By Alan Blanchard 

What’s the best way to find out if you’re cut out for a career in journalism?

A first step is to call your local newspaper and ask to speak to a reporter or a photojournalist, pick their brains about the ups and downs of their jobs and also ask if they’d allow you to job shadow them for a couple of hours, half a day or a whole day.

Observe what your host reporter or photojournalist does during the course of their work day … like the proverbial fly on the wall, you’ll begin to notice things that interest you or bore you. Then during slow moments quiz your host about what they find challenging and rewarding about their job. Ask them what advice they’d give someone just starting out in college who desires to get a start in journalism.

You’ll not only gain invaluable information on a possible career path for you, but you also will have the name and contact info for a media professional that you can add to your rolodex for possible future help when you’re ready to find an internship and/or that first full-time job.

And remember this, the reporter or editor you interview used to be just like you, in university in possession of more questions than answers :).

Networking is your friend … don’t wait until you graduate to begin networking.