Tomorrow's News, Tomorrow's Journalists

TNTJ: April Summer plans and soul searching for jobless journalism graduates

So there is to be more soul-searching about the lack of prospects for journalism graduates after our national news agency joined the long list of companies to cancel their trainee scheme. I found out the Press Association’s decision on Twitter thanks to a fellow applicant but was not too surprised. The Guardian and Telegraph have already come to the same conclusion as economic and advertising trends continue to conspire against us. The Times stands alone as the last shot for a trainee position at a national and, as probably the most prestigious, it will get a enormous number of applications.

It makes impressing at Telegraph.co.uk, where I am currently working as an ‘Innovation Intern‘, all the more pressing. The internship gives the opportunity to work with Tim Rowell and hopefully some of the other journalists (like Julian Sambles, Justin Williams and Shane Richmond) who are behind the successful online operation. It is a commitment for the Telegraph, providing training on their CMS and the ability to experience different desks – perhaps even a stint in the Lobby. This seems different to the vast majority of work experience placements where students are often seen as free labour. I am also planning on holding their Digital Editor Ed Roussel to his offer of coffee as a bit of networking never hurt anyone.

After my current position, I will be working as a Media Intern for the Fabian Society, a ‘left of centre’ think tank affiliated to the Labour Party. This will be a great opportunity to continue using and developing my journalistic skills by blogging for Next Left, making podcasts or broadcasting live video with Qik. I think many young journalists will have to move into related fields because of the paucity of available media positions. Taking opportunities in communications or public relations could be a sound way of maintaining skills and, perhaps more importantly, contacts.

It is obvious there are just not going to be enough staff jobs to support the amount of graduates hoping to pursue work in the media industry, so it makes sense to try and gain freelance work which might be in more plentiful supply. I hope to carry on contributing to journalism.co.uk and other titles too, continuing writing for Online Journalism Blog will also help me abreast of any developments in the industry.

We all have to take a realistic – but not pessimistic – assessment of the way things stand. I’m sure that many young graduates will give up and get out of the game, but I love journalism too much to do that. Thoughts of walking into one of the best graduate schemes are gone and the aim must be making sure we are best placed for that elusive job which should eventually show up. I plan to continue blogging, interacting using Twitter and revitalising that LinkedIn presence where a personal profile might be able to help career ambitions.

However, as those less committed (or less financially stable) graduates leave the industry we have to hope enough resourceful, innovative and enthusiastic young journalists will remain. They will definitely be required at some point in the near future to help overcome all the problems that the publishing industry faces and the old guard seem reluctant to acknowledge. There are plenty on TNTJ – did I mention I am one of them?

Michael Haddon is a postgraduate student of Newspaper Journalism at City University London.