Journalism careers range from broadcast journalists to freelance writers, and everything in between. To land the ideal media career you need the right journalism jobs education and training. After all, employers want candidates who sound eloquent, whether it is inf front of the camera or the computer screen.

Before you can find the best journalism job opportunities, it is essential to fine tune your educational background. While it used to be common to work your way up to journalism employment, today you need the right journalism jobs education and training for a successful journalism career. Prior to searching for your dream job, remember to do the following:

1. Obtain an education. The fundamentals of all reporter jobs are taught in college.

2. Consider an advanced degree to land employment in the journalism field.

3. Apply for an internship. It can be the most effective way to begin a journalism career.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Earn a bachelors degree to find the best journalism jobs available

A career in journalism may not require a college degree, but it will certainly give you a chance for the highest amount of journalism job opportunities. If you plan ahead and get a specialized degree in your chosen area of media careers there will be even more opportunities available to you.

I recommend: For a state college, consider Ball State University. Its journalism department has undergraduate programs that focus on a variety of media careers. Check out the University of Florida for an even large selection of programs in the journalism field.

Gain a career in journalism with a graduate degree in the field

It is common to switch professions in the middle of life, and the best way to switch from another field to a career in journalism is by earning an advanced degree. Regardless of what educational field your undergraduate degree was in you can always apply to study for media careers in graduate school. By adding a graduate degree to your journalism jobs education and training, the best job opportunities are sure to come your way.

I recommend: The Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism offers graduate degrees that cover most media careers and reporter jobs. The site also has a job posting page where employers seek out graduates of the school for employment in journalism, for other great graduate programs check out Medill at Northwestern University.

Apply for an internship to gain journalism employment and advancement

One of the best ways for a student of any level to gain professional experience is through completing an internship. However, these programs are not always limited to students. Some journalism job opportunities start with an internship and advance into a paid position.

I recommend: Check out Dow Jones for information on the Wall Street Journal internship for undergraduate or graduate students, if broadcast news journalism and reporter jobs are more your forte, visit the CBS News website for information about their internship program.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you do not live in a large city, consider applying for freelance journalism jobs. They are flexible and can often be completed from any location.

Interest in journalism careers is on the rise and the competition for journalism job opportunities can be great. However, this doesn't scare many people off and there are many people trying to break into the world of journalism at any given time.

Journalism jobs are a great way to combine your talent for writing and interest in current events. You can opt for either in-house or freelance positions, depending on your preference.

In order to get a career in journalism off to a great start:

1. Study journalism or communications in college. While a college degree isn't always required for news and media careers, it does provide a solid knowledge base from which to start. Most large news companies will favor candidates that have a college degree.

2. Network often in order to learn about jobs in journalism. Many opportunities do not make it to the newspapers or online job boards. People hear about it through their colleagues.

3. Join professional organizations to lend credibility to your resume, keep you up to date on current trends and help with introducing you to other professionals. This is a sure way to get more journalism jobs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start your journalism career with an internship to learn the ropes

Nobody can deny that experience can help you get that first journalism job. Taking on an internship shows your dedication to the industry as well as teaching you the basics of the job and introducing you to people who can advance your career.

I recommend: You can find internships throughout the year at JournalismJobs.com. Alternatively, you can search internships in your area at InternshipPrograms.com.

Find your next journalism job

The Internet can be a great way to search for available job positions. You can conveniently search for jobs in any location. You may even be able to upload your resume to make applying for jobs easier.

I recommend: The UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism provides an excellent resource for jobs in the journalism industry. The National Diversity Newspaper Job Bank also lists positions that you can see after registration.

Consider freelance journalism job opportunities instead of full-time journalism employment

There's no reason why you should have to stay tied down to just one company. Many journalists take on freelance work from a variety of news and magazine sources. While it may be difficult to start a freelance journalism career, it's often more lucrative in the long run.

I recommend: Showcase your work at mediabistro.com, a website that's popular among media and journalism professionals. You can also post an advertisement for your services on your local Craigslist.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You will need a solid portfolio to show potential employers in order to get employment in journalism. This should demonstrate your best writing work and have examples of clips from previous publications that featured your work.

While searching for that perfect journalism job, you may come across some terms with which you might not be familiar. Positions such as freelance writers, broadcast journalists or copy editors all have detailed descriptions and educational requirements. It's best to secure a journalism degree, perhaps even a master's, as well as obtain an internship or two. When you're searching for journalism jobs and careers, keep some important key terms at the forefront.

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Journalist

This person decides how a story is written or told. A journalist does the behind-the-scenes work, such as interviewing people, choosing the ideal pictures to run with the story and then ultimately putting it all together. Journalists who work for television are called broadcast journalists.

I recommend: For more information, look to Journalism Careers.

Freelance writer

Freelance writers are people who oftentimes are not full-time employees of a media outlet and work independently, doing contract work for others. They can write for newspapers or television broadcasts. This type of job is an ideal one for you to do as an internship; many well-known writers started their careers as interns for newspapers or television stations.

I recommend: Learn more about life as a freelance writer at the journalism site at Michigan State University.

Public relations director

This job requires you to manage a company's media and community relations. The PR director drafts press releases and contacts those in the print or broadcast media to get the word out about the company. Getting started in this job usually requires obtaining an internship and then working your way up within a company. Though not strictly speaking journalism jobs, public relations jobs are typically advertised on journalism jobs sites.

I recommend: Learn about education and experience needed to be a successful public relations director from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Newspaper reporter

Under the direction of an editor, the newspaper reporter gathers facts, just like a journalist does. The reporter needs to be prepared for instant news stories, such as natural disasters or tragic events, of which the public wants to learn more. Reporters may also be assigned a specific beat, which pertains to local areas of interest, such as police departments or school meetings.

I recommend: For more information on becoming a newspaper reporter, check out the California Employment Development Department.

Editor

Whether in the television newsroom, at a publishing company or in the magazine business, the editor is the one who calls the shots. This person is the boss when it comes to deciding what airs or what is published. The editor also reads and corrects written material meant for publication. An editor is not normally considered a fact-checker and does not change a writer's tone.

I recommend: Look to the Mighty Pen for its description of an editor.

Copy editor

This person prepares text for publication and occasionally wears different hats in this role. The copy editor also checks the written pieces for the five Cs; the wording needs to be clear, correct, concise, comprehensible and consistent. Additionally, the copy editor proofreads the text and also acts like a fact-checker, unless a separate fact-checker is assigned to the project.

I recommend: Read all about copy editors at the Bay Area Editors' Forum.