Online Journalists

To explore the journalism aspect of this career while you are still in high school, join your school's newspaper staff. As a reporter, you will have the experience of researching, interviewing people, and writing articles on deadline. If you do layout work with a computer, you will gain experience using publishing software such as Adobe InDesign. Another way to explore your interest in writing is to join a local writing group. Your high school, local library, or community center may sponsor writing groups; in addition, these groups may be advertised in the local newspaper. Contact your local newspaper to arrange for an information interview with a journalist there. If the newspaper has an online version, ask to speak with someone who works on the online publication. During the interview you will have the opportunity to ask a professional what the best parts of their job are, what type of education and experience he or she has, and other questions that interest you.

To explore aspects of this career, surf the Web on a regular basis to check out sites and read their content. If your high school has a Web site or social media presence, volunteer to update the site periodically with reports on school news and events. You could also work on updating the information posted on the Web sites of other organizations you are involved with, such as your church, temple, or mosque.

If you have a particular interest in a subject or hobby, write some articles and submit them to an appropriate Web site for publication. Many Web sites do not pay for unsolicited material; however, getting an article published is an excellent way to break into the field and also to determine if an online journalism career is something you wish to pursue.