So you want to be a journalist?
by Sarah Holmes
Perhaps because it is one of the few graduate careers that allow you to sit in coffee shops in jeans and a hoodie (or in PJs in bed as this reporter prefers), journalism is one of the most competitive industries to break into.
Janet Murray and Louise Tickle are two of the lucky few who manage make a living as journalists. Moving into journalism from other careers slightly later in life, they are now both working as national freelancers, and regularly contribute to The Guardian among other publications.
Having had first-hand experience of how difficult it can be to get into journalism, they have recently got together to set up ‘So you want to be a journalist?’, a day-long programme of talks and workshops on how to break into the industry.
Taking place at City University London, ‘So you want to be a journalist?’ runs from 9am-5pm on the 25th April. The event, which is sponsored by The Chartered Institute of Journalists, includes talks from over 30 speakers, including Helen Lewis (Associate Editor, the New Statesmen), Camilla Long (columnist, The Sunday Times), and Jon Snow (yes, THAT Jon Snow). The programme is designed to cover many areas and specialisms, including investigative, foreign, broadcast, consumer and trade journalism. Sessions offered include ‘How Not to be a Magazine Intern Forever’, ‘Jump In or Get Trained: Routes into Journalism’ and the tantalizingly named ‘Data is Sexy’.
With tickets priced at £40, and discounts for group bookings, you would be hard-pressed to find an event with quite so much bang for your buck, and with the sector only getting more competitive, a £40 course certainly can give you an edge.
Visit the website for more information to book tickets.
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