careers in jornalism

my dream job would be a journalist and preferably a reporter or presenter. i have wanted to do this kind of job for the past 5 years. i am nearly seventeen. can anyone give any advice on courses etc

does anyone know what the salary is like for a reporter/ presenter on the news etc

i have been looking myself and anna ford was getting £10,000 at one point a year and then it was increased to £14,000 which is not that much really

i like watching the news especially itv news at least 2 times a day. the job would appeal to me as you don't know what you will be doing for the day let alone the following day.
also does anyone know what qualifications are required for itn or bbc

thanks in advance Dave

I'm about to begin my Journalism course at the University of Stirling, so first of all you need to choose which course is for you.

One of the most important things is to have experience within your local media. I have been at local radio stations and tv station several times. It not only broadens your knowledge of Journalism and the media, but it gives you useful contacts for your future career as a journalist.

Finally, don't give up on anything, if you really want to do it - go for it !!!

On the issue of courses, most would say it is best to do a course which has been accredited by the NCTJ and BJTC, however my course is not. For the reason that under accreditation from the above two organisations, THAT university course must follow a certain teaching syllabus. However, Stirling, like many other universities, prefer to remain independent in their teaching.

Well consider when Anna Ford was being paid that - my bets are in the 1970's before she bacame a household name.

ITN no longer run their trainnee scheme, but there is one for BBC regionaL, in which the likes of Sophie Raworth and Jane Hill came from.

Also, remember a lot of it is who you know, and if you are in the right place at the right time.

Good Luck. It won't be easy to get into ITN/BBC News.

Working as a Journalist: My advice
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In this age of 24 hour news and reporting, the job of journalist is certainly 'interesting'

Becoming a journalist is quite a strange thing really, there are many journalists (myself included) who didn't actually train as a journalist at an academic level, its just something which has happened along the course of life (Curriculum Vitae).

Lots of journalists are able to report on a white range of stories and in fact these are called 'reporters'. Its these people who may have studied journalism from school, college and then university however there are other specialist journalists, often called 'correspondents'. A correspondent is a specialist within the area on which they comment, so you may have a security correspondent or a foreign affairs correspondent who specifically deals with stories within their chosen area. Some journalists may have a degree in politics and may have previously worked in a political capacity so when they become journalists, they become political correspondents, its quite common.

I suppose what I'm saying is that to be a good journalist, you don't necessarily have to concentrate on journalism straight from school or college, instead you can study within a specialist field and then become a journalist on the back of that. Although you can of course, train as a reporter straight away.

either way, competition is fierce in media so be prepared to fight hard for what you get. If you quit easily then give up now. You will have to work hard to convince people that you have what it takes and it largely goes off your personality so be confident, helpful and friendly at all times.

TV reporting jobs are very rare and only represent a tiny fraction of what a journalist may do. If its only this area that interests you then you are probably not cut out for journalism... Try acting instead. You will find that news presenters are also journalists in their own right, working for many years in the field before being chosen as the face or voice of broadcast news.

I really do wish you well and i'll sign off with a few other short tips, invaluable for any budding journalist:

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1. Always have a few books on the go at once- Autobiographies, Non-Fictions and of course a good thriller.... The more you read, the better you will write.

2. Make sure you know whats going on in the world- Watching the news twice a day is a start, but only that!

3. Get involved in local volunteer projects which are crying out for people who can help with media related tasks. This offers invaluable 'on the job' training

4. Be prepared to work for nothing.... I did this for six months before I got a break... Working for nothing can pay off!!

5. There's no such thing as a 'lucky break' unless you land on your neck and only damage your leg. Make sure you are in the right place, ready to grab those chances quickly.

6. NEVER sell out on principles of character such as honesty, trustworthiness and team loyalty. You may benefit in the short term but you will cripple your journalistic career.