3 The Advocate Newspaper Journalism Class Clarence High School Clarence, NY June 9,

Writing for Different Formats Writing for Different Formats Strive for Experiences to Become a “Generalist Wordsmith” Strive for Experiences to Become a “Generalist Wordsmith” Don’t be pigeonholed as strictly a news or feature writer. Don’t be pigeonholed as strictly a news or feature writer. Cover a town hall, city council or community special event and write an advance and recap story as if it were to be published in local newspaper. Cover a town hall, city council or community special event and write an advance and recap story as if it were to be published in local newspaper. Experiment and seek out experience with entertainment previews, concert or movie reviews, community-oriented columns, creative writing; grant writing. Experiment and seek out experience with entertainment previews, concert or movie reviews, community-oriented columns, creative writing; grant writing. Blog writing can keep the creative juices flowing outside of your normal writing “modes”, “assignments” or “specialties”. Blog writing can keep the creative juices flowing outside of your normal writing “modes”, “assignments” or “specialties”. 2

When You Get to College When You Get to College Seek out the extracurricular activities and programs that interest your most. Seek out the extracurricular activities and programs that interest your most. Specialize in 2-3 core activities. Specialize in 2-3 core activities. Newspaper, radio, campus publications are good ones to pursue if they align with your major and career interests. Newspaper, radio, campus publications are good ones to pursue if they align with your major and career interests. Inquire about student associations such as PRSSA (Public Relations), AMA (Marketing) or AAF (Advertising) chapters. Inquire about student associations such as PRSSA (Public Relations), AMA (Marketing) or AAF (Advertising) chapters.

Sports Writing and PR Opportunities. Check with your campus Athletic or Sports Communications Departments – they often have internships or student jobs in statistics, writing, marketing, promotions. Check with your campus Athletic or Sports Communications Departments – they often have internships or student jobs in statistics, writing, marketing, promotions. Offer to be a volunteer to do stats, promote or be an administrative assistant for a college sports team. Offer to be a volunteer to do stats, promote or be an administrative assistant for a college sports team. Research internships for game-night duties if campus is in the market area of pro sports teams. Research internships for game-night duties if campus is in the market area of pro sports teams.

Portfolio & Local Publications Portfolio & Local Publications When you have several quality published writing samples or collateral pieces, create a portfolio that you will continue to expand and improve (and an online version if desired). When you have several quality published writing samples or collateral pieces, create a portfolio that you will continue to expand and improve (and an online version if desired). Always keep electronic versions of your work & developing career files on a flash drive. Always keep electronic versions of your work & developing career files on a flash drive. Pitch yourself as a freelancer to community papers or niche campus publications. Pitch yourself as a freelancer to community papers or niche campus publications. Where no freelance opportunities exist, ask to follow a reporter to cover a news story. Where no freelance opportunities exist, ask to follow a reporter to cover a news story.

“Field Research” “Field Research” Target a writer, reporter or columnist and outreach to them to shadow for a few hours, interview them, write up a Q&A or blog for practice on profile/featuring writing. Target a writer, reporter or columnist and outreach to them to shadow for a few hours, interview them, write up a Q&A or blog for practice on profile/featuring writing. Follow web sites such as SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists), PRSA (Public Relations Society of America), IABC (International Association of Business Communicators). Follow web sites such as SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists), PRSA (Public Relations Society of America), IABC (International Association of Business Communicators). Read these sites’ blogs and sign up for any free enewsletters. Read these sites’ blogs and sign up for any free enewsletters. Read magazines such as “Editor & Publisher”, “Fast Company”, “Inc” and “Wired”. Read magazines such as “Editor & Publisher”, “Fast Company”, “Inc” and “Wired”.

Information Miscellaneous Whatever your format, keep a good record of any and all contacts you meet. Whatever your format, keep a good record of any and all contacts you meet. Always follow through with thank you correspondence for any time or assistance any mentor, writer, editor or PR provides you. Always follow through with thank you correspondence for any time or assistance any mentor, writer, editor or PR provides you. Keep all of your writing samples; select and prepare your best ones for your ongoing professional portfolio for internship and job interviews. Keep all of your writing samples; select and prepare your best ones for your ongoing professional portfolio for internship and job interviews.