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11 tips that will help get you hired:

By Rick Green, executive editor, Lexington Herald-Leader 6 Don’t be intimidated by analytics
or audience development.
1 Don’t focus on awards and
prizes. Master the basics. 7 Learn Spanish. Know how to
speak and write fluently.
2 Read good writing daily to
improve your own writing chops 8 Learn everything you can
and sharpen story ideas. about Artificial Intelligence.
It’s not a fleeting fad.
3 Remember: Content is king. Not
the number of Facebook. X, Tik-Tok 9 Never forget: Every word counts.
or Instagram followers you have.
10 Be humble. Work hard. Ask
4 Know how to use social media to questions. Be collaborative. Be
share your story. Great journalism fanatical about getting better.
means nothing if readers don’t find it.
11 Finally, the reporters I hire are
5 Multimedia storytelling can be just unfailingly curious and know the biggest,
as powerful as the words you stitch best and most memorable stories are
together. Know how to unleash the never found in the newsroom. Make
full power of your smartphone. this your mantra: “GOYA/KOD.” (Get
Off Your A$$. Knock on Doors.)

Pro Tips!

“Oh, what I wish I knew that I know now.
Fact check, fact check, fact check. Don’t
trust the words of one person; make sure
that what you are being told is accurate.
Don’t prioritize speed over accuracy. It’s
great to be first, but it’s better to be correct.

LEARN AS MANY SKILLS AS YOU
CAN. It’s great that you can write. But
can you use your phone to shoot
video or collect audio sound bites?
You better! The more skill sets you
can show to a prospective employer
the better chance you will be hired.

Lastly, I would tell my younger self to prioritize self-care. Journalism is
NOT a 9-to-5 job. The demands of journalism can be overwhelming, and
burnout is a real threat. Your mental health is important. Set boundaries
so that you can approach your work with greater clarity and passion.”

GARY METZKER
Lecturer, California State University Long Beach

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