For Young Journalists: Equipping Yourself for the Web

I spoke to some students from Howard University a few days ago — most of whom were seniors and hadn’t had much online experience. Some had done online internships; a couple had dabbled in video. My advice to the rest of them was it’s never too late to start.

Many of them had blogged on occasion, but most admitted to letting their blogging lapse. I understand being busy — in fact, this blog has been on my to-do list for quite some time. However, I have a job in new media, and because some of them want to get one, my first suggestion was to dust off those blogs and start writing again. Online managers, I told them, would appreciate some evidence that they were familiar with certain tools and techniques of the Web.

Other suggestions:

1. Pick up a video camera. They’re cheap these days, and a little experimentation goes a long way. Projects such as washingtonpost.com’s onBeing prove that there is power even in simple interviews that allow the subject’s voice to be heard above all else.

2. Take supplemental classes. Some of the students were graduating this semester; others, in the spring. But because their curriculum isn’t heavily focused on multimedia yet, I encouraged them to seek out classes at community colleges or other institutions.

3. Self-teach. The cheapest, if not easiest, way to pick up new skills is to teach yourself. When I began my foray into online journalism nearly nine years ago, I didn’t know html or much else about producing content online. However, I was convinced I could pick it up, so I bought a copy of “HTML for Dummies,” and the rest is history.

4. Learn more about the Web. I talked to them about different ways to approach online journalism, but my point was that they should do more than use the Web, they should become students of it and all the ways the Internet and technology are changing journalism and the discourse between the producers and the consumers of news.

5. Make use of free tools.  There are many free tools and tutorials on the Web. Tools such as Audacity, for audio editing, provide students with an economical way to learn new skills. There are a host of tutorials on html, css and flash, and most multimedia programs will allow a 30-day trial period. A resourceful student can get a feel for just about any technology out there. 

6. And my standard refrain whenever I talk to students or academics remains the same. Know the basics: Memorize AP style, keep honing your reporting and writing skills, brush up on grammar, understand the basic tenets of journalism. All the technological savvy in the world doesn’t compensate for a journalist who falls short on the basics.

 Have any other suggestions? I’m sure the students would appreciate them.