How I did it: I did it for two years in high school, landed an internship fresh out of high school, immediately went to university for a degree in journalism, slaved away at the campus paper all four years while also holding down other jobs and internships, took a thankless, underpaid job when I took a break from school, came back to school, freelanced on top of working for the campus rag, took a photo internship instead and eventually got my degree. Haven't had writing work since.

Lessons & tips: This industry is imploding at an insane pace AND we're in a recession. Well-established, big city newspapers are filing bankruptcy. You can't find work in this industry whatsoever with less than 5 years of experience, and at this point, positions tend to open when someone dies. People with real passion for the work are going down with the ship and the captain doesn't want new hands.

Resources: university... and the connections you make there even more than the education!

Dec 04, 2009, 03:11PM PST | 0 comments | 3 cheers