Journalism, as an industry, is getting more competitive, and education is now a much-needed factor if you hope to get a job within it. However, literary ability, a vast degree of video games knowledge, and just getting your name out there is still of paramount importance. As helpful as formal qualifications are, if you can't explain yourself to everyone in your writing, degrees and whatnot are irrelevant. For freelancers, citing a long list of completed educational courses will rarely get you a job. Many contractors will not even ask for the specifics pertinent to your education - this is typically an issue for employment, and once you've provided a few good writing samples that have impressed a prospective editor, he or she frequently might not care if you attended Harvard. But having an education, alas, has never hurt anyone. Helpful advice for those who are looking at acquiring full-time positions a degree in journalism or creative writing is very important, and knowledge of the Japanese language is a nice plus. The field is getting more and more competitive as new people come in, so the more you have to offer over other candidates, the better. Working for a school paper or having gone through an internship program in a related area are good things to have behind you as well. So while an education will serve you well in getting the job, the actual experience of writing is more likely to be the best part of your training. If you can put an impressive published or unpublished sample piece together, chances are you might generate some editor interest. Do some research, figure out what exactly you'd like to write (news, reviews, previews, and features, generally), send the appropriate editors an e-mail (do the same to department editors and so on, and you'll improve your chances), and don't give up if you don't hear back right away. Eventually, if you have the talent, someone will recognize your ability and give you a chance. Pursuing your career early can pay off as well. Some of the most popular game writers out there began writing while they were still in school. Of course, when you've finished school, you then have experience to back you up.
If you are a good writer and are easy to work with, it is possible to rise through the ranks quickly in journalism. |
