Online Journalists

High School

If you are considering a career as an online journalist, you should take college preparatory classes while in high school. Concentrate on English classes that allow you to develop your research and writing skills. Take computer classes that teach you to use word processing programs, graphic design software, and the Internet. If your school offers journalism classes, take these to develop another writing style and learn about publications. To prepare for college and have the broad educational background any writer needs, take mathematics, science, history, and social studies classes.

Postsecondary Training

Many online journalists have bachelor's degrees in journalism. You may also be able to enter the field with a degree in English or communications. Many journalism programs offer courses in online journalism, including multimedia journalism or new media. Traditional journalism courses usually cover such topics as basic reporting and copy editing, press law and ethics, and history of journalism.

In addition to your journalism studies, continue to take computer classes. Learning HTML, a Web site authoring language, can also be helpful to an online journalist and may qualify you for other writing and editing opportunities. It is also essential that you learn the most popular software programs and office tools that relate to the writing profession.

Finally, one of the most beneficial things you can do during your college years is to gain hands-on experience through a journalism internship or summer job at a publishing company. Working in online journalism, naturally, is best. But even if you have an internship at a traditional print publication, you will gain valuable experience. Some schools' career services offices or journalism departments have information on such internships.

Other Education or Training

A variety of webinars, conference seminars, digital journalism training sessions, and other continuing education opportunities are offered by professional associations such as the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the Society of Professional Journalists. Topics include writing, interviewing, social media, and technology. Contact these organizations for more information.