Presentation for student journalists on what hiring editors expect

1. What Do Editors
Expect?

2. Large photo/artwork caption

3. Linda
Austin
•Executive Director, Donald W.
Reynolds National Center for
Business Journalism
•Editor, Lexington (Ky.) Herald- mug
Leader
•Executive Editor, The News-
Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.
•Managing Editor, News & Record,
Greensboro, N.C.
•Business Editor, The Philadelphia
Inquirer

4. From Clark Kent to…
Experience
Technical skills
Soft skills
Personal brand

5. And then, how do you get the job?
Resume
Cover letter
Work samples
Networking
Interview

6. Experience
Internships
JobsPage.com
http://freedomforumdi
versity.org/chips-quinn/
https://www.newsfund
.org/
ASNE.org (Job
Resources)
Campus media

7. Technical skills
Report/edit
Write
Multimedia skills/WP
Foreign language,
multicultural skills
Social media skills
Computer-assisted reporting
Search-engine optimization

8. Soft skills
Initiative
Judgment
Teamwork
Curiosity
Willingness + ability to learn
Enthusiasm
Flexibility

9. Brand
Identifiable
Specific promise of value
Consistent

10. Personal brand: Rich Copley
Copious Notes blog
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Personal website

11. Personal brand
Personal brand: www.richcopley.com

12. Personal brand
www.knowem.com
Samples of your
best work should be
linked.
Your real work
experience should be
easy to find and scan
quickly.
Webinar: March 5;
sign up:
http://bit.ly/bizjtraining
http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/journalists-must-
build-a-personal-brand-10-tips/

13. Personal brand
Personal brand: www.laurenmichell.com

14. A mentor can be
your editor, your
editor’s editor or a
non-supervisor
who shows
interest.
Breaking In

15. “No one-trick ponies
need apply!"
Julie Engebrecht,
Content Director,
Cincinnati Enquirer

16. And then, how do you get the job?
Resume
Cover letter
Work samples
Networking
Interview

17. Resumes – who, what, when, where?
Name, address, phone, e-
mail (not FoxyLady42@...)
Objective – if not apparent
Lead with most impressive –
education or experience
Go beyond job titles – count
One page – no errors

19. Cover letter – the why
Regard it as a
marketing brochure
Do not repeat what’s
in the resume
Sell yourself

20. Pick a cover-letter lede – Breaking In
1. I am a junior at Smarty
Pants U, majoring in
journalism…
Bland

21. Pick a cover-letter lede – Breaking In
2. I am currently looking for a
summer internship in the
print journalism industry
and would like to be
considered for such a
position at your newspaper.
Wordy

22. Pick a cover-letter lede – Breaking In
3. Each day, Barb Shook
carried an armful of shirts
into the dry cleaner, where I
was working the counter to
pay for my journalism
studies. Finally, I had to ask
Tell a story

23. Pick a cover-letter lede – Breaking In
4. In two summer internships, I
have written more than 100
stories on everything from a
murder-suicide to a tractor
pull.
Experience

24. Pick a cover-letter lede – Breaking In
4. As editor of my campus
newspaper, I hold the
record for…
Experience

25. Pick a cover-letter lede – Breaking In
5. My experience at school and
in a prior internship, as well
as my knowledge of the
area, make me a strong
candidate for your job.
Direct approach

26. Pick a cover-letter lede – Breaking In
6. It’s been said you’re only as
good as your last story. Let
me tell you what that was
for me.
Twist

27. Pick a cover-letter lede – Breaking In
7. There are few guarantees in
life. I am one. Hire me, and
you will not be
disappointed.
Confident

28. Pick a cover-letter lede – Breaking In
8. All the hours I spent in
journalism class didn’t
teach me as much about
reporting as the summer I
spent driving a cab.
Autobiographical, interesting

29. Pick a cover-letter lede – Breaking In
8. I’ve been preparing for this
job since I became a
journalist – in the second
grade.
Autobiographical, interesting

30. Work samples – the how
No more than 10
Show a range
Online versions okay
Do not shrink the
type
Or refer me to your
website

31. Networking
http://businessjournalism.org/2010/02/25/networkin
g-tips-for-better-business-stories-and-jobs/

32. Interview
Research the media outlet.
Background your interviewer.
3 STARs: Situation, Task,
Action, Result
Have some questions.
Thank you notes – one last
marketing chance

33. ?
Linda.Austin@businessjournalism.org
@LindaAustin_
http://www.slideshare.net/BizJournalism/what-do-
editors-expect