3 Tips for Journalists

Journalism is a tough field to break into. J-School is a good means of learning the technical skills to work with a myriad of equipment and resources that will transform you into the best newsperson you can be.

If all else fails, real world experience sans journalism degree and a college major that will make you an expert in a particular field should give you a leg up as you can potentially write and speak as an expert in your field.

However, it is that you become/ became a journalist, here are three tips for the novice and the seasoned reporter alike.

Stony Brook University Alumni Mixer ‘22

1 — Prep Your Equipment Before Field Reporting

This should go without saying, but faulty equipment can be the bane of a journalist’s existence. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, or a novice, equipment failure happens. The idea is to make sure that you’ve packed extra batteries for your Digital SLR or mirrorless camera — that’s crucial.

Also, if you plan on using a lavalier or a shotgun mic, make sure that the lav works — test it before you head off to your assignment. As for a shotgun mic or any battery-powered recording device goes, make sure that they work beforehand — test them, and then test them again for good measure. You’ll want to produce passable audio. And with a certain aptitude and some luck, your audio will steal the show!

2 — Carry a Writing Pad and Recorder

It’s not enough to carry one over the other. If you’re interviewing a source, be they politician, artist or anyone in-between, it’s important that you record the interview (whether on a dedicated recorder, or on your smartphone, with consent from your interviewee, of course) and then also have a writing pad as a backup…because as mentioned in ‘Tip 1’ equipment failure is a real bastard of a thing. So, brush up on your shorthand. Good penmanship will also serve you very well.

3 — Maintain a Portfolio

In this day and age, you’ll need clips or a video reel to get hired. It can be a catch-22, though. Because if you’re a fledgling journalist, you’ll need clips to land a job, but without a job, you have got zero clips. Frustrating. Once you begin to amass examples of your work, it’s time to build a portfolio.

It’s easier nowadays to go through popular website-building platforms, like Squarespace for example. However, if you’re inclined and know a thing or two about coding, use a template on a hosting site, like WordPress and turn your portfolio into you own. You’ll want to include your strongest clips, or your best vid reel to really wow employers, or if you’re freelance — clients.

Whether you’re a professional or just starting out, these tips should help you in your journalism journey. Always remember that you’re only as good as the last article you’ve written. That aside, keep working at it. It’s a process, after all. More tips for journalists to come!