SIWJ Fall 2009
Looking back at the past few month, it’s hard to believe that the SIWJ program is over for me. Here, we learned what skills we had, what skills we could acquire, where we wanted to go, and ultimately who we are. From all the various media projects and boot camp sessions to the visits to major news operations got us ready for the world of journalism.
First SIWJ Project
Personally, this program was something that I had never experienced before. I know phrases like that are thrown around like a football, but SIWJ truly is a unique experience. Before I had gotten involved with this program, I had no real direction–no idea what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go. This was the case before I opened my mailbox and saw a flyer that said I could come to D.C. to experience something I had never experienced before. Being a political junkie and a creative writing major, journalism in the political nexus of the nation seemed like a fun thing to try out– I had no idea what I was in for.
Personal Haiku
Through my internship at Campaign and Elections magazine, I learned how to write better, do research, copy edit, collect information from interviews, and take better photos. Through SIWJ classes, I learned how to shoot and edit video, edit photos better, analyze media, participate in new media, do interviews, blog, and network with others in the industry. From all the experiences I have gone through this semster I have acquired the skills that are needed to become a great journalist. Not only have I developed as a professional, but as a person as well. People will tell you they’ve all had life changing moments, but even though it sounds cliche’, this program will change anyone’s life. Being part of a group of dedicated individuals who grew alongside me has put many things in perspective. Although I leave DC today, I will be back in the future, hopefully working alongside the same five interns I worked with during one of the longest semesters in my life.
SIWJ Fall 2009 Scrapbook
Cheers!
~Matt
One of the most important aspects of having an internship and taking a first step into the professional world is networking. When it comes to getting a job, or getting sources and information, networking is something all professionals (especially journalists) have to do. This is a skill not easily taught, usually it comes naturally, but it can be learned.
First and foremost, you have to deal with any social awkwardness you might have. If you are unsure of how to talk to an individual, you can take the Larry King approach and ask questions pertaining to their field. Believe it or not, people usually like to talk about their work. Body language is also an important thing to be conscious about: have a firm handshake, try not to yawn, keep your eyebrows in an elevated position, try not to cross your arms, and other body language techniques.
Asking for business cards is always a must. Whether or not the contact has one is irrelevant– an individual’s email can easily be found on their company website, etc.– but the act of asking for a card will help the other person remember you. Once you have the contact information, it is best to send the person a response, usually by email, thanking them for coming to an event or speaking with you. It is also helpful to remember what the person said, and allude to a previous conversation you had with the contact.
Lastly, you should not try to network with someone who you have nothing in common with. Sure, there are people who will try to network with someone who they have no real interest in, but it will be obvious to the other party that you are merely using them for career advancements. If you network, do it with people you have a certain amount of connection with– they don’t have to be your best friend, but there must be some semblance of chemistry. Keeping up the contact past the initial, first response is crucial, and if you do not have anything interesting to share or talk about with the contact, then the relationship will wither away. Besides the points made earlier, the best way to network is to be friendly, open-minded, and to have an easy smile.
Photo By: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ooohoooh/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
