First off, a hearty thanks for these columns. I've read them for a year and
am still learning.
ASK JOE
A
QUESTION
|
To get your question answered on this page,
send
it to Joe here. Please include your full name in your message to Joe.
If you prefer that your surname not be published, please indicate
that. |
|
You have mentioned more than a few times that newspapers are looking
for people with multimedia experience. How should I highlight a
substantial Web background when applying for reporting internships?
I am an undergraduate senior with strong writing and editing experience
at a college paper. I spent this summer writing for a small daily. But
I also have seven years experience as a freelance graphic designer and
have designed scores of Web sites, including a few for a major
university.
Besides a general familiarity with multimedia production, how can I
highlight this second aspect of my experience within the confines of a
reporting-internship application?
Josh
It sounds as though you may be afraid of getting pigeonholed in a production role when you really want to be out on the streets.
If that's the case, I would not work
hard to play up my mutimedia skills. Our skills are relevant only when
we plan to use them.
However, if you can pitch yourself as a multimedia reporter, with some
abilities to gather audio, photo and video, you'll be a find for some
newspaper.
On your resume, write about how you have applied your multimedia skills
on the job and list the software programs you have genuine expertise
with. Some editors will key in on specific software. Others will key in on
how you have used it. All who hire you for your multimedia skills will
want you to use them.
