Political Columnists and Writers

A good way to explore this career is to work for your school newspaper and perhaps write your own column or feature stories. Participation in debate clubs will help you form opinions and express them clearly. Read your city's newspaper regularly, and take a look at national papers as well as magazines. Which political columnists or writers, on the local and national level, interest you? Why do you feel their columns or articles are well done? Try to incorporate these good qualities into your own writing. Contact your local newspaper and ask for a tour of the facilities. This will give you a sense of what the office atmosphere is like and what technologies are used there. Ask to speak with one of the paper's regular political columnists or writers about his or her job. He or she may be able to provide you with valuable insights. Visit the Dow Jones News Fund Web site (https://dowjonesnewsfund.org) for information on careers, summer programs, internships, and more. Check out the American Society of Journalists and Authors Confidential blog (https://www.asja.org/blog) to learn more about the issues that journalists regularly encounter.

Try getting a part-time or summer job at the newspaper, even if it is just answering phones and doing data entry. In this way you will be able to test out how well you like working in such an atmosphere.

Participate in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition, which is offered by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. Students in grades 7–12 can enter their work and have the chance to receive scholarships. National medalists are eligible for scholarships of up to $12,500, and additional scholarships are available. Some of the writing categories include critical essay, journalism, and writing portfolio. Visit https://www.artandwriting.org/awards for more information.