Cambridge 11 (General Training) | Test 2 | Section 2

How to get a job in journalism

You can get a good qualification in journalism, but whatemployers actually want is practical, rather than theoretical, knowledge. There’s no substitute for creating real stories that have to be handed in by strict deadlines. So, write for your school magazine, then maybe try your hand at editing. Once you’ve done that for a while, start requesting internships in newspapers in the area. These are generally short-term and unpaid, but they’re definitely worthwhile, since, instead of providing you with money, they’ll teach you the skills that every twenty-first century journalist has to have, like laying out articles, creating web pages, taking good digital pictures and so on.

qualification (noun) [countable]

/ˌkwɑː.lə.fəˈkeɪ.ʃən/

an official record showing that you have finished a training course or have the necessary skills, etc.

e.g., You'll never get a good job if you don't have any qualifications.

substitute (noun) [countable]

/ˈsʌb.stə.tuːt/

a thing or person that is used instead of another thing or person

e.g., Vitamins should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet.

try your hand at something (idiom)

to attempt something for the first time

e.g., Mike decided to try his hand at tennis.