Advice on Applying for a Newspaper Job

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Advice on Applying for a Newspaper Job

Postby R. Zion » Tue Jul 05, 2005 2:20 pm

Ok, here's the deal: There's a job I saw in the Sunday paper to work FOR the paper as the General Assignment/Religion reporter, but I have no real training in regards to journalism. Well, the ad says (of course) that they want clips from me.

So here's what I'm wandering, what exactly do they want as clips and how would I go about preparing them. Most of my writing experience so far has been in the field of fan fiction and the like, so I don't really have any sample articles. Anyway, any advice or instruction on how exactly I would go about successfully applying for this position would be greatly appreciated.

I'm in definate need of a job and would like to try for this, so that is why I'm coming forward. Thanks in advance.
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Postby Mangafanatic » Tue Jul 05, 2005 3:38 pm

If they're talking about clips, they're probably talking about other published work. In that case, I'd call the office and tell them that you haven't been publish in any other jounalistic setting, but you'd like to send them an un-published sample article. Ask if that will be okay. If nothing else, you should get brownie point for going the extra mile and putting in some extra effort. A lot of people get hired because they seemed the most enthusiastic and hard working in the interview process.

As far as the article goes, write about some aspect of religion that relates to everyday life. Write the way you would write for the paper. Decide how you feel about the paper dictating what can and cannot be put in their religion portion of their paper. It maybe this is "politically correct" religion and not real religion. Just think about how you feel about that.
Every year in Uganda, innumerable children simply. . . disappear. These children all stolen under the cover of darkness from their homes and impressed into the guerilla armies of the LRA [Lord's Resistance Army]. In the deserts of Uganda, they are forced to witness the mindless slaughter of other children until they themselves can do nothing but kill. Kill. These children, generally ranging from ages 5-12, are brainwashed into murdering in the name of the resistance and into stealing other children from their beds to suffer the same fate.

Because of this genocide of innocence, hundred and hundreds of children live every night sleeping in public places miles from their homes, because they know that if the do not-- they will disappear. They will become just another number in this genocide to which the international community has chosen to turn a blind eye. They will become, in affect, invisible-- Invisible Children.

But there are those who are trying to fight against this slaughter of Uganda's children. They fight to protect these "invisible children." Please, help them help a country full of children who know nothing by fear. Help save the innocence. For more information concerning how you can help and how you can get an incredible video about this horrific reality, visit the Invisible Children home page.
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Postby Rogie » Tue Jul 05, 2005 3:47 pm

Osaka said it best. The clips they're asking for are actual clips (or webpages) of any newspaper articles you've written that have been included in a newspaper. If you've written for a school newspaper, those work, too. And if they do allow you to write a sample clip, remember that they're not looking for an evangelical piece of writing, more than likely, but instead an unbiased account of some religious event or occurrence -- which includes Christianity and all other religions.

As a journalism student myself, I would personally never be comfortable as a religion writer, simply because I would have far too much difficulty keeping my faith out of an article, whether it be my opinion or by my inclusion of only those quotes that support my faith. Make sense?

Good luck, though, and let us know how it goes! :thumb:
Zar wrote:Praise God for all things awesome. Life ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But sanctify the Lord your God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
-- 1 Peter 3:15
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