Any tips/comments...?

Nicki · Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:51 am Post subject: Any tips/comments...?

Hello all,

I'm sure there are many people in the same position as me so I thought I'd say hello! I'm working in arts PR/marketing at the moment but am very keen to move into paid journalism - I do a lot of writing for websites and have done the odd bit of commissioned freelance work but haven't had much luck moving into a full-time journalism role.

I was just wondering if anyone had any tips/contacts/stories they were willing to share for people like myself just starting out - I know working for free is the best way to start, but if anyone has any examples or stories to inspire us it would be great to hear them!

Nicki

laura_mv · MyVillage Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Posts: 745

Hi Nicki, I'm always happy to trot out the old 'how I got my job' tale to inspire people on this board so apologies to all of you who've already heard it!

I started as a contributor on this very board four years ago. At the time I was a part time receptionist at a fizzy drinks factory (yes, really - did you know Will Young's dad is something big in screw caps? Or that nearly all supermarket own brand drinks are made by the same company?), half heartedly doing and NCTJ and being interviewed for dire, boring, badly paid jobs working at local papers and getting nowhere. I saw the ad for this contributors malarkey and started doing a few articles...then a few more...then some more.

Dah-dah! I guess what it goes to show is that it just takes some perserverance. You will get there in the end, it's just that everyone wants to be a writer, even people who can't write, so it takes a little bit longer for the good stuff to rise to the top. Know what I mean?