CHAT: Transcript of Career Services Chat, July 11, 2007
Transcript of Career Services Chat
July 11, 2007
Speakers: Ernest Sotomayor, Julie Hartenstein, Gina Boubion
[see other chats and transcripts]
sr2575(Q) What should our expectations be for the typical salary range coming out of J-school?
ESotomayor(A) Many variables sr2575. Depends on your experience, the location, the size of market, the job. But, generally, expect salary of in the range of about 25K to about 30k in a starting newspaper job in a small-medium market. The range will be higher in a place like NYC, LA, D.C.etc. Magazine starting salaries are about the same.
daveburdick(Q) I suppose this is only vaguely career services related, but even if it’s not, maybe you’ll know the answer. Is there a good place in NY to take language classes? I’m rusty, but would probably catch up quickly in a conversational setting.
ESotomayor(A) There are many language institutes throughout NYC and we don’t really recommend any in particular. Among the best places will be the various community colleges, like the City University of New York System. They have varied classes at scattered times, including weekends. Private schools or centers like Barritz will be more expensive, but maybe more compact.
daveburdick(Q) Do CU grads tend to find work in NYC right after school or is it more common to head elsewhere? I’m not looking for guarantees, just trends.
GBoubion(A) Many CU grads want to stay in NYC, the most competitive news market in the country, if not the world. The best jobs the most recent graduating class landed, however, were outside New York. In all honesty, daveburdick, you’ll get a better job and go further faster if you earn your chops elsewhere, and then make your way back to the Big Apple. But we don’t advise people one way or another; personal considerations often dictate where a grad is willing to live. But there’s no question that it’s tough to make a living in NYC as a rookie journalist.
Kenan(Q) Are there any information sessions scheduled for Career Services? Or should we make individual appointments to get started?
JHartenstein(A) Hello Kenan: Ernest Sotomayor will address the incoming class on Orientation Day the week of August 20th. Then, over the course of the year, we look forward to meeting with each of you individually for at least one session. Your first step is to consult our Career Services website and work with the resources we provide to get your resume in shape. Next step, fill out our pre-meeting survey (the link is our homepage )and upload your updated resume. Then, please email us to set up an appointment. I work primarily with folks in the broadcast and new media (production) concentrations, Gina Boubion specializes in magazines and Ernest focuses on print. Check out our bios and you will see our professional experience, the reason we work with particular concentrations. We look forward to working with each of you. http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/cs/ContentServer/jrn/1165270092725/page/1165270092710/simplepage.htm
mo2305(Q) I’m curious to know what the perception of Columbia grads is in the journalism job market, and how this may or may not help us when we begin our search after graduation.
GBoubion(A) Dear mo2305: You’re only as good as your last story, and that’s the bottom line. I don’t think anybody in my entire journalism career even asked me what my gpa was in school or, for that matter, where I went. (Pomona; Medill) That said, there’s no question that the Columbia degree opens doors. There are certain high profile organizations in this town that seem only to hire Columbia grads. It’s a combination of a highly skilled faculty, well-connected, loyal alums and students who know how to think, think of news in context and write that sets the Columbia student apart. If only the profession paid better, but then, the coolest jobs always pay the least, right?
Alex_Sundby(Q) How early would you recommend new students meet with someone in Career Services?
ESotomayor(A) Students are welcome to meet with us at any time. The earlier in the year that you are able to meet with us — NOT in the first three weeks, though — gives you a better idea what is ahead, how to prepare, the deadline pending if you plan to apply for summer work, and to be sure your resume is in good shape. Also, if you plan to freelance your classwork assignments to local media companies to get clips for your portfolio, you need to have a good resume ready to go.
DeanSree(P) Hello, everyone… Welcome. Look for more chats soon. I am turning this over to Ernest Sotomayor, Director of Career Services and his colleagues.
jpc2129(Q) Good afternoon. I’m interested in purchasing my name as a URL (www.namehere.com) in case i’d like to start a website after graduation. Any tips or leads on how I might get started?
DeanSree(A) Yes, I recommend every reporter get what’s called a vanity domain name. I have some tips at http://www.sree.net/tips/websites.html (needs some updating, but basic info is good).
lmf2125(Q) Hello, and thanks for hosting this. I read on the “Frontline” website that the Frontline/World Fellows program begun as a collaboration between Frontline and Berkeley was now accepting Columbia students as well, however, I have written to them and to some people at Columbia but haven’t been able to get any more information. Do you have any details about this program or advice about applying?
JHartenstein(A) Hello lmf2125: The Frontline World/Fellows program is an exciting collaboration between the J-school and Frontline. Over the past several years, a few of our graduates have received modest grants to produce multi-media projects which have appeared on the FW website. Currently, there are no J-school projects being funded, but we are hoping that Frontline World will be making additional grants in the future. The Frontline World Fellows /Columbia collaboration is a program handled by Broadcast Professor June Cross in conjunction with Career Services. As soon as there is funding available, we will get the information out to you and solicit proposals for consideration. Here is a link to the most recent Columbia/Fellows project, produced by Omar Sachedina and Rebecca Castillo (J-2005) http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/05/uganda_the_retu.html
lmf2125(Q) Thanks! I believe that professor Cross will be on sabbatical this year, but hopefully her replacement will be able to help connect us to this program?
JHartenstein(A) Hello lmf2125: Professor Cross will away on sabbatical this year. But as I mentioned, we collaborate on the project and Professor Cross, Professor Cooper and I discussed the Frontline World Fellows program just a couple of weeks ago. We are on top of it so If it lives–you will know!!
Gapeseed(Q) Will there be any mentors, opportunities, or special resources available for those students who seek to combine their current background (like law for me) at Columbia?
ESotomayor(A) Gapeseed: The Alumni Relations Office, which now runs the Alumni Association, has operated a mentoring program that is available to students once the year begins. The office is relaunching the association and the mentoring program is under review, to check back once school begins about whether that goes forward. We have no special opportunities for students pursuing other disciplines unless you are in the dual degree programs, like business, international affairs or the science program.
Gapeseed(Q) What path would you recommend for those who might be thinking about a career in academia teaching journalism? Should we get a few years experience first or continue on with education after the MS?
GBoubion(A) Dear Gapespeed, It depends on what kind of academic job you want. Most journalism schools and departments hire adjunct faculty from local news organizations to teach one or two basic skills and lecture courses per semester. Adjunct faculty are practicing journalists who teach on the side. The bigger the newstown and the more prestigious the university, the harder it is to get an adjunct teaching position. I’ve known adjuncts who had Master’s degrees, but most don’t. However, if you want a professorship in a journalism department, you typically need a PhD or commensurate experience, like books published or significant journalism awards won.
lrg2116(Q) How easy is it to work abroad after graduation? Do j-school alums have an international presence/network?
ESotomayor(A) Depends on your experience, the company you are seeking to work for, whether you are seeking freelance or FT jobs. Working abroad is always a very big challenge, but some do it if they can demonstrate very high proficiency in reporting and writing. There are many more foreign correspondents in the last couple years who are seeking work abroad as newspapers have downsized so it will be a challenge, but it can be done. It is extremely important that you know the language and culture of the country where you want to work, and be very very good at reporting. Media companies have lots of choices when it comes to finding correspondents, so you have to be ready to compete with high skills. Most of the very best correspondents abroad working FT began as local reporters to learn beat reporting.
katedailey(Q) Are there additional steps we should be taking during the semester - besides attending classes and networking - to help us find a job after graduation?
GBoubion(A) Dear katedailey: Get your resume in shape, submit it to one of us in career services and we’ll have a sit-down to advise you better. We strongly advise against getting an internship in NYC as soon as you get here — that will unquestionably compromise your studies, as you’ll soon see. But if you want an internship, and your profs think you can handle it, an internship is a great way to lay the groundwork for a paid job after graduation. Macro-picture — if you’re at all interested in business or online journalism, you will have an easier time finding a job. There’s huge demand in those realms.
DeanSree(P) To the international question, I’d like to add that I just came back from a month in India and many of the top media companies there are actively looking for Columbia grads (of all nationalities) to come and work for a few months or years. There’s a level of excitement in the media in India today (as well as some other companies) that doesn’t quite exist in the US today.
Pete212(Q) Should we indicate our concentrations (broadcast, newspaper, magazine, etc.) on our resumes?
ESotomayor(A) Pete212: It’s a good idea, yes. But if you have skills/abilities outside of that concentration you should ALWAYS indicate in a skills section what those are: audio/video editing, digital photography, HTML, etc.
DeanSree(P) REMINDER: # Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Life at the J-school: Academic and Otherwise Speakers - Deans Sreenivasan & Huff 1-2 p.m. New York time (lookup your local time here) # Monday, July 23, 2007 Career Services Speakers: Ernest Sotomayor, Director of Career Services and colleagues 1-2 p.m. New York time (lookup your local time here)
db2487(Q) Hi. How many students would you say freelance or intern part-time during the school-year? I assume neither can be done for credit.
GBoubion(A) db2487: Most print students freelance during the year. They might not get paid, but they find a way to spin their coursework into publishable clips for any one of the many newspapers and magazines in the city. We have a story on our site called Turning Your Classwork Into Clips that might be of interest. You should shoot to graduate with clips if possible. It will definitely help your job prospects. Most students do not intern the first semester; your academic demands are too great, trust me. The second semester, many attempt it and manage to pull it off. If you’re a full-time student, you can do this for a half-credit and pay no extra tuition. There are also credit options available for part-time students.
dlh2123(Q) Hi there. My concentration is in print, but I’m interested in jobs in both print and radio (I have some experience in radio.) Does my concentration in print limit me in any way from radio jobs? Have you seen print students land jobs in radio?
JHartenstein(A) Hello dlh2123: Hi Dave. We are all about good journalism and covergence. So if you are interested in developing radio skills you will be able to do that even as a print concentrator. Since you already have radio experience, if you position yourself properly, you should be able to look for jobs in radio as well as in print. In order to be a competitive job candidate in radio however, you will need a reel of radio work for prospective employers. Since you will be primarily focusing on print, that will take a lot more effort and initiative on your part, but it can be done. Do you know Pro-tools or non-linear audio editing? Get those muscles in shape. Make taking a radio skills class a priority. As a print concentrator, you are eligible to submit for a radio masters project–that is a great way to do substantive work in radio. There is the possibility that another radio class will be available as well, or that you might be able to file radio reports for other classes–International Newsroom for example. Also, since so many websites look for multi-media reporters, you can also think of yourself as a journalist who specializes in print and audio. Podcasts away.
sr2575(Q) How soon (without it being too soon, if there is such a thing) should the full-time MS students start job hunting in order to be employed the summer after graduation?
ESotomayor(A) sr2575: Last month would have been a good time….NOT. If you have experience before coming to the J School, that will be helpful, both in having you begin a work portfolio but also in better understanding what we teach and why. But once you begin, your main focus should be academic work. That said, we will let students know about lots of opportunities that lie ahead, when the deadlines are to apply for things like summer internships, etc. and how to prepare for those. Some of the deadlines will come as early as Oct. 15 for some of the biggest papers, so if you are interested in those places you need to start early. But typically, most students really jump in to job seeking gear in early spring, aside from the summer internship deadlines.
DeanSree(P) [ AN ASIDE: If you are still looking for an apartment, make sure you have seen the latest listings over at the AVAILABLE APARTMENT ALERT - new stuff added daily: http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/category/aaa-apartments/ END OF ASIDE]
db(Q) I was curious if you’ve seen students land jobs in fields that may be outside their J-school concentration. Are employers looking for the fact say one concentrated in print, rather than broadcast — or is it the Columbia experience that counts the most in their eyes.
GBoubion(A) db: I’ve seen broadcast students get jobs in magazines and vice-versa. The multimedia skills you learn here can only help you….
Kenan(Q) You’ve mentioned the importance of having your resume in shape before applying for internships (for Spring semester). What if the student has a limited background in journalism? Is this a problem?
ESotomayor(A) The more experience you have coming to the J-school the better, but the work you do while here will be important as well, including class assignments you can get published, your master’s project if it gets published, any internships that you eventually do, like in the second term.
Pete212(Q) What sounds better on a resume: magazine or newspaper? Also, should I state my newspaper concentration even if I am applying to a magazine,and vice versa?
GBoubion(A) Pete212: You can. Whether one sounds better than the other depends on what kind of job you’re looking for. Not sure I understand the question.
chd2106(Q) quick question: is this forum MA and MS?
ESotomayor(A) WE can try to answer questions applicable to both programs.
DeanSree(P) A question I received yesterday, and the answer, from Prof. Ann Cooper, head of the broadcast program… Q. from Student L: I have a question that I’ve been meaning to ask for a long time–I understand that June Cross will be on sabbatical next year, and I’ve been wondering who will be heading the documentary concentration. Let me know if you have any information! A. from Prof. Ann Cooper: Jon Alpert of DCTV documentary production house in New York will teach the documentary workshop in the spring of 2008. Probably his best-known recent work is “Baghdad ER,” which won a DuPont Columbia silver baton in January. Best, Ann
thomas(Q) I’m a print major, and I strongly regret not signing up for New Media. Are us “non-online” people going to have a rough job search, given the current climate? Thanks for doing this.
GBoubion(A) Dear thomas, you can still take the new media skills courses here once you arrive. No question that new media skills help in this job market.
DeanSree(P) Thomas: You can also ballot for the new New Media Newsroom class, which is a mix of NM majors and non-majors.
jlk(Q) Hello. I’m not going to be in the New Media sections, but I’m quickly realizing that’s where everything is heading. I know Dreamweaver, Flash, etc. I’m curious exactly how much tech experience companies usually look for in hiring for online positions.
ESotomayor(A) Some require quite a bit for producer positions, but many right now want people who can at least think about how a story can be presented on the web, from the time the reporting of the story begins. Knowing the skills like shooting video and editing audio, taking phootos and doing slide shows can give you a big edge in some markets, so plan on developing those skillsets to give yourself as much advantage as possible. Even for people who are not New Media concentrators, all RW1 sections will be “webified” to teach some web skills.
DeanSree(P) JLK: I like to tell people that editors are looking for a “new media MINDSET” as well as a “new media SKILL SET”… Even if you are not a major, you can come to a lot of talks, lectures, etc, where you will be able to get some of that mindset, in addition to the NEW webified RW1.
Alex_Sundby(Q) After graduation, is an internship the most common route to a full-time job? Also, what are the chances of working at a wire service fresh out of J-School? Thanks.
JHartenstein(A) Hello Alex: Internships can describe a variety of things–an unpaid gig, paid summer job of limited duration or paid post-graduate fellowship programs equivalent to entry level reporter slots. Internships are a great route to a full time job and often the best and only way in. But obviously full time jobs with benefits are the best so we work hard to find opportunities wherever we can! Every year we have a handful of grads that go directly to the wire services. So yes, that is a real possibility. If you have an interest in financial reporting, that will give you an edge in landing positions at several of the wire services. The wire services come up to the J-school in late fall/winter to make presentations and follow-up with writing tests for applicants so keep your eye on the Career Services website and be sure to attend.
ctaske(Q) Hi! As an international student I don’t have a work permit for the U.S. However, would I still be able to sell freelance stories to German publications while at the J-school?
ESotomayor(A) If you are coming under an F-1 student visa, you are not allowed to hold a job where you are earning any compensation. Under the law, you can work in an unpaid position, but only if everyone else in the same job is also unpaid. You can apply for Optional Practical Training visa as you near graduation, and that allows you one year of work authorization in the U.S. and to be paid.
db(Q) When would it be best for us to begin sitting down with Career Services to go over resumes, and talk about job hunting strategy? Of course, I assume this would be after we’ve settled into academics.
ESotomayor(A) db: Look for earlier answer to sr2575 on this question
daveburdick(Q) Are people in the radio industry typically understanding of folks with less training? For example, I’m marked down for a magazine concentration, but hope to take a radio and/or new media skills course. Would that be enough to start a conversation with a potential employer, or should I be seeking additional training in the meantime?
JHartenstein(A) Hi Dave Burdick: Check out my answer to dlh2123, who is also a print concentrator interested in radio. To pursue a job in radio, you will need strong radio skills beyond the radio skills class. Think about a radio masters project and the possibility of doing radio reporting in other classes.
Adam(Q) For those career-changers among us who don’t have much (or any) journalism experience, is there anything we should be doing at this point to make us more appealing to potential employers next year?
GBoubion(A) About a third of the incoming class are career-changers so you’ll be in good company. It’s going to be important for you to try and get published clips during your year at Columbia. This is not as daunting as it sounds - dozens of newspapers take freelance work, and the stories you write in RW1 are probably going to be perfect for a newspaper - it could be the New York Times City Section, or a small community paper that circulates in your beat.If you don’t have new media skills - audio, visual, and online skills now, you could aim to get those skills while at Columbia. Also, depending on your current profession, you might very well find yourself pursuing the same interests, but as a journalist. The teacher who wants to write about kids and education, the paralegal who wants to write about courts. When you get here, I strongly suggest you get a resume in shape, post it to our site (you’ll get instructions later) and set up an appointment with one of us. We’ll have a sit-down and advise you better.
chd2106(Q) What do you feel about interrupting careers to attend the school, particularly M.A. students? Granted, what I’m doing now is freelance, but it for the Times, and represents money IN (albeit not much) instead of money OUT. The idea of hard work and research which does not result in publication sort of terrifies me. Could you explain the benefits?
ESotomayor(A) Chd2106: Very personal decision, and no right or wrong answers. However, what makes some of our students absolutely astounding as journalists is their life experience that they bring to the journalism school and to the career. We want them to embrace their past work and use that knowledge and training as journalists… Some people interrupt their careers and plan to return to those careers once they graduate, and use the training from J school in those careers, and that is sometimes a deliberate strategy. Others determine to pursue journalism fulltime, instead of returning. M.A. students often return to their employers and use their new specializations to move into beat reporting positions or find another newsroom where they can specialize.
lrg2116(Q) How easy is it to work abroad after graduation? Do j-school alums have an international presence/network?
JHartenstein(A) Hi lrg2116: Check out Ernest Sotomayor’s answer on working abroad when the full transcript appears on the DOS blog.
Yian(Q) [[TECHNICAL QUESTION]]: I can’t seem to scroll up past a certain point in the conversation. Did my question get answered already, or was it not appropriate for this forum?
ESotomayor(A) Not appropriate for this forum. Thanx
DeanSree(P) [AN ASIDE…] Just confirmed, a chat about technology - mark your calendars…. Wed, Aug. 1, 2007 Technology at the J-school Speakers: Larry Fried, Asst. Dean for Technology and members of the technology staff 2-3 p.m. New York time See this and ALL the other chats at http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/07/06/chats-online-chats-about-the-school-3/ [ASIDE ENDS]
db2487(Q) You mentioned wire services coming to the school to hold presentations/recruit. Do other newspapers/mags/websites/tv stations do this as well? Do all of these sessions take place late in the fall semester? Thanks
GBoubion(A) Dear db2487: We will hold a massive job fair in the spring — March 29, 2008 — and expect at about 110 recruiters from all media come to interview students. During the year, dozens of recruiters and editors visit to give talks or meet students.
jpc2129(Q) What is the proper way to organize clips? Do newspapers/magazines ask to see the published piece, photos and all? Or is simply keeping the word documents on hand sufficient?
ESotomayor(A) All ways can be appropriate, but be sure to first know if the employer wants them in a certain format. If the clip package can be kept very compact it’s fine to include fotos, but an editor reading your clips is not much concerned how nice the fotos are if the story you wrote is not very good. PDF format is good, and links to PERMANENT site is also OK.
Pete212(Q) Sensitive topic, and I am certain the answer varies depending on what kind of position one has - but many people ask me how much money one can expect to earn today as a journalist?
ESotomayor(A) You’re right: Lots of variables. But generally, starting salaries can range as low as 18K at an alternative weekly, or around 32K at a NYC magazine, or more at a larger paper. Internships pay around $450 to $600 a week during summers. Get more here: http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/cs/ContentServer/jrn/1175295263882/page/1175295263867/simplepage.htm
lmf2125(Q) re $$, what about broadcast? can someone who already has a lot of experience expect to earn more?
ESotomayor(A) Potentially, depending on the job you are hired for, the size of the market, depending on just HOW much experience you have and the kind of experience. You may have a lot of print experience but that won’t necessarily mean much to a broadcaster, or vice versa. So it’s hard to generalize, but yes, more experience generally does mean higher wages.
db(Q) If any of us were to stay at Columbia for another year getting a dual-degree (ie. @ SIPA), would we still have access to Career Services when the time comes to begin our job search?
ESotomayor(A) Yes, certainly.
DeanSree(P) Ok, folks, we are winding up here, last few questions.
ctaske(Q) I believe I have read in a Columbia brochure about an international 3-month long internship that the J-school offers after graduation. Could you explain the conditions and costs involved?
ESotomayor(A) Send the link and your query about this program to one of us in Career Services and we can look into that. It could be any number of items.
Yian(Q) Mr. Sotomayor, I am a photographer from Singapore, and I want to end war with my photos. Up till now, I have been taking photos of conflict, but I recently realized that glorifying war in this way does can never promote peace. My question to you is this: Who publishes stories and photos of “peace”? Magazines such as Time don’t seem to. Newspapers still live the credo, “if it bleeds, it leads”. How should I best plot out my career since I have decided to stop taking pictures of war. I want to report (solely) on the peace initiatives in war zones that bring hope.
ESotomayor(A) Yian and others, also, note that as we continue adding material to the chat, some of what has been posted falls off to make room. We are capturing the entire chat and will post it on the DOS Blog in a day or two.
DeanSree(P) Ernie: Please take two more questions and then leave us with some final thoughts for now… Next careers chat is July 23…
mo2305(Q) I’ve read that some editors are actually less likely to hire graduate students of journalism. Is this true?
ESotomayor(A) Don’t know any who intentionally shun J grads. Some editors like people with quite extensive other type of life experience or international backgrounds, though, but that is different.
del2124(Q) I’ve heard that financial journalism pays a lot more. I’m wondering if it’s possible to do financial journalism for awhile and then transition to something else.
ESotomayor(A) Financial journalism is pretty hot at the moment, and lots of hiring. But again the salaries depend on the size of the market, the company, your experience. Companies like Bloomberg have typically slightly higher starting wages and even higher for experienced journalists, but many magazine salaries are about the same as others of similar size for people with similar experience levels.
ESotomayor(P) We look forward to assisting you once you’re at the Journalism School! For now, we urge you to review our Career Services site to read the various guides and get more questions answered. Have a great summer and see you soon. http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/cs/ContentServer/jrn/1165270092704/page/1165270092687/JRNLandingPage.htm
