Careers in Journalism?

[dunc]

Any advice? I want to get a head start (I'm 14 now) and any tips on what I should do in terms of gaining experience and such would be great

[Burn-IT]

Get language qualifications.

[Toonshorty]

Is your school doing work experience this summer?

I did mine at a graphics company but you could well get one at local newspaper.

[zaz]

I did a week helping out the sub-editors at my local Echo when i was your age, proof reading articles. Always worth ringing up a paper editor and asking their advice even if you dont know any specific area of journalism to go into

[FlasH]

Some papers have a local section for surrounding villages/hamlets that are often done by some of the residents (that's if you live rurally). Alternatively, start a blog and write about anything or everything!

[Ripbox]

Any advice? I want to get a head start (I'm 14 now) and any tips on what I should do in terms of gaining experience and such would be great
Get a Super expensive Camera and a Spandex costume and your in business!!!!
haha joking aside, Im sure your not short of Newspaper and Glossy magazine companies down there in London so your halfway there anyway... but i wouldn't focus on the large companies however thats not to say the wont take you one, in general a small independent company will be more than happy to take you on as a tea boy or similar role
thats not not to say you wouldn't amount to anything..... its just your foot in the door which is the most important thing in any career!
Write/Email to every company big and small within your area (local advertisers) even leaflet distribution companies as even they are media companies.... offer not only work experience when it come to it in the school program but also offer to work at the weekends.
you will have to prove to the companies your seriousness and dedication to the media sector to be in with a fighting chance.... as a person who is struggling to find work my self i can tell you from experience how hard it is to get a company to take you on even on a voluntary basis. employers have the pick of the crop in the current climate.
You will need to make your self stand out from the crowd, show your passion for the career path you want to take and offer the company something Unique..... most importantly you have to sell your self!!!
You have to be a Del Boy and make he company believe your something that cant do without

[michaelkenward]

What sort of journalism? Sport? Science? Politics?

These days, it seems, you have to come from a well off family and go to Oxbridge. Fortunately, that wasn't the case when I made the same decision.

I spent much of last night drinking with dozens of science journalists. Most, if not all, of them have science degrees. Several PhDs.

Get yourself a degree of any sort. While you are doing it, keep writing, and reading, get involved in student journalism. If the local newspapers will have you, write for them too.

After the degree, if you can fund it, a one-year Masters in an aspect of the media can help. There are several that specialise in science for example. You could consider taking your first degree at a university that runs one of these course, but don't be tempted to take a first degree in media studies. No one takes them seriously.

Do not work as an unpaid intern. It is illegal for people to take you on without paying at least the minimum wage.

[dunc]

Alternatively, start a blog and write about anything or everything!

That's the ticket. I've already been doing that for a while now; all of it is motorsport journalism though.