Looking for your first journalism job in 2024? Here's some advice
How students should navigate their job hunt, according to 10 journalism educators
To journalism graduating seniors: You will get that job — eventually.
It’s that season again when graduates are becoming job hunters. And with waves of layoffs in the news industry, some young people aren’t very optimistic about their future.
How do you navigate getting a job in the current state of the industry? Keep reading for some advice.
My experience: I graduated in May 2022 and landed my first job at Hearst Connecticut Media. My hunt began in early February. The offer came two months, 50 job applications and six interviews later — that’s according to a spreadsheet I created to track everything.
What worked: Prepare a story or two you can talk about. I followed this format from NPR for my cover letter. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions. Don’t be afraid to say no to an offer. I said no to a few.
It’s OK to wait: My friend Hannah Mirsky, a news producer at Spectrum News North Carolina, didn’t take an offer until five months after her graduation. It wasn’t that she didn’t get anything — she actually got four.
I called her to ask why and what her job hunt was like.
She said she wanted to ensure she wasn’t “taking a step that I knew I wasn’t ready for.” That step was to move across the country to California.
Despite being told she had to start “somewhere random,” she said she worked in college enough to ensure that wouldn’t be an issue. She was working two part-time jobs during that gap.
Did she feel pressured? The only thing that she was upset about was that people around her had a plan at that point. “I was the only one going into post-grad life without a plan.” Now, she’s enjoying her job in Raleigh.
Her advice: Don’t settle for something that you’re not going to like because you probably won’t make a lot of money for your first job. So at least get a job that you’ll enjoy. Don’t compromise other aspects of your life. Your job is not your life.
Don’t just take this from us. Hear it from your professors. I compiled advice and tips from 10 journalism professors across the country for you. Good luck!
Martha Irvine, DePaul University
“You have to want it. You have to be willing to persist. Your first job might not be your dream job — but it's a start, and that's OK. Versatility is also key — learning multimedia skills, for instance, knowing how to take a good photo and collect quality audio, even with a phone, or to film and edit a social video or a short doc.”
Corey Hutchins, Colorado College
“Develop a beat you want to own, and start a newsletter about it before you graduate. Become an authority on the topic and create a newsletter that does original reporting and analysis around it while rounding up the best of what else is out there on the beat each week. You might not create the largest audience at first, but it can be something that gains you recognition in the field around your chosen coverage topic and can be something to show prospective employers. Having that in your portfolio beyond clips can demonstrate your writing skills and reporting chops, but also your ability to excellently curate content, build an audience, and engage readers.”
Jeff Inman, Drake University
“Be flexible. While the industry is in turmoil, numerous non-traditional options available allow you to gain experience and move forward in your career. Journalism skills are the backbone of a slew of gigs, from project management and user experience research to brand and social media marketing. Each job should help you grow your skills and, once you stop learning, it's time to move on to the next place where you can continue to grow.”
Nick Hirshon, William Paterson University
“Lots of journalism graduates restrict their job searches to the areas where they currently live, which are often the same places where they grew up. I appreciate the dynamics that often keep young people close to home: finances, health, family obligations. But journalists can't claim to cover any subject with authority if they stay in the same bubble all their lives. Remember that your first journalism job doesn't need to be your last. You can always take a job someplace new, see how you like it, and come back home.”
Wesley Wright, Florida Atlantic University
“Figure out if you're willing to move, and be proactive. Reach out to editors early, as often. Report a little every day, and don't be quick to take the first job offer you get. Talk to professional reporters and former reporters now, too. Freelance as much as you can while you are in college and immediately after. Treat people well.”
Sara Bauknecht, Chatham University
“My advice for journalism students looking to pursue a career path in media is to develop skills that will help them to become a multiplatform storyteller. Newsrooms and media outlets are seeking journalists who are able to tell stories in a range of ways, including through print, podcasts, video, and social media platforms.
“Additionally, I would encourage rising journalists to not only learn how to report or write a news story but also to be able to understand how the business of the news industry works. Journalists are increasingly being included in newsroom conversations related to audience building and community engagement strategies. Understanding different newsroom management and monetization models will help them be better equipped to adapt to the ever-changing media business landscape.
“Lastly, I would advise journalism students to prioritize their mental health. Journalism is a rewarding-yet-challenging industry. Your patience and principles will be tested at times. Develop a personal North Star, so to speak, that you can look to during the tough times to help you make sure that you're working in spaces and on projects that align with your values and don't lead you to compromise your health and well-being.”
J.D. Allen, Stony Brook University
“Be innovative, interested and independent. Journalism school taught you the basics. You might have even stretched those muscles and scooped the big leagues; You are a right fit for the industry! But now it's time to double down on perfecting new skills and frameworks for storytelling — and that might mean doing it on your own. But you are not really ever alone: show off your gains to former peers, teachers and mentors. You're just one recommendation away from that new job.”
Steven Chappell, Northwest Missouri State University
“I run an X/Twitter feed called @comminterships that shares internship and entry-level positions available across a variety media fields. Through that, I make a lot of contact with hiring managers who frequently tell me horror stories about the applications they receive and the interviews they conduct. I'm happy to talk about what students need to be doing to get employed after graduation beyond just building a portfolio and learning specific journalism skills.”
Jim Rodenbush, Indiana University
“Acquire as many skills as you can. Love the craft. Be willing to go where the opportunities exist. And understand the risk — it's a volatile industry right now; there's no sugarcoating that.”
Shawn McIntosh, College of Saint Rose
“Learn more than one skill. Don't only think you're a writer. Get good at photography, at the very least. But also get good at audio storytelling and or video storytelling. You don't have to be an expert, but be comfortable with those and that will increase your marketability. Or another field like data journalism or a specialized field. Do that, and that will help your marketability.”
Story Spotlight:
Journalism schools must move beyond reporting to prepare graduates for modern media roles (Poynter): Teaching young journalists demands more than training them in traditional storytelling skills, and now must include, at minimum, a cursory understanding of the larger digital ecosystem, product management, audience engagement, user experiences, revenue streams and more.
📰 Internship & Job Resources:
Here are some feeds I find helpful in finding opportunities
Journalism jobs and a photo of my dog newsletter (here)
JournalismJobs.com (here)
Media Jobs and Internships on X (here)
Inside the Newsroom (here)
Freelance Opportunities (here)
#CallingAllJournalists (here)
University of Wisconsin J-school’s job board (here)
Featured Opportunities:
Avōq is hiring a hybrid strategic communication and public affairs fellow for its New York and Chicago offices.
Rewire News Group, a national publication on reproductive and gender issues, is calling for pitches from college students and recent grads.
Bloomberg’s application is open for its HBCU Academy of Excellence.
Application is open for College Magazine’s editorial program. Reach out by May 21.
Seattle-based journalist Wudan Yan is hiring an editorial assistant. Apply before May 23.
Nominate your advisor for awards from the College Media Association by May 24.
New England First Amendment Coalition is hosting a webinar on how journalists can protect themselves online June 11.
Washingtonian is looking for an editorial fellow for the fall. The deadline to apply is June 16.
I want to hear from you: What type of stories do you want to see in The Nutgraf? What advice do you need? Is your student publication doing something cool that you’d like to share? Reach me at nutgrafnews@substack.com. I will respond! Also, please share.