Arizona Daily Star intern coordinator offers advice

Leslie Anne Newell and I were fellow cub reporters at the Arizona Republic nine years ago. She's since reported around the country and is now assistant city editor at the Arizona Daily Star, a 110,000 circulation day paper in Tucson. She also directs the internship program there. Here's her advice to young journalists:

"Networking is incredibly important for young journalists. Companies are looking to cut every corner they can right now, which means not paying the fee to post on journalismjobs or other sites that also charge for the ad. With the state of the industry, companies also aren't hiring as often as they used to, which means fewer jobs for new grads. For both of those reasons, it's incredibly important for students/recent grads to get every foot in every door that they can. They're more likely to hear about positions. But on another hand networking isn't any more important than it ever was. I think managers have always relied on it to some degree. For example, I hire upward of 20 interns a year and I can't tell you how much more it increases a candidate's stock if someone I know sends me a good word about her/him. If a colleague comes back from a conference and gives me a folder on a good candidate, that goes to the top of the pile. If I see a professor at the UA whom I really respect is listed as a reference on a resumé, that also goes to the top. Young journalists cannot do too much right now to make sure they're putting themselves out there. And don't forget to tell them that means follow-up notes to every conversation they have with anyone who might help them."

-Mark Grabowski

N.J. Event: Covering tragedy

WHAT: "Knocking on Death's Door," a panel discussion on covering tragedy. Co-sponsored by Monmouth University and the New Jersey Society for Professional Journalists.

WHO: Victims' families and journalists who often interview victims' families. Panelists include Rutgers journalism professor Ron Miskoff, Newark Star-Ledger reporter Susan Livio, Asbury Park Press reporter Ed Johnson, Phyllis Matthey-Johnson, Diane Gruskowski and Robin Turner.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 18, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Magill Commons, Rms. 107 & 108; Monmouth University, 400 Cedar Ave., West Long Branch, N.J.

For more info, contact Professor Mark Grabowski at mark@cubreporters.org

$1K awards for stories on women's health research

The Society for Women's Health Research is offering $1,000 awards for media coverage of women's health findings. Deadline is April 4, 2008.

-Mark Grabowski

Internship/job-finding tips

Graduation and summer are both fast approaching. If you're in college and reading this blog, that means you're likely either looking for an internship or first job.

The Society for News Design offers some straight-talkin' tips. They're obviously aimed at designers, but it's nonetheless relevant for all journalists. There's also a handy worksheet to keep track of where you applied.

$10K prize for journalism about Asia

The Asia Society is offering a $10,000 prize to a writer who has produced the best example of journalism about Asia in print or online during the calendar year. The deadline is March 14 to apply for the Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Journalism on Asia. For more info on the "Oz Prize," click here.

-Mark Grabowski

Share your journalism job search experiences

I'm looking for quotes from young journalists.

I'm writing a column for the young journalists section of Quill on the importance of networking in the job search.

As with virtually every field, many journalism job openings don't seem to be advertised. I know of one editor, for example, who said she won't post jobs on popular websites because she doesn't want to have to sort through hundreds of resumes. So, the only way to find out about some jobs is through word-of-mouth: by attending conferences, keeping in touch with editors, getting heads-ups from friends at other media outlets when a co-worker leaves (and they'll probably fill the position), etc.

Do you have any comments, anecdotes or experiences to share relating to this? If so, please e-mail me ASAP at mark@cubreporters.org.

Thanks.

-Mark Grabowski

Another fellowship in investigative journalism

The Center for Public Integrity and American University, both in D.C., are offering an investigative journalism fellowship. Fellows enroll as full-time students at the School of Communication, earning a master's degree in journalism, while pursuing investigative projects at the Center for 12 to 20 hours each week. The fellowship provides a full tuition scholarship plus a stipend of $24,000. Candidates must have at least four full years of professional experience. Applications are due by March 15, 2008. The fellowship starts in August 2008. Download an application by clicking here.

-Mark Grabowski

Paid blogging gigs

Fortune recently had an article on "Firms that actually pay bloggers (a bit)."

To find paid blogging gigs, I recommend checking out Craigslist (click on your location, and then "writing"), SunOasis and freelancewritinggigs.com.

Free NYU event: Covering the election

Covering the Election, 2008

In this, the most exciting election year ever, who was ignored, who got hammered, who will go all the way? And, no matter what happens, why is it always the media's fault?

WHEN: Thursday, March 13, 6:30 to 8:00 pm

WHERE: New York University, Abbe Bogen Faculty Lounge, 11th Floor, Kaufman Management Center, 44 West 4th Street (at Greene St.)

WHO:

• Jonathan Capehart, Editorial Writer/Editorial Board, The Washington Post
• Margaret Carlson, Columnist, Bloomberg News; Author, "Anyone Can Grow Up: How George Bush and I Made It to the White House"; former Deputy Bureau Chief, Time
• Bill Cunningham, Managing Director, Dan Klores Communications; former Communications Director, Michael Bloomberg for Mayor campaign
• John Heilemann, Contributing Editor, New York Magazine
• Joe Trippi, former Presidential Campaign Manager for Howard Dean 2004; Senior Advisor for John Edwards 2008; author, The Revolution Will Not be Televised
• Moderator: Charles Kaiser, author; and press critic, Radaronline.com

RSVP: visit www.cencom.org; e-mail info@cencom.org; or call (212) 686-5005.

Investigative journalism fellowship

U.C. Berkeley's Investigative Reporting Program is accepting applications for three year-long fellowships. The training program aims to "develop a new generation of investigative reporters," so young journalists should consider applying.

It pays $45,000 and includes health insurance, office space, business expenses and travel funds.

"The graduate program in investigative reporting in the coming year will focus on corporate corruption, particularly the way some U.S. companies operate overseas," according to the announcement. "Entries for the 2008-2009 fellowships are urged to present detailed areas of inquiry within this broad subject area. Proposals could include print and broadcast components as well as multimedia projects for the Internet. Their findings will be published or broadcast for general circulation. Fellows will report on stories that serve the public interest and have been traditionally under-reported by traditional news organizations. "

For more info, click here. The deadline is April 1.

-Mark Grabowski

Free N.J. Event: Reporter offers advice to college journos

Alex Biese, an award-winning young reporter at the Asbury Park Press, will speak at Monmouth University in Northern Jersey on March 24.

Biese, a 24-year-old MU alumnus, will discuss life as a professional journalist, offer advice to college journalists, and provide tips on landing an internship or first job. A Q&A will follow.

The discussion begins at 2:30 p.m. in Room 135 of MU's Plangere Center, in West Long Branch, N.J. Click here for directions. For more info, contact Professor Mark Grabowski at mark(at)cubreporters(dot)org.

Orlando Sentinel hiring editor offers advice

I asked the Orlando Sentinel's staff development editor if she had any advice for young journalists. Dana Eagles suggests that college journalists create their own opportunities by offering to intern somewhere for college credit:

"It might be worth noting that some newspapers and magazines will allow students to intern part time for academic credit for a semester at a time. This can be an excellent way for younger students to gain some experience even if they don't qualify for a full-time, paid summer internship. For example, every semester we have four or five University of Central Florida students working for us part-time as interns in reporting, editing, photography and online producing. These arrangements might not be formalized in every case. The student might need to take the initiative to invent an opportunity, armed with information about what sort of credit his school is willing to give and how many hours of work are required to get it."

Eagles has also written a must-read article, "How to get a newspaper internship," that outlines how to go about finding and applying for journalism internships.

For more info on both paid and academic internships at the Orlando Sentinel, click here.

-Mark Grabowski

Find UK journalism jobs

Here's a website that lists journalism jobs in the UK.

Mark Grabowski

Scholarships to D.C. summer journalism program

The Institute of Political Journalism is still accepting applications for its eight-week program in D.C. -- and has scholarships available, as well.

Basically, IPJ hooks you up with a first rate full-time journalism internship (e.g. USA Today, CNN, White House press secretary's office, etc.). You also take two night classes (worth six credits) at Georgetown University. And housing is provided.

For more info, visit:
http://dcinternships.org/ipj/about/index.asp

The program costs a few thousands dollars, but, as I said, scholarships are available.

I did this same program when I was in college, and it was a lot of fun. More importantly, it really helped my career.

-Mark Grabowski

Scholarship to study journalism in Prague

A $2,000 scholarship is available for college students who plan to enroll in at least two journalism courses at NYU in Prague. Here's the kicker: All students except NYU students are eligible.

Mark Grabowski

50 more journalism internships

Medill recently assembled a pretty good spreadsheet listing about 50 newspaper internships across the country. It contains newspapers, big and small, along with their application deadline, internship positions available, pay and other details.

Public relations internships

I’ve created a public relations internship guide for college students.

http://PRinternship.org

It’s very much a work-in-progress (feel free to send feedback), and nowhere near matching my journalism internship website in its depth and breadth. But it’s a start, and there doesn’t seem to be too many good PR internship websites.

It may seem odd to be talking about PR on a journalism blog. After all, many journalists view PR as “the Dark Side.” It’s all about “spin” and misinforming the public, they believe.

Guess what? Many PR people are equally wary of journalists, believing that the media is out to get them. They frequently accuse reporters of “spinning” stories.

As someone who’s worked on both sides of the fence, I know that both viewpoints are silly. When practiced ethically – as the vast majority of professionals in both journalism and PR do – both fields have similar goals. Basically, inform the public and tell the truth. Unfortunately, a few bad apples have given both fields an inaccurate reputation.

The reality is that there’s a lot of crossover between journalism and PR.

At many media outlets, for better or worse, we’re seeing a blurring of the lines between journalism and public relations. Many journalists eventually switch careers to public relations. At the university where I teach, public relations and journalism are combined into one major. I’m not saying that’s the way it should be. I’m just saying, that’s the way it is these days.

So, that’s why I’m writing about public relations on a journalism website. Because I know many of my site’s visitors may also be interested in careers in public relations.

-Mark Grabowski

Internships at New Jersey newspapers

If you're still looking for a summer journalism internship ... the New Jersey Collegiate Press Association has put together a pretty good webpage listing 2008 summer internships at New Jersey newspapers. Check it out, and send your resume ASAP!

-Mark Grabowski

New multimedia journalism fellowship

Media General is offering a new fellowship for journalists interested in multimedia.

Four recent graduates, either from college or a graduate program, will be selected to work for nine months in one of Media General's cross-owned markets (Bristol, Va.; Roanoke, Va.; Myrtle Beach, SC; and Columbus, Ga.) .

"The fellows will divide their time between the newspaper, the television station and the website," according to the flyer. "They will primarily produce content to be presented across all platforms."

The deadline is March 1, 2008.

-Mark Grabowski

Online editor offers advice for young journalists

From time to time, I ask successful journalists and editors what advice they have for young journalists. Robert Niles, editor of the Online Journalism Review, says young journalists should go digital with their resumes and reporting. He adds that new media offers great freelance opportunities:

"Blogs are the new resumes. Every journalism student ought to have his or her own blog, ideally located at studentname.com. Blogs should include links to the student's best published work, as well as regular Q&As, observations, photo essays, video features, reviews and commentary -- to fully demonstrate their abilities.

"Online sites, especially ones built on user-generated content, have an insatiable appetite for good copy. Students should engage in online discussion communities, and link to them from their blog, to show hiring editors their ability to participate and manage interactive communities. Volunteering to create original reporting features and reviews for such sites is a great way both to gain leadership status in those communities and to get impressive clips for the student."

Robert Niles
Editor, University of Southern California
Online Journalism Review
http://www.ojr.org

-Mark Grabowski

The media on the media

I've added a new page listing publications that cover and comment on journalists and the media. Publications include:

The American Editor;American Journalism Review;Columbia Journalism Review; Editor & Publisher; Online Journalism Review;Quill; The Journalist; The Communicator; MediaPost Publications; Romenesko's Media News; Extra!; Media Monitor; Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly; SPJ Leads; Press Notes; CovertAction Quarterly; The Daily Howler; AEJMC News.

Know of any others? Contact me.

-Mark Grabowski

Dozens of journalism organizations

I've added a page listing dozens of journalism organizations:

Alliance for Community Journalism; American Society of Newspaper Editors; American Amateur Press Association; American Copy Editors Society; Assoc. for Education in Journalism and Mass Comm.; American Journalism Review; American Press Institute; Amer. Society of Business Publication Editors; Amer. Society of Journalists and Authors; Asian American Journalists Association; Associated Collegiate Press; Association for Business Communication; Association of Electronic Journalists; Boston Newspaper Guild; Center for Integration and Improvement of Journalism; Columbia Journalism Review; Committee of Concerned Journalists; Committee to Protect Journalists; DowJones Newspaper Fund; Eastern Canadian News Photographers Assoc.; Foundation for American Communications; Institute for Analytic Journalism; Institute on Political Journalism; Int'l. Association for Media & Comm. Research; International Center for Journalists; International Comm. Association; Int'l. Federation of Journalists; Int'l. Consortium of Investigative Journalists; Int'l. Press Institute; Int'l. Women's Media Foundation; Internet Press Guild; Int'l. Reporters & Editors; Journalism Education Assoc.; National Public Broadcasting Archives; National Assoc. of Black Journalists; National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association; National Scholastic Press Assoc.; Newspaper Assoc. of America; National Assoc. of Broadcasters; National Assoc. of Hispanic Journalists; National Conference of Editorial Writers; National Federation of Press Women; National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting; Native American Journalists Assoc.; Newspaper Guild of America; National Assoc. of Black Journalists; Native American Journalists Association; National Press Photographers Association; Nieman Foundation for Journalism; The New Precision Journalism; Pacific Northwest Newspaper Assoc.; Pew Center for Civic Journalism; Project Censored; Project for Excellence in Journalism; The Pulitzers Prizes; Reporters Without Borders; South Asian Journalists Association; Society of Environmental Journalists; Society of Professional Journalists; South Asian Research Centre for Advertisement, Journalism & Cartoons; Trade Assoc. Business Publications Int'l.


Don't see your journalism organization? Contact me.

-Mark Grabowski

Free D.C. event: Helen Thomas to give talk

Legendary White House correspondent Helen Thomas will be speaking at a free event in the D.C. area on March 2.

WHAT: "A Conversation with Journalism Legend Helen Thomas"

WHEN: March 2, 2008, 2 p.m.

WHERE: Central Library Auditorium
1015 North Quincy Street
Arlington, Virginia

Often called "The First Lady of the Press," veteran White House reporter, author and Hearst Newspapers columnist Helen Thomas looks back as an eyewitness to history and delves into her story when she sits for a conversation with Arlington Public Library Director Diane Kresh. This event is in recognition of National Women's History Month. A book signing will follow the remarks.

For more information, click here.

Gharib, Johnston & Hoyt to speak at Baruch College

CUNY-Baruch is hosting several journalism talks this semester that are open to the public:

Wed, Feb. 27: 9 a.m. -- Susie Gharib of PBS's "Nightly Business News" will discuss broadcasting and business news, and how complex stories can be told on the air. Room 14-250, Vertical Campus, 55 Lexington Avenue at 24th St.

Thu, March 27, 6-7 p.m. -- David Cay Johnston, Pulitzer winner from the New York Times, will discuss "how to cover the rich and the poor without invading their privacy." He will cover investigative techniques he uses, the growing popularity of papers having a beat on the super-rich and the renewed interest in poverty, and drawon his new book, "Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest American Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You With the Bill)". Room 14-250, Vertical Campus, 55 Lexington Avenue at 24th St.

Monday, May 5, 6 p.m. -- Clark Hoyt, public editor of The New York Times, will do a Q&A. Newman Conference Center, Baruch College Library, 151 East 25th Street (between 3d and Lex), 7th floor.

Baruch College is located at 55 Lexington at 24th Street in New York City. All are welcome to attend these free events; please RSVP to Professor Joshua Mills at Joshua_Mills@baruch.cuny.edu.

-Mark Grabowski

NPR seeks young political podcasters

Are you a podcaster under 30 who's passionate about Election 2008?

NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday wants to hear from you!

They want a diverse group of podcasters to tell them how the election is playing out in their areas. Tell them why you'd be a good choice.

Send an e-mail with details about yourself and your interest in the election. Please put "WESUN Podcaster" in the subject line. Be sure to include links to your previous podcast work.

Once they figure out which podcasters will be contributors to the show, their plan is to set up a blog that will serve as the home base for their stories through the rest of the election cycle. They'll also be airing some of the podcasts as on-air commentaries as well. So if you're a young podcaster with insights on Election 2008, send them some samples of your work and audition for the project.

For more info or to contact NPR, click here.

-Mark Grabowski

Free NYC event: Panel of prize-winning environmental journalists

The John B. Oakes Award
For Distinguished Environmental Journalism

Honoring Exceptional Contributions to the Public Understanding of
Environmental Issues

Monday, February 11, 2008

The Journalism School at Columbia University
2950 Broadway @ 116th Street
Lecture Hall, 3rd Floor

Panel Discussion 5:00 p.m.

Reception 7:00 p.m.

2007 AWARD WINNERS

Last Chance: The Fight to Save a Disappearing Coast
Bob Marshall, Mark Schleifstein, Matt Brown & photographer Ted Jackson
The Times-Picayune

Blighted Homeland
Judy Pasternak
Los Angeles Times

Cold Rush: The Coming Fight for the Melting North
McKenzie Funk
Harper's Magazine

R.S.V.P.
Laura Reizman, Prize Coordinator
(212) 854-7650, lr2259@columbia.edu

Panel on covering youth violence

The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma presents:
Getting it Right: Reporting on Youth Violence

Tuesday, January 29, 2008
5:30 - 7:00PM

Graduate School of Journalism
Columbia University
World Pulitzer Room
116th Street and Broadway
New York, New York

Even as crime hits record lows in New York, among teenagers around the nation gun homicides, gang violence and police shootings of young people are on the rise. Yet while shootings in suburban schools, churches and malls generate media controversy, epidemic levels of teen homicide in cities like Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New Orleans attract scant attention.

Covering violence by and against young people in cities around the country poses particular challenges to journalists. What stories are being told, and not told? How can the roots of this national crisis be explained? How can the voices of teenagers, neighborhoods and communities be represented more effectively? How can journalists get the story right?

Panelists:
David Meeks, City Editor, Times-Picayune, New Orleans, LA
Joseph Rodriguez, Photojournalist, author of East Side Stories and Juvenile,
Brooklyn, NY
Clarivel Ruiz, Director, Youth Programs, DCTV, New York, NY
Susan Snyder, Staff Writer, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA

Moderator:
Bruce Shapiro, Executive Director, Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

To RSVP, email Kate Black at kate.black@dartcenter.org

-Mark Grabowski

New York Times Institute on the Environment

This was passed along to me from the folks at Columbia's J-school...

Journalists and editors are invited to attend the 4th annual New York Times Institute on the Environment

"How Environmental Issues Influence Our Daily Lives: The Nexus Between Environment, Economics And Business"

March 30-April 4, 2008 Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic.

Application deadline: February 15, 2008

The Program This Institute is a weeklong, intensive workshop for editors and journalists that will supply the background and tools to interpret and report on sometimes-conflicting scientific information about leading environmental issues. Through lectures, discussions, and workshops, this Institute is aimed at presenting to reporters and editors the latest information available, the critical issues they will face, and models for how on might report on environmental change and the economic and business consequences of various environmental issues.

Tuition, lodging and facilities costs will be borne primarily by the sponsoring organizations. Participants pay only a program fee of $500 plus airfare. Some subsidies may be available for qualified applicants.

For more info or to apply, click here.

-Mark Grabowski

Internships at The Economist

The journalism internships webpage now has a link to summer internships at The Economist, a publication which needs no qualification. But here's one anyway: a London-based weekly news and international affairs magazine with a worldwide circulation of 1.2 million.

"Interns are treated much as members of staff and expected to join in accordingly," The Economist notes on its journalism internship webpage. "The internships are generally for a three-month period and take place over the summer (at the London office)."

-Mark Grabowski

Advice from Joe Grimm

I recently e-mailed Joe Grimm and asked him if he had any advice for college journalists. He responded with a couple tips:

• "I always advise time-starved students to turn the writing they have to do for classwork into byline opportunities. Double-purposing this way saves time, it can bring clips, perhaps some money and a better grade. Look in 'Writer's Market' to discover a magazine that might buy a variation of that class assignment."

• "Every college town is loaded with publications. Study them. Treat them as directories of writing opportunities and as sources of stories you can write for out-of-town publications. Smart journalists are always pitching stories that they have access to for distant publications."

Joe Grimm recruits for the Detroit Free Press and this year published "Breaking In: The www.jobspage.com Guide to Newspaper Internships." For more advice, visit newsrecruiter.com.

-Mark Grabowski

WSJ seeks law blogger

The Wall Street Journal is hiring a full-time blogger for its law blog, "widely read by lawyers and general readers alike." The blogger will also have the chance to write for the print edition and do video/multimedia/speaking engagements. Might be a good fit for journalist-turned-law student-turned-bitter corporate lawyer.

-Mark Grabowski

Fellowships & scholarships for electronic journalists

The Radio and Television News Directors Association is offering several cash prizes for electronic (radio, TV, online) journalists with 10 years or less experience. Additionally, its foundation offers many scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, for college and graduate students studying journalism and/or planning careers in electronic journalism. The deadline for applying is May 12.

While the focus of this journalism website is on print journalism, I will be expanding it in coming months to include more broadcast journalism and online journalism opportunities. Stay tuned. Also, please e-mail me any good opportunities that aren't already listed on CubReporters.org.

-Mark Grabowski
mark(at)cubreporters(dot)org

New investigative journalism organization hiring

Former Wall Street Journal managing editor Paul Steiger recently wrote an interesting piece chronicling the history of print media and what’s to come in the future.

At the end of his article, he announced his move to Pro Publica, a non-profit newsroom “dedicated to reporting on abuses of power by anyone with power: government, business, unions, universities, school systems, doctors, hospitals, lawyers, courts, nonprofits, media.”

With $10 million pledged in annual funding and a staff of 24 investigative journalists -- including former Oregonian managing editor Stephen Engelberg -- this organization could provide an important public service many newspapers can no longer afford to.

Interested in investigative reporting? Why not shoot a resume to journalismjobs@propublica.org.

Find journalism jobs in the UK and overseas

journalism.co.uk is basically the British equivalent of JournalismJobs.com. In addition to having lengthy journalism jobs listings that are updated regularly, it lists industry news, awards, freelance opportunities, advice and more. The focus is definitely on the UK, but there's plenty of useful info on there for every journalist, regardless of nationality.

For more journalism jobs and journalism job boards, visit CubReporters.org's jobs page.

-Mark Grabowski

Freelance writing gigs

I highly recommend this website, which offers a number of freelance writing opportunities and is updated every weekday. Of course, some days are more promising than others. But I know someone who recently landed some pretty high-profile and lucrative freelance assignments off of it.

http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/category/writing-gigs/

New journalism jobs website

JournalismNow.com is now listed on CubReporters.org's jobs page.

“We are going to specialize in journalism employment & news …” a website official e-mailed me today. “We're hoping to average 5-10+ new job postings a day in the coming weeks.”

Check it out at http://journalismnow.com.

-Professor Mark Grabowski