For Blacks to break into the business successfully….. One word…”BRANDING”.
As a current journalism student I find myself in great agony seeking a journalism job.
A degree in journalism, English, or communications is beneficial but it is hardly enough. When deciding on a school to help you investment in your future to become a journalist; make sure the school has a well established t.v program and newspaper. That will allow you to get as much hands-on journalism skills as possible because just understanding how to write well will not secure a journalism internship. I have found that it is best to start your junior years of college seeking internships. Internships are the key to journalism jobs.
That is my advice to anyone trying to get their foot in the door.
However as Black journalist we have to work twice as hard as our counterparts. Students attending HBCU are not awarded the same opportunity as students attending other universities when it comes to equipment, technology and communities relations to get students into local news rooms. And not being afforded opportunities as such makes it difficult for Blacks to gain journalism experience and to compete for journalism jobs.
That’s when “BRANDING” comes into play. You have to market in sell yourself as a package.
Although many Black journalist never possesses the key characteristic essential of a good journalist because objectivity they are way too black, too free and too passionate to conform to societies liking.
Link to Live Chat - 2010 Women & Minorities Survey
http://www.rtdna.org/pages/education/live-chat--2010-women-minorities-survey
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Let me know what you think?
There is no way that you can not stress the importance of marketing yourself. Marketing yourself properly is just as vital as your education. It is that important. Blacks do have to work twice as hard, simply because of the lack of resources in the professional world and educational world. Blacks do not dominate those areas but we are known in them.
ReplyDeleteU can def stress the importance of marketing yourself. Thats how you get your name out there and are able to stand out among the many other applicants who have your same qualifications or better. In retrospect Blacks do have to work a little harder sinply..its just the facts of life. Nothing is handed down..u want it grind for it and stop putting yourself in a box.
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