Education · 1 of 4

The path

Nobody hires you off a transcript. They hire you off a recording of you doing the job.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Speech, drama, English and journalism. Start a podcast now. It costs almost nothing and it is the reel.

2. 2

   Campus or community station

   From year one

   A college radio or television station is the single most valuable thing in this path. Some journalism schools operate full commercial stations staffed by students.

3. 3

   Certificate or degree

   1 to 4 years

   A one year broadcasting certificate or a four year journalism or communications degree. Neither is legally required, but most newsroom jobs expect the degree.

4. 4

   Internship and a demo reel

   During school

   Three to five minutes of your best work: a newscast, an interview, a live read. This is what gets listened to.

5. 5

   First small market job

   2 to 3 years

   Overnight or weekend shifts in a town you have never heard of. Two or three years there, then a bigger market.