Ins and Outs of Resumes and Portfolios

This session was not what I expected. It was set up as a question and answer session. The information was useful and informative, but it could have been more detailed.

The panel emphasized proofreading your resumes several times; as a senior, I know to do that. I am aware of the fact that mistakes on a resume can be a dealbreaker. I was looking for more in-depth information.

The panel also discussed how technology is becoming increasingly important when applying for a job. They suggested creating an electronic portfolio/resume and explained the necessity of listing technological skills so that it can be determined where you stand when you do get a job. The panel even went as far to say that they have not hired applicants because they did not have a Facebook page. They explained they did not want to hire someone who was not up with technology.

They also went on to discuss portfolios. It is important that portfolios look neat. Be sure to use a high-quality copier, adjust the toner, and remove all staples. Limit your samples to five because no one has time to look through a book of samples. Make sure to include a variety of samples and that you can talk about each.

When networking, be assertive and show that you want the job.

The panel also mentioned a Web site similar to Facebook called Linked In. It is a grown-up version of Facebook and can be very beneficial when applying to jobs.

Brittany Byrd

How Do I Get an Internship?

I was so excited about this session. Katie Curcio, director of the CBS Internship program, was the speaker. The session was very informal with the eight people in the room sitting in a circle, just talking. She explained the internship program at CBS and the different departments. There is only one PR internship available and three available within the advertising/marketing departments. During the fall and spring, broadcast interns only work two days a week, and during the summer they are full time. The internships are not paid, but she has set up a partnership with a dorm building to provide low rent housing for interns. Curcio said that sometimes it is hard for participants to balance holding a paying job and getting the full experience of working with the media.

She told our group that the most important qualification to have was to simply love the news! She explained that experience was a Catch-22. Interns need experience, but at the same time sometimes it's best if the experience you have is what you are taught at their station.

Curcio also discussed resumes and interviews. She advised students to research the company that you are applying to before even beginning your resume. When preparing your resume, keep it to one page and include relevant work experience but try to avoid including extracurricular and awards that are insignificant. It is important to include your computer skills as this is becoming increasingly important when applying for a job.

She went on to discuss interviews and the importance of being prepared. In her experience, an interview can make or break an applicant. Curcio emphasized having ideas/story pitches that are relevant to your market lined up for an interview. She also said to keep your options open when applying and not to close yourself off. When asked about areas of interest, be open to any position and just touch on specific areas of interest.

Curcio concluded by summarizing again the importance of the application process and the internship experience and stated that the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

Brittany Byrd

Slick work- how to break into magazines

During this session, on Saturday morning, the sun began peaking through the shade, and I became very mad. This session was very good and I learned a lot, but it would have been better received if I wasn't steaming from anger for the weather.

Three women represented different ways to get into magazines. One started, and still works, in teen magazines. Another started as a copy editor, and the third began working for organizations with in-house magazines.

It was stressed by all three to gain as much writing experience as possible and learn many different writing styles. It was also said that it is never too early to start submitting work to potential publishers.

When creating a cover letter for your resume, it is a good idea to research the magazine and emulate their style. Also, don't oversell yourself and find your own voice.

Online resources such as Craig's List, idealist.org, journalismjobs.com, www.mediabistro.com were given for query tips and job applications.

It is important to follow the application guidelines very carefully, since some are different.

Also, if sending your resume electronically, it is best to save the cover letter as a word document so it may be opened and read easily.

I also learned that a perk of the magazine industry is its variety. One is less likely to burn out if one does not stay at a publication for very long.

Kera Simon

Portfolios and Resumes

On Friday at 11 a.m., I attended a session designed as a question-and-answer panel about portfolios and resumes. This was very helpful for someone like me who has time to improve their resume.

The panel's strongest tip for resume writing was to proofread. They all agreed that the worst thing to see on a resume is common misspellings. They said it is even worse if a person lists "pays attention to details" and has misspellings. One of the panelists said if a person lists that as a quality and then makes spelling errors, "Well, then it is obvious that you don't."

They also emphasized that the copy quality was important. They suggested making a high quality copy to keep and make copies from.

It was also quite emphasized to have an online resume or personal professional website. They said it was very important to show that you are online-savvy. Also, they hinted that if a person doesn't have an online site during this drastic electronic age, it suggests that you are behind the times.

Also, when discussing a portfolio, their suggestion was to be very picky about your selections. The employers want to see your skills as a reporter, so pick the best.

Kera Simon

Ins and outs of resumes and portfolios

I actually went to this session by accident--I went into the wrong room. It was still helpful, though. It was basically a question-and-answer forum about what companies and editors look for in resumes and portfolios.

Important things the panel discussed included errors, which can also be errors of omission. You should include any skills you have that are valuable. Do not leave that kind of stuff out of your resume.

A really good idea that one member of the panel had was to set up an online profile/resume Web site. This would make me seem more versatile. It would display my ability to put information online while giving the editor a less time-consuming option to read my resume.

Leigh

The Truth About Jobs and Internships

I suppose I should have known better that this session would be a panel discussion when I read there would be three speakers. Benjy Hamm from Landmark Communications (they own The Weather Channel), Adriana Brockman from Gannett Corp. (USA Today's owner), and Jody Beck from the Scripps Howard Foundation fielded questions from students on how to land an internship or job after college. While the session was informative, I left feeling more overwhelmed and discouraged than anything else.

One thing I took away from this session was a few main points potential employers look for such as experience, drive and passion, curiosity, work ethic and professionalism. In those areas I feel confident, however, many of the panel members said they would probably not hire someone who had only worked on student media. They said experience with a local media was a must. This concerned me because I have not worked outside of the NSU media, although, I feel like my experience with those media have been valuable. I suppose I will just have to edge out the competition with my winning personality.

-- Lauren Sciba

Networking at the Saw IV Blood Drive.

Seats were in high demand last night in the "teachers' lounge," so I offered a stranger a chair at my table. This person turned out to be Jim Bilello, President and Founder of US Marketing (http://www.usmarketing.bz/jim_bio.htm). Bilello, who represents Lionsgate, was at the conference representing and promoting the "Saw IV" movie to college media leaders. In fact, his PR specialty is very segment-specific: teen and college students. He also has a second demographic specialization, Hispanic marketing, but his focus at this event was to get the word out on "Saw IV" (opening wide at a theatre in near you on Friday, October 26).

I asked Bilello what PR professionals look for in the college graduates they hire, and his immediate answer was CREATIVITY. Everyone is looking for bright people with bright ideas. He said that school projects, whether for class or for extra-curricular activities, can demonstrate strength in conceiving and expressing ideas and strategies. He also said that you should be open-minded about internship opportunities -- often in PR and media, interns work hard for little money.

Bilello also said that college seniors should not just be using Facebook and MySpace for social networking but also start looking at Linked In and other professional networking sites. (Keep in mind that things acceptable and encouraged on Facebook may be frowned upon at Linked In.)

This afternoon I took Brittany over to Bilello's vendor stand. Brittany had raved about the Saw movies to me even before we left for D.C., so I thought she would want to check out the current installment of the horror series' PR campaign: a Saw IV blood drive. (Cool? Eww? Can't decide.) In addition to being a Saw fan, Brittany is also the lone public relations major on this trip, and she spent several minutes getting advice from Bilello about jobs and internships. I was proud to see her networking -- making contacts at this conference could open the door to a job or internship in the future.

Dr. Lee

Soggy Musings of Day Two in a Dimly-Lit Starbucks

Yesterday after our sessions had ended, a few of us wandered into the Church of Scientology. Needless to say, this could be one for the grandchildren. However, since this blog is principally for our sessions, this story shall have to wait for another post.

The first session of the morning was by far the most enlightening look into the current state of the recording arts industry that I've encountered since Lars Ulrich's legal assault on his Napsterite fans. Samantha Murphy's 10am "P2P: An Artist's Perspective" was quite inspiring in that many of the points she brought up were entirely relevant and at times eye-opening. Murphy, the host of one of the oldest artist-driven podcasts on the 'Net, is entirely free of record label influence and has turned down a recording contract. She is turning her website smtvmusic.com into a legal filesharing website for college students to experience new music from both signed and unsigned artists who have pledged their support of this project. The basic message of her session is that we as broadcasters need to fight to keep the Internet free so that artists can continue to release their art.

The 11am "Ins and Outs of Resumes" session was jam-packed with those eager to make their resumes better and more noticeable. In a fiercely-competitive job market, having a resume that lists your flexibility and willingness to venture into any avenue of journalism is a must as the profession continues its dramatic change. Basically, showing off your strengths can become a plus when you're being considered for a job.

The noon "Truth About Jobs and Internships" session dealt with your options in searching for either a job or internship. It was hit hard on us that experience when looking for both internships and jobs are an absolute must; I'm still unsure if I want to continue toward a Broadcasting degree or if I want to switch to News-Editorial, for I enjoy writing immensely but I also enjoy certain aspects of broadcast production as well. However, I think I'll go for internships in both areas just in case. In this session I learned that for print internships/jobs, campus experience isn't the only experience you should have. Time to get cracking ^_^

The 1pm "Sum of All Fears" session was quite informative, as it dealt with listener reactions to the September 11 attacks and the 2004 Hurricane season. Ned Waugaman from Arbitron (the radio equivalent to the Nielsen television ratings) stated that in general, listeners were very pleased with the radio coverage of the September 11 attacks and radio was the preferred source of information during the 2004 hurricane season.

More soon
-Richelle Stephens

The Truth About Jobs and Internships

Since the original internship seminar I was supposed to attend Thursday had been canceled, I attended this one instead.

The whole session was basically a question and answer session where the Yale overachievers got their questions answered about that beloved New York Times internship.

The main point of this session was this:

Internships are important and give non-experienced undergrads the opportunity to get real life experience, which is something employers look for when hiring new employers.

Also, sometimes you need to start small. Getting a paid summer reporter job at a small local paper not only gives you experience, but a paycheck as well. Some of the fellow overachievers missed that point.

Mary Manno

Changing Freelance Markets

This session was led by Michael Ray Taylor who, like me, also attended Whither Magazines and Breaking into Magazines. He had a very knowledgeable and amiable way of speaking and was, next to Keith Bellows, the speaker I enjoyed best.

Mostly I was overwhelmed by Taylor's accomplishments. He could teach by example, perhaps, with his many adventures and mistrials in the pursuit of magazines. He was a freelance writer for five years of his life and traveled to many, many places in the meantime. He said "It's not a good living, but it is a living." (by which he followed up with, saying that it is more exciting than managing a restaurant, though)

He gave us five points in which to base our pursuits on. Our pursuits, of course, being the "dream magazine." His advice was as follows:

1. Start by sending articles to local magazines, then lead to enthusiast magazines with a small niche and/or trade magazines.

2. Specialize. Use what you know and recycle. Pick something not already crowded with writers.

3. Cultivate a web presence.

4. Cultivate sources and markets. Or, as he put it, become "a professional schmoozer."

5. Grow the break out pieces. Begin writing your break out piece to a small market, revise, send it to a larger, revise, recycycle, and then send it to the "dream magazine."

--Andi

Breaking into Magazines

Breaking into magazines, presented by David Levy of Wright College, had one focus and one focus alone: The query letter.

We were given a hand-out with step-by-step instructions on the query letter as well as when to send it, who to send it to, how to promote our story, etc. This was useful for me because if creative writing does not work out I wanted to try a career in magazines and had, sadly, no knowledge of the query letter.

David Levy offered lots of useful information and repeated two phrases I have heard again and again at this conference "KNOW the magazine inside and out before you send an article" and "Buy The Writer's Market."

He gently reassured us that we would be making zero to negative amounts of money, but that the goal was to be published. Another remark I have heard quite a bit of this week.

--Andi

'And You Want Me to Write What?'

This session centered on recommendation letters and tips on how to get teachers to write one for you. A handout was passed out with one side giving examples of two recommendation letters and the other with the top 10 things to remember when looking for a great reference. Some of the tips include providing a job description of the job or internship and giving the adviser a resume and portfolio to jog their memory. We were also taught that the adviser is like "Santa Claus" and is watching a student at all times. Also, the adviser is keener to write a great recommendation letter for a student who is always trying and working hard.

Mary Manno

First impressions of our nation's capitol ... a day late

As this was my first visit to Washington D.C., I couldn't help but peer out of the window of the airplane when we began our descent into Reagan National. The brake lights of afternoon traffic pockmarked the soaked streets of our nation's capital...unfortunately we would encounter traffic of our own. We happened to board the Metro subway right as Washington's corporate bees left their metaphorical hive. Apparently masses of people crammed into tiny subway cars bring out the worst of people in this city. Regardless, this has been quite an educationally valuable trip (more on the visual spectacle later) as we attended our first sessions today.


At 9 a.m., I attended the "Whither Magazines" session with National Geographic magazine's Keith Bellows, who discussed the future of magazines. He essentially stated that reinvention must occur if magazines are to survive. Writers must become more well-rounded in terms of what they can do for the publication; they must be willing to write for the print and online mediums. They must be willing to produce narratives that engross the reader.

At the 10 a.m. "Intro to Underwriting" session with NPR's J.C. Patrick, we explored the basics of radio kits to present to potential advertising clients. Radio kits should be personal and user-friendly to the prospective and should sell a benefit -- not a feature -- to the prospective client.

At the 11 a.m. 'Breaking into Magazines" session, we learned that query letters really help gain the attention of magazines to your story, as many submissions lack a query letter and magazines have little time to sort through them all. The session was focused heavily on the query letter. We also learned that if we wanted to start submitting now, it's all right to state that we're still writing for our school's newspaper.

The 12 p.m. "College Press 101" was a basic outline of significant court cases involving student journalists with follow-up on how it affects us today. The SPLC's Adam Goldstein was very knowledgeable of his craft, as he deals with the bulk of calls from student journalists to the SPLC; he said that he deals with at least 1,000 calls per year, which surprised me a bit.

Perhaps the most energetic session of the day was hosted by Jason Levine. The 1 p.m. session by the self-proclaimed evangelist for Adobe software was filled with exhibitions of his "prowess". Oohs and aahs serenaded his glowing ponytailed and mutton-chopped aura after he made a seagull disappear from a video clip in the Adobe After Effects program. I was personally engrossed in the new software that enables users to make their videos suitable for broadcast on everything from cell phones to YouTube.

More on the sights and sounds of D.C. in a later post. My fingers hurt.

--Richelle Stephens

Whither Magazines? A Look at the Future

Originally, I was going to attend a seminar about landing an internship. However, it happened to be canceled, and I found myself at a seminar about magazines. With all the convergence going on in journalism, I decided to attend a seminar that deals with something that I do not know that much about--magazines.

Keith Bellows, who works at National Geographic, gave a great seminar about how the magazine industry is not a dying field, just different. He gave us a different way to look at the rise of Internet readers. The magazine world is now a 360-degree field. Reporters are not only being hired to write articles, but to post Web articles and podcast.

I learned a lot from this seminar. I never realized that a magazine has to keep a subscriber 3-4 years in order to start making money off of them. Mr. Bellows made it clear that getting into this field is very competitive, especially for photographers to get work in National Geographic. He gave some great advice for breaking into the field. For example, when you intern, always ask if there is something to do. Motivation shows that company you really want to help and learn. Mr. Bellows said National Geographic has had countless interns who just sit at their desk and wait for work and lack that certain motivation the magazine needs. In the end, they don't get selected for the jobs.

Mary Manno

So you want to be a foreign correspondent?

This session started slow but ended being interesting for me. We watched a slide show about IES, which is a program that places students in internships in Europe, primarily Italy and Spain. This organization claims to help students on their way to becoming correspondents, with permanent work opportunities abroad. But only 7 percent of the students that receive positions are in any way shape or form affiliated with journalism. Their very best one is a girl they selected to come and give a brief testimony of her experiences.

The speakers told students in attendence how important it is to broaden horizons and acquire second language skills. The young lady who spoke had been placed in Italy and claimed to speak Italian. She did not, however, indicated whether she had learned the langauge within the four weeks she was there, or if she was born with it, etc. While they were right with their observations as to what students should shoot for when studying abroad, the following quote left me unimpressed with what they had to offer. "Someone will speak English, don't worry. And you'll be able to find a place to find a hamburger."

Part of the experience is not just learning Italian (or other foreign language) or broadcast journalism skills (they also kept a Webzine and posted video and news reports of a small town they covered) but also adopting a new culture. Going over in goups of 25, as they did, creates what linguists refer to as the ghetto effect, a phenomenon that precludes second language acquisition.

A gentleman seated to my right interjected at the end that he was from a university in St. Paul that offered a similar program in the German city of Trier, as well as an internship in the Twin Cities. I approached him and found it interesting that he was stationed at the same university I was at last year in Dortmund.

Jim Mustian

Breaking into Magazines

This was a popular session for NSU student media... A lot of my fellow students were present for this one.

David Levy discussed how to make a living as a freelance writer for magazines. Although freelance work can be hit or miss, he said a living could be made, if a writer is persistent.

The importance of query letters and details of formatting and content in the letters was discussed in great detail. I felt like this session was very helpful to me because I can see myself doing freelance work in the future.

-- Lauren Sciba