How to Be a Political Correspondent

Becoming a successful political correspondent takes an innate knowledge of what is news on the political scene. It also takes a person that can get on the "inside." With the basics under your belt, it's up to you to forge your career as a political correspondent.

Instructions

1. Get an education--not just an education in mass media, communications and journalism, but also and education in American history, world history and politics. This job takes a multi-faceted person that knows what politics is all about, both present and past.

2. Write, write and write. A writer writes. That's the basic truth that any writer will tell you. A political correspondent doesn't just "start out" at a microphone standing in front of the White House; they write their way there. Start writing...every day.

3. Find a job in journalism. It doesn't matter what media, just find a job. Most of these jobs are "bootstrap" jobs. You must pay your dues. Eventually you will get the experience to go for a better job, but you must learn the basics of journalism.

4. Make it known that you want to cover politics. Stay on top of all things political. If you have true knowledge of the subject, make yourself the "go-to guy" at your paper or radio station or your TV station. Eventually some editor that wants to get the story right will come to you and ask you to team up with the political correspondent, or go out and do the story yourself. Build a portfolio.

5. Get verification on your stories and double check your sources. Make sure that if a source tells you something "off the record," it stays off the record. Violating the trust of your sources is one of the fastest ways to lose them. People put their jobs on the line to tell you things that they believe people should know. They also tell you things that are meant to harm somebody else. Again, check your sources.

6. Try to be impartial. Report the news as you get it. Taking sides is editorializing. If you want to get your own column or an opinion flavored show, that can come later. You can still make a difference politically no matter what your political views are by telling the truth.

Tips & Warnings

• Write for political websites. You can get a "name" writing for some of the larger sites. Half the battle is getting yourself a name.

• Keep a "Rolodex" of contacts. Cultivate your contacts. Take them out to dinner or send them a birthday card. Stay in contact with them.

• Sometimes a story will come along that you feel that you must write. Even if seems logical and sensible, don't write it unless you can get two or three different sources to verify it. Sometimes, getting the verifications can lead to a much bigger story. Treat your job as a craft, because it is. There are many political hack writers out there, don't be one of them.

Resources

• Career Overview contains sections on training to be a correspondent.