When reviewers get lazy...

[Conexus]

'...reporter for a local newspaper, concentrating on local issues,

I'd make a Royston Vasey joke, but that'd be a bit unoriginal and pointless

[Trout]

It would, Conexus, I'm afraid. I make them all the time!

- Trout

[Tanky]

Apologies for throwing this off track again, but i have one more question for our resident journos:

What's the best advice to someone (IE me) who wants to get into some form of entertainment journalism (anything from metal hammer to entertainment today really, not fussy!)and currently has half an combined English degree?

Ta! xTGx

[Mike Carroll]

> I don't like it when singers with solo careers that are longer and more productive than any band they started off with...

Oooh, good one! On a similar note, I hate it when bands who've had only a couple of major chart hits, but have otherwise had full and successful careers, are refered to as "one-hit wonders" by lazy journalists.

[gnilleps]

"Terry and June on Acid" comes from Bill Bailey Part Troll, well I figure it must be that one 'cos it's the only one of his I've seen and it's the first thing I think of now when I hear that analogy. Highly recommended, particularly the Argos bit.

[Bad Andy]

Tweak - I did a Journalism degree and while I didn't learn anything in three years that I couldn't have learned in one (or even less) I had a bloody good time doing it.

There's plenty of post-grad one year journalism courses. I wish I had done something else as a main degree and then done one of those, tbh.

Tanky - you can try one of the one year courses, but the best training is actually going and doing it. Either go work ex for a while and show you can do the job  or offer your services reviewing something that they are unlikely to send something to review (but might still want coverage of). I'm thinking maybe gigs or even festivals. It can be a case of who you know as much as what, but the latter can be a foot in the door.

[Trout]

Tanky: What Bad Andy said.

I'm afraid I can't be any help, as that's kind of a specialised area. I simply don't know the answer.

Sorry!

[longmanshort]

Well, you can:

1) build up experience by freelancing and doing work experience - insinuating yourself into an office by taking on any job and doing it well until they can?t do without you. I know several people who?ve got into magazines this way. Can be risky, and might leave you open to exploitation but plenty of on the job training and looks impressive.
2) Do what I did and get yourself onto a course that's accredited by the http://www.nctj.com/">NCTJ which is the main training body in England for journos. They do a selection of courses, from 'fast track' courses that last 20 weeks to full-year courses (which I did). These teach you the very basics to be a journalist of any hue - journo law, public affairs, interviewing techniques, and shorthand (more important that I can possibly tell you). Now, don?t go on such a course thinking you can walk straight out into a job on the NME or at Q - these courses teach you the basics of journalism, which are invaluable whatever you specialise in. Now, you can then either begin trying to crack the particular area you?re interested in or do what many of us do and plug away for a number of years (five, and getting longer) building up experience

Because at the end of the day, you can?t beat basic journalistic skill. And you only pick that up by doing the jobs, breaking the deadlines and pounding on doors.

But the key element here is EXPERIENCE - most editors love people who turn up with a book of clippings that they?ve got through their own initiative (either through freelancing or work experience). The worst applicants are those who?ve clearly just decided to be a hack because they?ve got nothing better to do. So get out there, get writing and try and get it into print. Start a website, start a magazine, write for your local people. Anything. Because whether you decide to go on the course or not, that experience will stand you in good stead.

There are, as always, exceptions to this rule, but I wouldn?t recommend them ...

[Trout]

clearly just decided to be a hack because they?ve got nothing better to do

Heh, heh, heh. That's me!

Oh, shit. Missed the deadline again. :-D

[Adrian Bamforth]

Try this: Pick up any local newspaper you have lying around. Somewhere in it I guarantee there will be a photograph of someone smiling while handing a large oversized cheque, or some other bit of paper to someone else, possibly in mayoral regalia. What's written on it? Who knows? Who cares? You can't see it anyway on the crap photo. God, I hate local journalism.

ADEhttp://www.compton.parish.hants.gov.uk/openingdaycheque.jpg">

[Trout]

:-)

To be fair, Ade, I suspect you hate national journalism, too.

Those pics drive me bonkers. Yes, they're everywhere.

Part of the reason is that people have seen so many they think you want them. We get calls where people say, "We've ordered a big cheque from the bank!" AGH!

In their defence, all local paper stories, however shite, matter to someone.

Also, more people read local papers (overall) than national ones.

- Trout

[GordonR]

A local paper's not a local paper without a picture of a big cheque being handed over.  And maybe one of a smiling lollipop lady.  And a story about the disgraceful amount of dog crap on the city streets.  

[Trout]

Agh!

You know, more people complain to their local council about dogshit than anything else.

I'm so sick of writing about it...

[GordonR]

I've been told the same before, by various local paper journos.  If in doubt, stick in a story  about dog crap - that always gets the readers interested.

Of course, I'm just bitter because my local paper turned me down for a summer job when I was 16.  Those bastards at the Kirkintilloch Herald....they'll get theirs, one day.

[Trout]

Just send them a spoof letter, Gordon. A paper that small will print any old crap.

Damn! Another trade secret out!