journalist.....?

Question

When im older, i want to become a journalist for a newspaper like the boston globe, or the NY times. OR i would want to be a magazine editior, since i am a good writer. Are both good paying jobs? What do they require? What would i need a degree in for these jobs?
thanks!

Answer 1

As my editor has often said if you're going into journalism to make huge pots of money, you're going into the wrong business.

I would suggest you start working at your school newspaper, even your local newspaper as a high school correspondent. That will teach you about structure, being flexible, finding your own stories etc.

When I was in hs I was lucky enough to meet Ted Koppel and he gave me some very good advice, take a degree like liberal arts that exposes you to alot of different courses. You will be writing lots of stories on different topics, not just the ones you're interested in so it's wise to have a kind of rennaissance education. If you're interested in fashion and design I'd pack some courses in fashion and design into your college curriculum for your degree. Work on the college newspaper and or radio station,get summer jobs in journalism or internship to give you experience.

You might also want to read Bonnie Fuller's autobiography about being an editor of many magazines, the title escapes me , but just google/yahoo her name.

You can get an advanced degree BJ or Masters of Communication or Journalism, but experience really still is the best teacher.

Answer 2

All great advice above. In my own experience as a reporter and editor for dailies, weeklies and magazines, I'd have to say that the best writers I've come across have been those who have NOT been to journalism school.

Either way, you need to have a love for writing and a love of reading. Find writers you enjoy (either in literature and/or journalism) and study their writing. Deconstruct it. Try and learn from it.

As for the pay, magazines pay better than newspapers and you'll be able to afford a decent standard of living. As to whether you'll be able to crack the Globe or NYT, well, just remember that great journalism is also being done in small towns and cities throughout the country every day.

And those papers often have much better reputations, too.