How important is "journalism experience" in the application process?

[Colorcast]

Hello fellow journalism gradcafers,

I’m a semi-recent college grad considering applying to J-school in the Fall 2010 application cycle. When I graduated two years ago, I had my sights tentatively set on law school, but a two-year stint as a paralegal at an intellectual property firm has cured me of any misguided legal ambitions (thank God!) I’ve always had a strong interest in journalism, and I’m definitely ready to make a transition. The issue is, although I think my profile is otherwise pretty good (strong grades and academic awards at a top school, a few decent writing samples, strong recommendations) I lack any kind of significant journalism experience.

Based on the preliminary research I’ve done, it seems like some programs accept applicants with limited or no experience (Columbia, USC), while others really emphasize the importance of real experience in the field/published clips (Berkeley). I’m not sure if I should just say “damn the torpedoes!” and give it a shot this fall, or if it makes more sense to wait another year, work to secure some kind of position or internship in the field, and apply in the 2011 cycle. Would my application be strengthened enough by the extra year of experience to warrant postponing grad school for another year? I’d appreciate any insights/suggestions.

[Jae B.]

Based on the preliminary research I’ve done, it seems like some programs accept applicants with limited or no experience (Columbia, USC), while others really emphasize the importance of real experience in the field/published clips (Berkeley). I’m not sure if I should just say “damn the torpedoes!” and give it a shot this fall, or if it makes more sense to wait another year, work to secure some kind of position or internship in the field, and apply in the 2011 cycle. Would my application be strengthened enough by the extra year of experience to warrant postponing grad school for another year? I’d appreciate any insights/suggestions.

Your research is correct. If you are interested in Columbia or USC, go ahead and give it a shot this year.

However, a little experience would not hurt you -- especially if you're interested in Berkeley. If I were you, I would try to get some journalism experience this summer. It's not too late to find something to put on this year's application, to show you mean business. Call a local newspaper (daily, weekly, some type of publication that could use free help), tell them about yourself and say you'd like to write something. Volunteer to do some type of online news -- that's basically what I did last summer to have something recent on my app. (My clips were still nearing two years old, though.) Do something to get a clip or two, preferably three.

If you're feeling really confident, write some news stories on your own.

If you have taken any journalism-related classes in college, that would make your application seem less out of left-field. If you haven't, if you have time to take something this summer -- perhaps at a community college -- that would be a good idea.

Overall, don't overestimate the amount of experience you need. You only need enough to show you are serious about journalism, dedicated, and that you have potential. Passion can go a long way. I assumed my own "experience" wouldn't be enough (four journalism courses in a media / communications major, one year on a college newspaper staff as a writer and web editor, and one summer doing web news and communications work for a nonprofit), but it was!

Good luck!

Edited May 18, 2010 by Jae B.

[Colorcast]

Thanks so much for the helpful reply, Jae B. Those are all great suggestions. And congrats on your recent graduation -- I'm a fellow Golden Bear, so I may have read your work in the Daily Cal at some point. Thanks again!

[Jae B.]

Thanks so much for the helpful reply, Jae B. Those are all great suggestions. And congrats on your recent graduation -- I'm a fellow Golden Bear, so I may have read your work in the Daily Cal at some point. Thanks again!

Thanks so much, and GO BEARS!

I actually wrote for my small community college paper. Never the big, glorious Daily Cal, if that says anything about qualifying experience. It always perplexes people ("But you love journalism...!") because the Daily Cal seemed like the "duh" thing to do in my situation. And I really wanted to write for them! But when I work on journalism projects, I tend to let them take over my life.... Since I've been a double-major and a long-distance commuter, and I knew I wanted to finish undergrad within two years of transferring and not a second longer, I never had time to write for the Daily Cal.

I never even made it to one of their recruitment sessions. The best I did was grab some fliers from their promotional table on Sproul.

Interestingly, I wrote the Daily Cal a letter the other day, and they offered to publish it. I don't necessarily want them to publish that, though....