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Advice
As the chair of the International
Journalism Commitee of the Society of Professional Journalists, a former
war correspondent, and a technology columnist I get a lot of calls and
emails from other writers asking me for advice.
I'm always glad to help and, in fact, usually welcome
the interruption.
Technology Topics
How
to use a free Web host but have a nice, short URL
You have free web space that comes with your Internet
account, but its URL (the Internet address) is very long and ugly. What
do you do? Redirect!
How to cut down on spam
You want to have your email address up on your website
-- but not the spam that comes along with it. Here's a nifty tool to help
you out.
Get free long distance
calling using the Internet
In the old days (last year) if you wanted to make
calls over the Internet, you had to install special software and the quality
sucked. These days, you don't need a computer at all, and the quality
is fantastic. The cost is pretty good, too.
Career Topics
Q: Most countries require
that journalists be accredited, and carry a press ID. How do journalists
work without one in the United States?
Q:
It looks like you have a lot of varied experience in journalism. I'm dabbling
with becoming a business reporter, but also love narrative writing: i.e.
Rick Bragg, Tom French, Tom Hallman. Do you have any advice on the pros
and cons of covering business than say education or government reporting?
Q:
I haven't done any internships. Will that hurt me when I look for my first
job? Also, I haven't done as much networking as some of my classmates.
Do you have to be really agressive to be a journalist?
Q: Pay for journalists is
really low. How do you make a living in this profession?
Q: I want to be
a foreign correspondent and I'm just starting out. How do I find places
that will send a journalist overseas?
Q:
I have reached the point where a job in journalism in any capacity seems
a hopeless dream. I cannot get anyone to hire me in any field, despite
my college degree and experience. I'm getting to the point where I can
just barely eat and pay my rent. Do you have any advice?
Q:
Do you need a degree in journalism to work as a journalist?
Q:
I'm worried about getting a journalism job. Should I go to graduate school?
Q: How do you
get into business writing?
Q: I am a year out of
college and I still can't find a job in journalism. This just doesn't
seem to be the right time to get into the field. So I am seriously considering
grad school. Any suggestions?
Q: Do you have any advice
for pitching freelance stories to editors?
Q: How important is
networking to getting a job?
Q:
Can you sell articles to trade magazines where most other contributors
write for free?
Q: How do you go
from writing for local business publications to national ones?
Q: How do you get into
freelancing?
Q:
If you're just starting out, how do you come up with story ideas?
Q:
Freelance writers don't get paid much. How do you make a living doing
this?
Q:
My editors keep messing up my stories. How can I keep that from happening?
Q: Do you have any advice
for public relations people pitching stories to you?
Q:
Can you give your career a boost by going overseas?
Q: I heard a horrible
story from a refugee. How do I know it's true?
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