Journalist Career Guide and Counseling

Question: journalist? Could any journalist tell me if theyve ever had any real adventures, and i dont mean going to hawaii and writing about resorts, i mean stuff like going through the congo jungle, spending a year in a remote indigenous village, stuff like that. thanks :) anyone know any friends that have done anything like that? or is there even such thing as true adventures anymore?

Answer: Most journalists don't get the opportunity to do things like that very often, and very rarely for long periods of time. I have a few photojournalist colleagues who have spent a week or two on assignment - one was in Sri Lanka after the 2005 tsunami, which was more adventure than most people get in their lives. Adventure journalists as you describe are usually freelancers, though, for the simple reason that it's hard for a newspaper or magazine to part with a staff member for the weeks or months it can take to report that kind of story.

Question: What should the ethics of a journalist be? Say a journalist is sent to gather information for a story. They get to the scene, talk to a few people, take some footage, and try to find the facts. Then they put all of it together and come up with the news. How do we know if they left something out, or what they tell us is actually fact? How do we know if the reporter (journalist), really cares if the people get the truth?

Answer: Honesty, integrity, and accuracy.

Question: How much money do Journalist and Broadcast Journalist make? -Journalist that write for magazines -Broadcast Journalist like the ones the cover media events like award shows or things like that. -Also if anyone has an idea of how much money radio personalities make. Please share. Ive looked online but im having a hard time finding the answers. Thanks.

Answer: Not sure about magazines though I recently did some salary research in the broadcast TV industry. The only people that make any money on TV are the anchors. Reporters in the field at your local TV station make anywhere from $20-40k, even as a senior journalist. Check out www.salary.com for salary survey info. I use it all the time, it's free, no scam there.

Question: what is the difference between a photographer and a photo journalist? what is it that a photo journalist does differently in her career than a "photographer" ? can you give me examples of how a photo journalist would tell a story..where a regular photographer would not. i really want to understand the difference and just what is a photo journalist?

Answer: I'm actually kind of shocked at some of these responses. A photojournalist IS a photographer. There are many many different types of photographers: documentary, commercial, portrait- to name a few. Photojournalists are similar to documentary photographers in that they tell a story, they educate the viewer in some way or another. A portrait tells us something about that person. A Photojournalistic image tells us what is going on at that moment. A commercial photograph typically doesn't educate us or tell us a story. Commercial photographs for advertising and publicity are simply for selling a product and gaining consumer attention. Photojournalists want to show us reality- often times a reality that the general public does not see. For example- take a look at war photos, images of poverty, and images you find in newspapers. You can think of a photojournalist as a visual writer. Where a writer puts down on paper what is going on, a photographer takes a photograph to show what is going on. Photojournalists are faced with many issues that other photographers are not. They constantly have to deal with people- people not wanting their picture taken, and they are put into uncomfortable situations. Photojournalists can not be shy. They have to do their job and also respect who and what they are capturing. Sometimes I'm sure they have one of the toughest jobs in the photography business. This is why I chose commercial photography, though it also has difficult issues. Hope this helps!

Question: How can I accomplish my dream to be a journalist? I'm seventeen years old, and entering my final year of high school. When I think of what I want to do with my life that will make me happy, I cannot think of anything except journalism. However, I'm turned off by it because of what I've heard (The job openings are scarce, and journalists make like no money) Are these things true? Are there really very few job openings as a journalist? And would you recommend another career that is similar to journalism but not as risky?

Answer: If it's your passion, go for it! It's challenging and fun, and there is no feeling in the world that's better than seeing your byline on the front page, when you know you've worked hard to gather the facts and present them better than anyone else could have. That being said, job openings are tight right now, but there will always be some for the best candidates. In general, the jobs are not high-paying, although the larger the company, the better they'll be. Don't expect to have a mansion when you retire. Do expect to feel great fulfillment at performing a public service.

Question: What is involved in becoming a freelance journalist in the UK? I am asking on behalf of a friend who does not have internet access at present. She has only just thought of this as a career move so still has a lot of research to do, but I thought I'd help her out by asking on this site first! Ideally what she wants to know is, can you just get up and declare yourself a freelance journalist or do you need a license or to register somewhere? Is there some sort of official organisation you can join? Thanks!

Answer: Not sure about the UK, I know in France the main requirement is the ability to drive a moped at high speed and cause fatal, and high profile, loss of life.

Question: What is the beginning salary for a journalist? I'm going to be a senior in high this coming september and I plan on going to college and live in New York. I was wondering what the the beginning salary for a journalist is and how to get your work published? For example if I wanted to specify in fashion journalism would I need to take fashion courses in college? How do I get a job in journalism after college? And how do I get an internship?

Answer: this site might help you http://www.bls.gov/OCO/

Question: What are the health benefits of a journalist? I'm doing a project on a journalist and it would be great if you knew. Also, if you knew their retirement plans that would be great too. I have a project on it and i need to know that and the retirement plan

Answer: This is the Vegetarian forum. I think you'll have better luck moving this Q to Careers, or Homework... The benefits/retirement plan depends entirely upon what magazine/newspaper/tv station they work for. Freelance journalists work independently and therefore receive no benefits.

Question: What is the average salary for and journalist for a major fashion magazine? If I were to be a journalist for a major fashion magazine in New York what would my yearly salary be?

Answer: Do know it takes many years to get to a salary position for a mag like that. Most of the starter work is freelancing and contributors who make a living doing that. So most people who make a salary for a major fashion mag have worked up to that point and been in the business for at the least, 10-15 years. That said, Vogue's American editor in chief, Anna Wintour, makes $2 million, annually.

Question: How do u become a video game journalist and what are their wages? I love video games and my dream job would be to be a video game journalist or reviewer. I would like to know what kind of education or experience i need to get into this career and where would i look for jobs. I would also like to know if it pays well. Having a job I love and that also pays well would just be icing on the cake. Thanks for the help!

Answer: For jobs in journalism you usually have to begin from the bottom and work your way up. I'm sure you read many video game related magazines, contact them and ask them is there any possibility that you could get a work experience placement with them. (Obviously, check where the magazine's offices are located and if they're close to where you live) This will give you a bit of insight into the work of a journalist, and it may result in you gaining connections in the industry. You will most likely have to go to college and do journalism, for this you will (as I'm sure you know) need higher level English, and it's not the easiest course to get into. I wish you the best of luck.