Journalist’sThe Road To Success - Dow Jones & Company

IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEARN ETHICS EARLYJBY BARNEY CALAMEournalistic integrity, for me,boils down to accuracy andfairness. Integrity, or ethics, means bringing the highest possible degree of accuracy and fairness to each story you do.Integrity isn’t just an issuefor journalists who get paid. Itshould be an essential element ofany journalistic career from the verybeginning—whether it starts in highschool, college or later in life.This devotion to integrity andethics is a key aspect of what setsjournalism apart from many blogs,press releases, and op-ed page commentary. When we journalists letintegrity slip, we become little different from all the other peopleout there clamoring for the public’sattention.Practicing ethical journalismisn’t just a state of mind or a commitment you sign in the fall whenyou join the newspaper staff. It’shard work—every week.Accuracy, for instance, doesn’tcome just from taking accuratenotes or copying down an addresscorrectly. Real accuracy comesfrom going back to double checkpivotal facts—a number that seemstoo high to be true, or a juicy quotethat was contradicted by somethingan interviewee told you elsewherein an interview. This takes time, andit can have emotional costs if youhave to go back to a source that washostile in the original interview.Pursuing accuracy and authentication can be tough on your ego. Ifyou don’t understand what a sourceis telling you, you have to be willing to risk appearing dumb and askfor elaboration or ask what somejargon or term-of-art means. Whilesome sources may try to use such anexchange to intimidate you, most ofthem will admire your candor andconcern about accuracy in the storyyou will be writing.Fairness is perhaps even harderto achieve than accuracy. Facts,typically, are facts. But what’s fairor unfair can be much less precise.Developing a sense of journalisticfairness, I believe, requires somethoughtful contemplation on yourpart. Experience and a mentor, suchas the adviser for your paper, can beextremely important.Experience can be a toughteacher, I can assure you. As theTHE JOURNALIST’SMISSIONThe desire to write and publish fair and honest information burns in the heart of every journalist.That is the major reason thousands of youngpeople choose careers in writing and editing.Amy Wang, an assistant bureau chief at The Oregonianin Portland, said her reason for becoming a journalist was“because I was and am an idealist who thinks the free flow ofinformation can only help the world.“If you’re a writer, don’t worry about your byline count.Worry about making readers understand what it is you’re aboutto tell them and why they should care,” Wang says. “If you’rean editor, remember that whether you’re pulling together a biginvestigative series or fixing typos in a brief, you’re making iteasier for the readers to understand what is happening in theirworld and why. That’s where the real fun of journalism lies.”The journalist’s job in society has its roots in American history. Newspapers are an integral part of the way our democraticform of government operates. And journalists, because of theirabilities to report, write and edit, have been entrusted with theeditor of the paper at my smalltown high school, I once blasted thelocal telephone company’s servicein my column. (All calls in the townwere handled by a human beingat the central switchboard.) Thepresident of the telephone companycomplained angrily to the superintendent that I had never given thecompany a chance to comment. Hewas right, even though the facts inmy piece were solid. I resignedin a huff about “interference” andwent off to launch my own littlemimeographed newspaper to makethe case that I couldn’t be silenced.But as I continued my career, I cameto realize that I had done somethingclearly unfair and unethical. I willnever forget that lesson about fairness.So, yes, accuracy takes hardwork and practicing fairness maymean stopping to suppose that theperson you are writing about is yourmother or your boyfriend. But,please believe me, the future ofjournalism depends on how wellyou master these essential elementsof journalistic integrity and ethics.Barney Calameis a formerdeputy managing editor ofThe Wall StreetJournal. Heretired from thepost in 2004.most precious and most fragile American right – the right of afree press.Student journalists are under increasing pressure from fellow students, school officials and the community to put pressfreedom on the shelf. A First Amendment Congress surveyreported that more than half of young people, if they had toname a freedom to surrender first, would choose freedom ofthe press. Contrast that with Thomas Jefferson’s passionatestatement at the birth of the nation: “Were it left to me to decidewhether we should have a government without newspapers, ornewspapers without government, I should not hesitate for amoment to prefer the latter.”A Knight Foundation study released in 2005 showed somedisturbing trends as well. The survey involved more than100,000 high school students, nearly 8,000 teachers and morethan 500 administrators and principals. Among its findings:Nearly 75 percent of high school students either do not knowhow they feel about the First Amendment or they take it forgranted; half believe the government can censor the internet,and more than a third think the First Amendment goes too farin the rights it guarantees.If we are to preserve our freedoms, it is essential that youngjournalists receive training in what these rights represent.A CAREER GUIDE7

Overview of News CareersYou will not find one magicroute to a journalismcareer.Whether by chance or design, people who find themselves in journalismtook many paths to reach the samedestination.Anybody who is interested andtalented has the opportunity to writeand edit for a newspaper. That isbecause the free press in Americais not regulated by any governmentagency or professional organization.Many students have heard newspapereditors say, “You don’t have to majorin journalism in college. We preferthat you have a broad liberal artsbackground.”Such statements come from thestrong belief that any talented writer,regardless of the choice of college ormajor field of study, has the opportunity to be a newspaper reporter andeditor. We discuss this issue at greaterlength on the following pages.Most editors who hire beginningreporters and copy editors immediately after college look for two thingsin their prospective employees:1. The ability to write and edit; and2. A sincere interest in a newscareer.DEMONSTRATE ABILITYIt is important for the nation’snewspapers to hire better and bettertalent as the public’s demand for betternews coverage increases. Newspapersroutinely use writing and editing teststo gauge prospective employees’ abilities. Editors will also want to reviewoutstanding recent clippings from college and professional papers.Editors also take leads from collegejournalism instructors they respect,and by talking with other newspapereditors who have observed an applicant’s writing and editing first-hand.MEASURING INTERESTInterest in news work is harderto measure. Generally, this factor iscovered in the personal interview.That is where the editor attempts to8 A CAREER GUIDElearn something about the applicant,including his or her commitment tojournalism and understanding of themission of the journalist.Those who are good at personalsalesmanship stand the best chance oflanding a job. Some tangible thingsstudents can do to demonstrate theirsincere interest in news work include:work on a high school and collegenewspaper, take as many grammar,language and writing courses as possible in college, get internships andwrite articles for professional newspapers throughout college, and attendstudent and professional journalists’meetings, conventions and job fairs.Also, students who are fluent in a language other than English have muchmore latitude when it comes time tolook for a job. So, if you are studyinga foreign language, keep studying it,and if you aren't, start taking coursesas soon as possible.SOME OTHER POINTERSSo you are interested in newswork. You will want to consider theseimportant facts about our business: Newspapers are one of the nation’slargest and most respected industries. There will be a newspaper job foryou when you finish college if youthoroughly develop your writingand editing abilities through practical experiences. The ideal foundation for writing and editing isto read newspapers avidly and toconstantly analyze the writing ofothers. You can expect to be paid a competitive salary after college andthroughout your newspaper career. Your first, second or third employerafter college will not be your last.These jobs will, at best, only helpyou answer your continuing careerquestions. They will provide youwith the experience you need toreach the career goals you set foryourself. The largest news organizationshire few people right from college.Smaller city newspapers do more hiring because turnover at those papersis greater. The "rule of thumb" stillexists: Get a variety of news experiences with smaller papers, thenconsider news work for a major metropolitan paper, if that is your goal.STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?If you do, that’s perfect. Asking questions is the primary job of the journalist.Here are some basic questions, some ofthem hard ones, you will want to askyourself: Why are you interested in newswork? (Do you want to be a workingjournalist, or just a more knowledgeable news consumer?) What is the value of an undergraduatejournalism major versus a graduatedegree in journalism? (The amountof time and money you have reservedfor college may help you answer thatone.) How can I rise above the competitionto reach my long-range career goals?(The standard answers – “workinghard” and “obtaining practical experience early” – are the best ways.) So, it’s excitement you want, is it?James Kilpatrick, a legendary newspaper columnist, once put it thisway: “Newspapering is 10,000 doorsopened. It is election night, with twodecisive precincts missing; it is thecircus in town, the visiting speaker,the legislative hearing, the city budget, the building of a highway, anew stock issue, a commencementaddress. It is a governor speakingwearily of some program killed. Itis a world of frauds and honest men,and always a deadline coming up.”Newspaper work is exciting.It is glamorous and it is rewarding.Newspapers are a vital link in maintaining our free society.Newspapering is where the action isfor today’s writers.

DiversityCovering the biggest story of this centuryHBY BOBBI BOWMANow many of you go to a school wheremore than 20 different languages arespoken?How many of you attend a high school wherenearly everyone on the soccer team was born inMexico, Bosnia, or India?You are a mosaic of how the U.S. is changing.When you become a journalist, you’ll be reportingand writing about the best story of this century—how this country goes from white to brown. If youwant to change the world or just tell your worldwhat’s going on, then grab a notebook and head fora newsroom.This story is about you and your generation.You will be the first generation to live in an Americawhere white folks are no longer the majority. Foryour generation the question will truly be—can weall just get along?That’s the story you’re going to cover, and itwill take you everywhere. It will affect schools, colleges, politics, elections, employment, and whetherpolice officers can talk to the people they are arresting.Demographics is not about numbers. It’s aboutmoney, people and power.Why are you the big story? 26 percent of the U.S. population is 18 andyounger. (Baby Boomers are 28 percent.) 40 percent of young people are minority,making you the most diverse U.S. generation ever. In addition, 31.4 percent of all AfricanAmericans and 34.9 percent of all Latinosare 18 or younger. Only 22.6 percent ofwhites are kids.You are the Echo generation. The children ofthe Baby Boomers. You were born between 1980and 1995. You started graduating from college at theturn of this century. But the bulk of you are now inmiddle and high school.Teen culture in general is currently in boommode because the U.S. has more teenagers than atany time since the boomers themselves were young.Some 76 million American Echo kids either alreadyare, or over the next few years will become teenagers.As David Foot and Daniel Stoffman say in theirbook “Boom, Bust & Echo”: The demographic shiftmeans boom times for many products. The apparel,technology, beer and marijuana industries are just afew that will boom thanks to the Echo generation.College and university enrollments will climb.The largest college graduating classes will occurfrom 2011–13. (Remember that the oldest boomersturn 65 in 2011.)That means more demand for rental apartments.Good news for retailers is that these Echo teenshave more money than their boomer parents hadat the same age. In the 1950s, kids competed forspending money in one-income families. Because ofgrowing life expectancy, some Echo kids are blessedwith four grandparents. That demographic situationhas given rise to the phenomenon some marketerscall the “six-pocket kid.” It is the reason why Nikerunning shoes are up to 200 and a Tommy HilfigerT-shirt is 50.Your friends are going to make news and you’regoing to write about it.Bobbi Bowman isDiversity Director atthe American Society ofNewspaper Editors.The logo for Unity, the organization that brings togetherthe Asian American Journalists Association, the NationalAssociation of Black Journalists, the National Associationof Hispanic Journalists and the Native American Journalists Association can be found at the organization's websiteat www.unityjournalists.org.A CAREER GUIDE9

Should I Major inIt worked out well for Steve Bien-Aime, who got lots of good advice along the wayBY MARIE HARDINteve Bien-Aime has wanted to be a journalist as long as he can remember. He readThe Philadelphia Inquirer as a child, following hisfavorite teams in the sports section.“I always loved newspapers,” Bien-Aimesaid. “They always seemed to know everything.”As a teenager, he began working for hisschool paper while writing and shooting photos fora local weekly. When Bien-Aime enrolled at PennState University in 2000, his choice of major wasobvious: journalism.That choice paid off. When he graduatedfour years later, Bien-Aime felt well prepared forthe pressures of daily newspaper work. He has started his career as a copy editor for The News-Journalin Wilmington, Del.For Bien-Aime and thousands of otherrecent graduates, a journalism major has provedthe clearest path to careers at daily newspapers, topmagazines and broadcast news outlets. Most peoplewho work in these careers are journalism graduates.Perhaps you’re considering a major. Ifyou’re planning a career in journalism, the choiceis clear. Here is what you can expect with a journalism degree:Training in a supportive environment.Even if you’ve worked on your high school paper orTV news production, you have a lot to learn beforeyou’re ready for the “real world.” College classesin reporting, editing, design, broadcast news andphotojournalism will sharpen your skills and provideyou with practice, practice, practice.hese classes will supplement your workfor college media (such as the studentnewspaper) by offering feedback from experiencedprofessionals. You won’t get that in a newsroom runby your peers, who, too, are just learning.Bien-Aime remembers tips from journalismprofessors who read his articles in Penn State’sstudent newspaper. “You appreciate the honesty andthe frankness,” he said. “It motivates you to workharder.”Mentoring by experienced faculty. BienAime, who took his first journalism class as asophomore, remembers the teacher: John Curley,founding editor of USA Today. Bien-Aime alsotook a course from Gene Foreman, former managingeditor of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Bien-Aimebenefited from their wealth of knowledge andmentoring skills.Journalism school faculty members haveST10 A CAREER GUIDEalready done what you hope to achieve. They canoffer advice to help you get there – advice you won’tfind elsewhere.Critical thinking skills and knowledge thatyou won’t get in a newsroom. Some people argue thatthe newsroom is the only place to learn journalism.Don’t believe them. For instance, newsrooms aren’tthe place to learn about ethics. You need to learnabout ethics before you get there so you don’t makemistakes that could hurt others and your reputation.You also need to learn about media law, newsjudgment and professionalism. Your journalismcourses will focus on these.Access to internships and job leads. Nomatter how many journalism courses you take, yourprofessors will remind you that internships are reallykey to landing the job you want.he more, the better. Bien-Aime startedwith a Dow Jones Newspaper Fundbusiness reporting internship, after his sophomoreyear, at the Erie Times-News. The next summer,he worked at The New York Times, and after hegraduated, he edited sports copy at his childhoodfavorite: The Philadelphia Inquirer. Throughinternships he gained experience and collectedclips.Although you can learn about internshipsand job leads if you’re not a journalism major, it’smuch easier if you’re in the program. Professors willtell you about them and write recommendation lettersfor you. Editors and industry leaders will visit yourclasses, and you’ll learn about more opportunities.In short, you’ll be plugged in.Convinced that journalism school is foryou? Good.But journalism school can’t be the onlychoice you make. Get as much practical experienceas you can while in college. Bien-Aime startedwriting for the student paper his freshman year –before his first journalism class. That’s typical of thebrightest students. Get on board quickly.Many journalism programs will requireyou to take most of your classes on other topics,maybe even minor in another subject. That’s great.Journalists need to know about much more thanreporting, writing and editing. They need to knowabout the world. Bien-Aime studied political scienceand economics, which has helped him on the job.So go for that journalism degree. Mix in allthe experience you can, and add another area thatinterests you. In four years, what started as a hopewill become real. Guaranteed.TMarie Hardin is anassistant professor ofjournalism and directorof the Center for Editing Excellence at PennState University.

Journalism? (or Not?)Students can pick up the skills in a newsroom while developing areas of expertiseBY BILL ELSENhen he was executive editor of TheWashington Post, Ben Bradlee onceasked a group of student journalists why any ofthem would consider taking a three-hour collegecourse to learn headline writing. “We could teachyou that in the newsroom,” he said.Well, perhaps.Bradlee’s larger point was that many smartyoung people can

School Journalism Teacher of the Year as part of the Journalism Teacher Awards Program. A 1,000 grant from the Fund provides a college journalism scholarship to a student from the school of the Teacher of the Year. Also, four students who attend schools of four Distinguished Advise