How to Become a Newspaper Reporter

Newspaper reporting is an exciting career choice. Becoming a newspaper reporter, however, isn’t always as exciting. It can take several years—sometimes many years—before a reporter is covering a beat, or category, that he enjoys. However, just as in reporting, persistence is usually what pays off, and becoming a newspaper reporter isn’t very complicated.

Instructions

1. Write for your high school paper if you are in high school or your college paper if you are in college. These publications are unique in that they will typically allow almost anyone to take a stab at journalism. If your school’s newspaper is a bit more choosey, see if you can volunteer somewhere while you learn the ropes.

2. Go to journalism school. While this may only be an option for younger budding reporters, it’s a path typically followed by many newspaper reporters. A successful journalism school will teach you the foundation and history of newspaper reporting, and it will be taught by current or former newspaper reporters and editors. Beware of any schools that only employ journalism professors without any real-world newspaper reporting experience.

3. Volunteer for an internship. Newspaper internships are extremely common and usually where most reporters begin. Although very few are paid internships, the experience gained is more valuable than what is learned in a classroom. Internships are often where beginning reporters gain their first clips (published writing samples).

4. Keep a neat collection of your clips and make photocopies. You will need these photocopies to secure a reporting job. Be sure to include the date and the newspaper in which the story was published.

5. Expect to be at the bottom for a while. Every newspaper reporter has to prove her stuff before she gets moved up. For many newspapers, this means writing obituaries or keeping the community calendar updated. Although it’s not exactly Woodward and Bernstein-type reporting, it’s usually necessary to get your foot in the door.

6. Offer to be a stringer (freelancer) for a newspaper. Stringers are usually called when something happens and the newspaper can’t send one of their staffers. If you’re hired as a stringer and asked to cover breaking news, you can use the opportunities to impress the editors. If nothing else, you’ll get a clip for your clip portfolio.

7. Be persistent but polite. If an editor expresses interest in your writing, email or call him from time to time to make sure he hasn't forgotten about you. But don’t be overly aggressive (calling more than once a month) and never be rude. Editors are busy people, too.