Beginning a career in journalism?

pineapple*soul

Hey guys, wonder if you could help me out with some advice?

I'm 27 and have a first class honours degree in English from UCD. That's the closest I have to relevant qualifications or experience for a journalism career, but it's something I really want to get into now.

I know it's late at 27 to be getting into these things but I really don't mind starting at the bottom. Is there any advice you would give to someone in my position? I currently work a part time job that pays the rent which I can't give up - do you think a local paper would be willing to take on a part time work experience guy?

Which papers and who in them should I be applying to?

I really have no idea where to begin.

Thanks!

jack presley

Papers are dying a slow death. It's web journalism you want to be aiming for but I don't think there's much of a market her yet.

flogen

pineapple*soul wrote: »

Hey guys, wonder if you could help me out with some advice?

I'm 27 and have a first class honours degree in English from UCD. That's the closest I have to relevant qualifications or experience for a journalism career, but it's something I really want to get into now.

I know it's late at 27 to be getting into these things but I really don't mind starting at the bottom. Is there any advice you would give to someone in my position? I currently work a part time job that pays the rent which I can't give up - do you think a local paper would be willing to take on a part time work experience guy?

Which papers and who in them should I be applying to?

I really have no idea where to begin.

Thanks!

It doesn't really matter what age you are - people come into journalism at all stages. Same applies for your qualifications.

One route is to go through local papers - if you're living in Dublin then the Northside People of Gazette Group might be a place to start.

IMO the local paper structure in Dublin is quite underdeveloped compared to the rest of the country, however, mainly because most Dublin readers go for the nationals instead.

You could always pitch ideas into national papers too - that's just a matter of finding a solid idea that you can produce an article on and pitching it to the relevant editor.

Don't be afraid of aiming (relatively) high from the start - national newspapers will take articles from people with no experience once it delivers something worth taking. That might require you writing up the piece up-front the first time but generally a pitch (with plenty of follow-up phone calls afterwards) should yield results if the idea is good.

Harry Angstrom

Unless you have a mother/father/aunt/uncle/cousin in the journalism business then it's virtually impossible to break into journalism in Ireland, unless you're very lucky. Like so many other things in Irish life, nepotism goes a hell of a long way when it comes to forging a career in journalism. The local papers are probably the worst offenders when it comes to this. Unless you know somebody who works there already, then it's a closed shop. I can only speak from personal experience but it's pretty much like banging your head against a brick wall. I sent lots of letters to local papers here in Cork and didn't get a reply from one of them (not even a "thanks but no thanks"). I even applied for a job in one of them which had nothing to do with journalism (it was advertising sales) just so that I could get an interview with them. When I told them that I was interested in becoming a journalist, they didn't want to know.

Unless you have a masochistic streak about you, then I'd advise against trying to pursue a career in journalism as you'll probably end up disappointed. If you really want it, then I think you'd probably be better off moving to the UK. They're not as nepotistic and they actually reward talent and merit - unlike this country.

jmcc

pineapple*soul wrote: »

Hey guys, wonder if you could help me out with some advice?

I'm 27 and have a first class honours degree in English from UCD. That's the closest I have to relevant qualifications or experience for a journalism career, but it's something I really want to get into now.

Well it isn't the DotBomb period now. Back then that was enough to get you into Irish technology journalism. Given the generally low technological quality of people scribbling in mainstream Irish technology journalism, it may still be enough. Most of them just recycle press releases anyway!

You've completed an Arts degree so why not try leverage it into reviewing books and theatre. There is probably a lot of competition there but you may be able to get a break there rather than in other areas.

Is there any advice you would give to someone in my position?

Keep trying and keep learning. Identify some area in which you want to specialise and learn everything you can about it. Most editors are busy and often need expertise.

Which papers and who in them should I be applying to?

All of them and ask people already working in the business.

Regards...jmcc

flogen

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

Unless you have a mother/father/aunt/uncle/cousin in the journalism business then it's virtually impossible to break into journalism in Ireland, unless you're very lucky.

I didn't have any relatives in journalism and I don't think I got particularly lucky - I just kept at it.

I think the role of nepotism in Irish journalism is very much over-estimated.

I even applied for a job in one of them which had nothing to do with journalism (it was advertising sales) just so that I could get an interview with them. When I told them that I was interested in becoming a journalist, they didn't want to know.

If you went for a job in advertising and then told them you actually wanted to do a completely different job why would they want to know?

santosubito

flogen wrote: »

I didn't have any relatives in journalism and I don't think I got particularly lucky - I just kept at it.

I think the role of nepotism in Irish journalism is very much over-estimated.

+1

I have no family links at all to journalism and am doing okay. And of the people in my field, I can only think of one national reporter who has relatives in the business.

Just work your bollocks off and you'll be fine.

BarneyMagee

One way to get into journalism that many people overlook is to simply start writing articles. I think too many people hassle editors pitching them ideas hoping they will say yes.
Just start writing articles and submitting them to whomever you think might use them. They could be on anything. If it's a local road closure just write it up and send it to a local paper who might be interested in it. At least you are getting things published.
If an editor sees your stuff coming in on a regular basis and it's coherent and doesn't require too much editing then I would be confident they would eventually pick up the phone and ask you if you are free to cover an event or commission something. You would also be near the top of the queue if a job opening arises.
Just my opinion.

bill_lehane

Well there's a lot of ground that could be covered under this question, but the shortest answer I would give that has the best chance of success would be to do a Masters in Journalism at DCU. I say DCU because each student gets a two-month work placement at the end of the program, and I know a few people who got jobs in journalism this way. Just a thought anways, best of luck :-)