What Do Editors Expect

What Do Editors Expect?

Large photo/artwork caption

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

AustinLinda

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ExperienceTechnical skillsSoft skillsPersonal brand

From Clark Kent to…

ResumeCover letterWork samplesNetworkingInterview

And then, how do you get the job?

InternshipsJobsPage.comChipsQuinn.orgNewsfund.orgCampus media

Experience

Report/editWriteMultimedia skillsForeign language and multicultural skillsSocial media skillsComputer-assisted reportingSearch-engine optimization

Technical skills

InitiativeJudgmentTeamworkCuriosityWillingness + ability to learnEnthusiasm

Soft skills

IdentifiableSpecific promise of valueConsistent

Brand

Copious Notes blogTwitterFacebookLinkedInPersonal Web site

Personal brand: Rich Copley

Personal brand

Personal brand: www.richcopley.com

Personal brand

http://mindymcadams.com/tojou/2009/journalists-must-build-a-personal-brand-10-tips/

www.knowem.comSamples of your best work should be linked.Your real work experience should be easy to find and scan quickly.

Personal brand

Personal brand: www.laurenmichell.com

A mentor can be your editor, your

editor’s editor or a non-supervisor

who shows interest.

Breaking In

“No one-trick ponies need apply!"

Julie Engebrecht, Content Director,

Cincinnati Enquirer

ResumeCover letterWork samplesNetworkingInterview

And then, how do you get the job?

Name, address, phone, e-mail (not FoxyLady42@...)Objective – if not apparentLead with most impressive – education or experienceGo beyond job titles – countOne page – no errors

Resumes – who, what, when, where?

Regard it as a marketing brochureDo not repeat what’s in the resumeSell yourself

Cover letter – the why

1. I am a junior at Smarty Pants U, majoring in journalism…

Bland

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

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

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

Pick a cover-letter lede – Breaking In

4. As editor of my campus newspaper, I hold the record for…

Experience

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

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

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

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

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

Pick a cover-letter lede – Breaking In

No more than 10Show a rangeOnline versions okayDo not shrink the type

Work samples – the how

Networking

http://businessjournalism.org/2010/02/25/networking-tips-for-better-business-stories-and-jobs/

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

Interview

?

Linda.Austin@businessjournalism.org

http://slidesha.re/whatdoeditorsexpect