Education · 1 of 5

The path

No licence, no exam. Editors hire on clips, meaning published work they can read, hear or watch.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 10 to 12

   English, history and any media class. Write for the school paper or start a newsletter. Learn to record clean audio.

2. 2

   Journalism program

   2 to 4 years

   A 4-year Bachelor of Journalism, a 2 to 3 year college diploma, or a degree in something else plus a 1 to 2 year Master of Journalism.

3. 3

   Student media and internships

   During school

   The campus paper, campus radio and summer internships are where your first real clips come from. Take them seriously.

4. 4

   First job, usually small

   1 to 3 years

   A local paper, a regional radio newsroom, a trade publication or an online outlet. You cover everything: council, court, weather, sports.

5. 5

   Beat reporter

   3 to 8 years in

   You move to a bigger newsroom and own a subject: health, city hall, business, courts. Sources start calling you.