Music Journalists

You can explore a career as a music journalist in a number of ways. Talk to reporters and editors at local newspapers and radio and TV stations about their careers. Interview the admissions counselor at the school of journalism closest to your home to get a sense of the type of students who apply and are accepted into journalism programs.

You should also read the work of music journalists to get a sense of how they organize and structure their reviews and articles. Take note of when a music reporter writes a particularly positive or negative review and how he or she handles writing it honestly but tactfully.

In addition to taking courses in English, journalism, music, speech, computer science, and typing, high school students can acquire practical experience by working on school newspapers or a community organization's newsletter. Part-time and summer jobs with newspapers or radio stations provide invaluable experience to the aspiring music reporter.

Other ways to learn more about this career include participating in job-shadowing experiences with music journalists; getting involved in summer exploration programs in writing and communications that are offered by colleges and universities; and participating in writing competitions that are offered by the National YoungArts Foundation and other organizations.