Articles for Students |

Beat Guide: Your first beat
“I was so excited when I landed my first journalism job out of school. I had a press pass, a journalism degree and health insurance. But soon that glow subsided — and I realized that I was a small fish in a huge pond of professional journalism.” – Sonya Smith, Cal State Long Beach Grad, President of Orange County Chapter.

Work in graduate school defines career path
"When I started my current job in March 2005, I didn’t realize how well my post-grad experiences had prepared me for the challenges that I’d face. Both my freelance and graduate work laid a solid foundation for a successful career in online media, which I’ve started as the online editor at a community daily in northeast Pennsylvania.” – Jason Bugg, Online Editor of the Pocono Record, Stroudsburg, PA.

A few observations to help grads adjust to real world
“There’s no substitute for the real thing. No matter where you go to J-school or how many internships you do, your first journalism job will be a learning experience.” – Brian Joseph, Reporter at The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA.

Asking the right questions about benefits and salaries
“Even though the job market is showing small improvement, students can improve their employment chances by following advice from the pros.” – Karen Reinboth Speckman