is the media outlet that will weather the economic storm.
35) Along with being beautiful, be opinionated! Objectivity is for dinosaurs, so pick a political party and champion it like you were on their PR payroll. Being a known partisan will give weight to your words when you're on cable news, winning an argument simply by being louder.
June 25, 2009 8:10 AM