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American University professor teaches investigative skills at #MVJ2021

By #MVJ2021, Resources

by J.P. Lawrence

Think “investigative” was the mission that award-winning reporter Chris Halsne gave to veterans and troops working or interested in journalism.

Halsne, a professor at American University, provided the advice in a webinar in the final hour of the Military Veterans in Journalism’s inaugural convention on Oct. 21.

The investigative journalist spoke to attendees about how to acquire government-held public records, the kind of evidence that is the bread and butter of investigative journalism.

“In 30-plus years running broadcast investigative news,” Halsne said, “I can’t think of many blockbuster, award-winning stories that changed laws and how the community saw certain things that didn’t start with a good public records request.”

Conducting investigations is different from reporting breaking news, said Halsne, who managed special-projects units in Seattle, Denver, and Oklahoma City and has won three National Press Club awards.

If there were to be a disaster, a breaking news reporter would report on the events of the day, but investigative reports get to take a step back and take a look at the larger picture and take accountability for who was at fault. “Were there any warning signs to prevent what happened?” Halsne said.

Halsne shared the results of his investigation on how bullet-proof vests worn by police failed to protect their wearers. During three decades in television, he also completed investigations across different subjects such as the collateral damage of a government program to poison booby traps to kill coyotes, and the dark side of sports.

“Investigative reporters are vacuum cleaners,” Halsne said. “You gather what’s there; nine times out of ten, it’s nothing. The one time it is, you dig your teeth into it.”

Attendees of the online webinar included veterans and servicemembers at various levels of experience in journalism. Allison Erickson, a writer and a former Army officer, said she joined the webinar for industry insight on how investigative reporters are used in the newsroom.

“When do you run or request reports? Is it clockwork?” were questions she said she was interested in.

Halsne said he regularly requests information from the various levels of government and has probably filed about 10,000 queries. He also shared his tips about the correct time to speak to an organization about an investigation that’s being done on them, how to handle hostile public information officers, and how to structure Freedom of Information Act requests.

“It’s super helpful to better understand the processes for records requests,” said Dan Lyons, a photo editor at Chalkbeat, a nonprofit newsroom that focuses on education. He said he also thought it was helpful to learn tips like using official letterheads for FOIA requests to give them more legitimacy.

The webinar capped off the inaugural MVJ convention. The two-day event included videos and panels by Jake Tapper and Brianna Marie Keilar from CNN, Kelly Kennedy from the War Horse, Xanthe Scharff from the Fuller Project, and Paul Szoldra from Task and Purpose.

Google demos free new digital journalism resources at #MVJ2021

By #MVJ2021, Resources

by Allison P. Erickson

Journalists learned to use the latest digital resources from the Google News Initiative during the MVJ 2021 Convention. Mary Nahorniak, teaching fellow with the Google News Lab program, highlighted search modification, viewing, and support tools. 

Google News Lab, with its mission to “to collaborate with journalists and entrepreneurs to drive innovation in news,” uses the Alphabet Inc. subsidary’s behemoth search, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning technologies to power a resource platform packed with relevant news industry research tools. “All the tools are free, all the trainings are free. This is Google’s effort to support and connect with journalists,” Nahorniak said. 

Nahorniak covered five specialized search engines: Google Scholar, Dataset Search, Public Data, The Common Knowledge Project, and Fact Check Explore. For each tool, Nahnorniak framed the tool’s specific usefulness in the process of story development or refinement. 

For example, she described Google Scholar as a great place to begin background research, as the tool essentially searches through two sets of material. The results usually return a starting point to find experts with nuanced perspectives on topics. 

With Public Data, researchers can search for existing datasets from other organizations and begin to grasp the larger picture of a story.

““Every data point is a story. These are all people behind this,” Nahorniak said, referencing a graphic comparing two data sets. “[When you are] starting to wrap your arms around a concept, this a great place to do it from a data perspective…I love that site for a little bit of backgrounding.”

She demonstrated advanced search tools like searching a specific file type intended to help save researchers time and effort. Stars and Stripes Middle East Reporter J.P. Lawrence said, “I’m most interested in using Google to find military powerpoints used in training. I know a lot of data is conveyed via powerpoints.” 

Nahorniak taught attendees to use Fact Check Explore to get a sense for information being shared in an area. In the cases of misinformation, journalists may feel compelled to write a clarification for the record, and Fact Check Explore helps winnow the wheat from the chaff. 

Nahorniak also trained the group on Pinpoint, a tool for identifying information buried in a document or set of documents. The tool includes an audio transcription service reporters can use to convert audio from interviews into searchable text. 

““Let the tool do the heavy lifting so that you can spend your time and energy on the things that only you can do, writing, creating, interviewing, searching for stories, searching for angles,” Nahorniak said.

After a hands-on demonstration with the Google Earth Timelapse feature, which Nahorniak described as adding the fourth dimension of time to data, participants came away with ideas to grab military-adjacent visual shapers. One participant suggested using the tool to view growth around military bases over time.  

The tools are free and accessible both through the Google News Initiative Training Center and through other resources shared by Nahorniak. Reporters will need to request access to Pinpoint.

Nonprofit newsrooms put focus on mission, impact

By #MVJ2021, Resources

by Genaro J. Prieto

The Nonprofit News Panel on Day 2 of the Military Veterans in Journalism convention presented a discussion on why nonprofit news matters for communities and the nation as a whole. 

Sarah Shahriari, the Director of Leadership and Talent Development at Institute for Nonprofit News, opened the discussion by describing innovation and community engagement tools employed by the 350 non-profit and non-partisan news organizations INN supports. 

“INN members are really working to convey the truth, to build community ties, and to inform people in their communities so they can make decisions about their own lives and about their civic life,” Shahriari said. 

Xanthe Scharff, the CEO and Cofounder of The Fuller Project – a global newsroom centered on women, said the mission-focused nature of nonprofit news sets it apart in the types of journalists it attracts and the way outcomes are measured. 

“When I got into non-profit space I already had a bias for this sort of work…this mission work,” said Sherman Gillums, who sits on the board of the veteran-focused non-profit newsroom, “The War Horse.” Gillums said he was driven by the work of “Speaking truth to power…and making the public a part of it.”

The panel unanimously echoed the importance of truth and accountability, and the need to give a voice to those who typically are overlooked. Nonprofit news is especially valuable for its ability to impact issues through telling the story and capturing the moment.

The War Horse Managing Editor Kelly Kennedy said her reporting and leadership has been intended to bring light to the needs and perspectives of soldiers on the ground. “When things were going down in Kabul we thought about how it felt for the veterans to be processing it right now, and we ran a series of reflections every day that week from people just talking about how it felt. And it was a way to process the story and to deal with the trauma of it.” 

Sherman said, “We are going to keep doing this.  We are going to keep pressing truth as a friend to the public.”

Kelly offered insights for attendees about building their portfolio of clips, taking initiative, and suggested veterans can use the Warhorse reflections series as a starting point. She said, “You can’t wait for someone to make you an investigative reporter. You can’t do that. You have to become the investigative reporter.”

One audience member asked “would you say it is easier to enter nonprofit journalism as opposed to traditional journalism?” 

Regardless of a journalist’s military experience, whether reporting in combat or down the street, the nonprofit sector of journalism has its unique qualities. But ultimately the passion for telling the story truthfully and accurately is essential, and the work gives reporters the power to influence positive change and give voice to groups without wide representation.

The highest value of nonprofit news seems to be it’s power to tell the stories of those that might otherwise be forgotten. 

CUNY’s Jeff Jarvis shares insights into the new models of journalism

By #MVJ2021, Resources

by Kayleigh Casto

Military Veterans in Journalism continued its virtual convention Friday with a second day of panelists. Sharing insights into the new models of journalism was Jeff Jarvis, a CUNY Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism professor.

“Journalism is not a product, it’s a service,” he said. “We don’t just create a product called content to sell in a thing we call a publication. We have so many more tools at hand to listen to communities that have too long not been listened to, like veterans.”

Jarvis explained how communities became overlooked in journalism through the invention of high-speed printing presses during the era of Johanne Gutenburg, which created the idea of “mass media, mass marketing and mass culture.”

“The mass as an idea is fundamentally an insult to the public, because it says that everybody is all the same,” he said.

According to Jarvis, reporters have a unique opportunity to reinvent the field of journalism by understanding the needs of these underserved communities.

“Who are you serving? Who is it that needs your service of journalism? What do they need? Show the evidence of their definition of community. Show the evidence of their need as a community,” he said.

Reporters can help to foster the needs of these communities by introducing new perspectives in the newsroom, educating the community or facilitating informed public conversations. All of which promote what Jarvis called “a large canvas” for the future of journalism.

The session itself became a public conversation, with audience members offering ideas about models of journalism, and questioning Jeff directly.

Dan Lyons, a photo editor at Chalkbeat asked Jarvis about how local news models should engage with communities who are underserved or unserved by any news outlet

Jarvis pointed to the Institute for Nonprofit News and Chalkbeat as examples of where innovation can occur for legacy media organizations to follow. One example of such innovation, he noted, is Chalkbeat’s development of tools that compel reporters to decide beforehand why a story should be done, and afterward to measure the impact.

Jarvis elaborated on the future of journalism in revenue opportunities saying, “We have to reinvent the fundamental metrics of success in journalism and in media around quality and value.”

He described the use of membership models as a valuable way to fund reporting. Membership recognizes the reader as a community member while sharing their needs, interests and circumstances, furthering the affinity between communities and journalism, he said. But it was clear from the exchanges he sees many more viable models for funding strong reporting.

He spoke, for instance, about the work of organizations like Buzzfeed and Vice to sell skills rather than eyeballs on a story – as in, the skill of creating advertising their audiences actually care about. Those publishers take creative control over their advertising to do so, using the profits to fund their reporting.

Whether such skills can be applied in a revenue model by local news publishers, he’s still working on. “It could be that we establish a reputation for knowing how to serve people and listen to them well,” he said. “We’ve got to figure out how to do it or else, there’s not enough money in philanthropy…subscriptions…or the government to fund all the journalism we need.”

Several attendees wanted to know whether he was hopeful about the future of the industry.

“Yeah,” Jarvis said, matter-of-factly. “If I weren’t I’d be a fraud teaching journalism school…and the reason I’m hopeful is my students.” Jarvis teaches engagement at the CUNY J-School and says graduates of the program are in high demand because of the skills they bring to the newsroom. They understand “how to listen to the public and create a feedback loop that is more than data and clicks, but that is substantive and valuable.”

#MVJ2021’s veteran showcase shares career-changing advice

By #MVJ2021, Resources

By Maximillian Boudreaux

Seasoned journalists provided career advice for the next generation of military storytellers during the first night of Military Veterans in Journalism’s inaugural convention on Oct. 21.

The Veteran Showcase panel was led by Justine Davie, a Marine veteran who produces the Ten Percent Happier podcast focusing on people becoming more fulfilled with their life.

The panel featured a diverse group of veterans with a wide range of skills in journalism. One of the mentors on the panel was J.P. Lawrence, a U.S. Army National Guard veteran who served from 2008 until 2017. Lawrence works for Stars and Stripes as a Middle East Reporter.

An important piece of advice Lawrence gave to other journalists: “Try to use networks that can get you around the networks.”

Clara Navarro also served on this panel of advisors. She served for two years in the Navy as a public affairs officer. During the panel she talked about her upcoming transition out of the military in January 2022. She will be starting an internship with National Public Radio.

“It’s not just your resume but it’s your clips, and there is nothing holding you back from writing to just write,” Navarro shared with the veterans in attendance who are seeking advice for how to break into the industry

Another journalism guru who helped round out this cast of storytellers was Davis Winkie, a North Carolina Army National Guard Veteran who works as reporter for the Army Times. He said his mission is to keep the military accountable.

During the panel, Winkie talked about how the Military Veterans in Journalism played a pivotal role in him landing his first job. He also shared how, at the beginning of his career, he was shocked to be getting some of the interviews he received. Winkie shared with the group that at times he would canvass people on LinkedIn for advice.

“My advice is to lean into as many groups as you can. Leaning into those groups really helped me learn the ropes,” Winkie said.

CNN sponsors Military Veterans in Journalism’s inaugural convention, brings on vets as fellows in newsroom

By #MVJ2021, Resources

Jake Tapper of CNN’s “The Lead” and “State of the Union” also joins MVJ Advisory Board

 

New York (July 21, 2021) — CNN will be the key sponsor for the inaugural Military Veterans in Journalism convention, slated for October 21 and 22. CNN will also host two veterans as fellows in their newsrooms this fall. 

“CNN has demonstrated time and again its commitment to diversifying America’s newsrooms,” said Zack Baddorf, a Navy vet turned journalist who is MVJ’s founder and executive director. “Military Veterans in Journalism believes America’s newsrooms should reflect the diversity of our nation — which includes military veterans. We are very proud to be working with CNN to further this cause.”

In addition to sponsoring the convention, CNN will be hosting two MVJ Fellows in its Washington, D.C. bureau this fall as part of its News Associates program. The CNN News Associates program is a year-long program which rotates aspiring CNN journalists throughout the CNN Washington newsroom and prepares participants with skill sets needed for the next level. During their rotations, one fellow will be assigned to “The Lead with Jake Tapper” and one fellow will be assigned to “New Day” where co-host Brianna Keilar, a military spouse, has been committed to covering stories about military families. 

“Representation matters at CNN,” said Jeff Zucker, President of CNN Worldwide and Chairman, WarnerMedia News & Sports. “Diverse voices throughout our global organization enable us to be authentic and richer storytellers. We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Military Veterans in Journalism, and I personally look forward to further heightening veteran voices across all of CNN’s platforms.”

Anchor Jake Tapper joined the MVJ Advisory Board this month.  

A long-time supporter of veterans, Tapper was awarded the “Tex” McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2014 for his book “The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor.” The book recounted one of the most harrowing stories of heroism out of the war in Afghanistan. It is now a Netflix feature film.

“I am honored to support the mission of Military Veterans in Journalism,” Tapper said. “Our nation’s veterans bring unique skills and life experiences to newsrooms. It’s important that veteran voices continue to be a part of our national conversation on military and veteran affairs.”

Barbara Starr, CNN’s Pentagon correspondent, served as a founding Board member of MVJ. She now serves on the Advisory Board.

MVJ’s inaugural convention from October 21-22 will be a virtual gathering for journalists, non-profit professionals, newsroom leaders, and other supporters of newsroom diversity to share, learn and connect with each other while focusing on supporting the under-represented community of military veterans in journalism.

About Military Veterans in Journalism

Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that builds community for vets, supports their career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring and promoting more vets. Learn more at www.mvj.network 

About CNN

CNN/U.S., the leading 24-hour news and information cable television network and the flagship of all CNN news brands, invented 24-hour television news. CNN/U.S. provides live coverage and analysis of breaking news, as well as a full range of international, political, business, entertainment, sports, health, science and weather coverage, and topical in-depth interviews.

Military Vets: Apply for Paid Journalism Fellowships!

By Career Opportunities, News

MVJ is excited to announce that we will be hosting seven paid fellowships lasting about six months each at the news room of your choice!

Four of the fellowships are funded thanks to generous support from the Knight Foundation, two of the fellowships are possible thanks to the generous support of Craig Newmark Philanthropies and the one fellowship is thanks to the generous support of the Wyncote Foundation.

Learn more and Apply

Deadline: June 11, 2021

 

Craig Newmark Philanthropies and Military Veterans in Journalism To Provide Career Development Opportunities for Veterans in Journalism

By Career Opportunities, News

Craig Newmark Philanthropies has awarded a $60,000 grant to Military Veterans in Journalism to improve access to journalism training and career development opportunities for veterans.

As part of the grant program, MVJ will partner with the Poynter Institute to provide access to over $20,000 of Poynter training course access to veterans at no cost. MVJ members who are early-career journalists, aspiring journalists or journalism students are all eligible to participate in these courses. Included in the course selections are some on broadcast, print and digital journalism techniques and best practices.

Two veterans will also be selected to participate in a six-month paid fellowship program at a newsroom of their choice as part of this new partnership. Fellows will be selected by a committee of established journalists, including Jake Tapper of CNN and Michael McCoy, U.S. Army veteran and award-winning photographer.

“We owe a lot to vets and their families, and we need to hear from them,” said Craig Newmark, founder of Craig Newmark Philanthropies and craigslist. “This initiative will really help.”

According to U.S. census data, only roughly 2% of media workers are veterans. “This program will allow us to bridge the gap between vets and media and help more vets break into the journalism industry to continue serving the public,” said Zack Baddorf, Navy veteran, co-founder and executive director of MVJ.

More information on these collaborative opportunities will be published by MVJ in the coming weeks on its blog.

About Military Veterans in Journalism

Military Veterans in Journalism is a professional association that builds community for vets, supports their career growth, and advocates for diversifying newsrooms through hiring and promoting more vets. Learn more at www.mvj.network.

Military Vets: Apply for Free Online Poynter Institute Journalism Classes

By News, Resources

Since our founding in 2019, MVJ has done some awesome things for veterans in journalism. From a virtual career fair with the biggest names in media, to landing fellowship spots at NPR for our members, we are committed to delivering tangible results for our membership.

Our latest accomplishment: MVJ has secured more than $20,000 in Poynter Institute online courses for our members to take for free.

Made possible thanks to the generous support of the Craig Newmark Philanthropies, these courses will directly help our membership gain actionable skills that they can put to work immediately.

Poynter Institute has a treasure trove of training opportunities for journalists of every type. From courses focusing on how to become a better writer to courses on film and broadcast television, Poynter has it all

What this means for you:
You’ll have free access to some of Poynter’s popular courses. If you find these courses useful, we’ll find other ways to work with Poynter for even more training.

Here is the list:
Newsroom Readiness Certificate: Get ready for your first newsroom job by covering the basics of newsgathering, interviewing, media law, ethics and diversity

A Reporters’ Guide to Getting it Right: Learn how to secure accuracy and fairness in your reporting, well-before your deadline

MediaWise Fact-checking 101: Learn from tools and techniques you can use to fact-check information online and sort fact from fiction across social media platforms

TV News Toolbox for Educators: Bring duPont, Peabody and national Emmy award-winners from local and network news into your classroom with this collection of 38 microlearning activities

The Art of the Interview: How to find and court your story’s characters

Survive and Thrive in Freelance and Remote Work: Improve your effectiveness in your freelance solo act, side hustle or remote work environment

So how to start? Go here to create a free user account if you don’t already have one, and add up to three of these courses to your shopping cart.

Go HERE for the coupon code to access courses. If you’re not a member yet, please sign up.

Members can also apply through MVJ for a scholarship to some of Poynter’s limited-enrollment courses in 2021.

Those course are:

Poynter Aces Certificate in Editing: Six courses with six assessments: ideal for journalists looking to strengthen their understanding of the standards, essential skills and best practices of editing (normally $150)

Poynter ACES Advanced Editing Certificate: Two intensive training opportunities for experienced editors: a four-week online course that includes live online sessions, coaching, homework and discussion forums; and self-directed components include videos, readings, activities and assessments (normally $600)

Write Your Heart Out 2022: Uncover the powerful stories from your life and learn how to share them in ways that resonate with audiences during this four-week online course (normally $349)

Producer Project 2022: An eight-session, four-week online seminar that helps TV producers tell stronger stories and make tough calls on deadline (normally $499)

Apply for a scholarship to one of the above premium courses HERE

Lastly,

As part of our partnership with Poynter, Al Tompkins has agreed to host two courses valued at over $2,500 each. Al is a legend in broadcast journalism and has taught all over the world.

The two courses he will teach are:

Producing for TV News

Writing/Storytelling for Video

Both courses are free for members, so sign up today!

If you have any questions, please contact:

Rich Dolan
[email protected]

For customer support if you need assistance with the Poynter website or after you are enrolled in one of these courses, please contact:

Maria Jaimes
Poynter Customer Experience Supervisor
[email protected]

The MVJ staff hustles hard to create these opportunities for our members, so we really hope that you’ll take full advantage of what we have to offer. And we’re not stopping here. In the coming weeks, we’ll have even bigger news to share with y’all (paid fellowships!). Keep checking in to make sure you don’t miss it!

Six Ways to Succeed on LinkedIn

By Resources

By David Bruce

A lot of people become jaded with LinkedIn when they first get started. They think because they opened a profile job offers will just start rolling in. But when has anything been that easy in life? With a little bit of effort and consistency LinkedIn can help you get a job, get freelance work, or put you in contact with an expert for your next article. Here is how to set yourself up for success on LinkedIn.

1.) Profile: You want people to get a sense of who you are when they look at your profile. You are allowed 120-characters to accomplish that. Do not use seeking opportunities in your headline. Recruiters are searching by job titles. If you are looking for writer jobs, use writer. Or be more specific and use, Adventure Writer or Travel Writer; use whatever is in your writing niche.

Have a picture. You know how alarm bells go off when people try to connect with you on social media and they don’t have a photo? The same alarm bells go off for recruiters when you don’t have a photo on your profile. The photo should be a straight on shot of your face, sans sunglasses and without your cat. Unless you’re writing about cats.

2.) Summary Section: Time to sell yourself. The Summary section is where you can define yourself in the first person, in 2000 characters. Opportunity is knocking here. Make the most out of this section.

Example: My dream has always been to chase adventure and write engaging articles about my experiences. It seems like an appropriate dream given my experience serving in the military and my BA in Journalism… You get my point. Tell them what you are passionate about and what you do, or want to do.

Most important on this list is to have a completed profile. LinkedIn will let you know when you are 100% complete. LinkedIn members are 40 times more likely to be contacted by a recruiter when their profile is complete. Only 50% of the 760 million members on LinkedIn have a completed profile.

3.) Display your work: Not long ago, a recruiter contacted me via LinkedIn and we set up a phone call to discuss an opportunity. The job wasn’t a good fit due to location, but it gave me an opportunity to find the holes in my LinkedIn game. I asked the recruiter if there is anything that I should be doing differently with my profile. She was hesitant at first, but then told me.

She said, your profile says ‘Writer’, but I had to search through your posts to find any of your writing; there was nothing in your ‘Featured’ section. She sounded almost frustrated. You have to understand, they are scanning a lot of profiles and if you don’t give it to them up front they will move on to a profile that does. I immediately moved my posted articles to the Featured Section and now my published work comes up as soon as someone opens my profile.

4.) Listen to podcasts and then connect: Whatever your niche is listen to podcasts to find experts in this area. I like to write about terrorism. I often listen to podcasts on my commute into work. When people go on podcasts they are often coming off the heels of something timely, like writing a book about a current situation. I listen to the podcast and then send a connection request to that person. I also send along a note saying, I heard your podcast today and found this point interesting, and then I thank them for connecting. This has been a good formula that has led to work. Sometimes later I’ll interview them or have them give me an expert quote for an article I am reading. What I don’t do is cold pitch them in an introductory message; no one likes that. I don’t sell myself to them or ask for anything. That happens somewhere else, typically their email inbox, after some time.

5.) Join LinkedIn Groups: LinkedIn has a group for whatever it is that you like to write about. People exchange ideas there and they also ask questions that you might be able to answer. Many times, in these groups people will reach out to you for internships and freelance opportunities. Don’t overlook the opportunities that these groups can provide you.

6.) Stay Active: LinkedIn is an interactive platform. You should post your original content, which is simple because they have a template for you to write articles in. You can also repost other articles with your own commentary. My recommendation is to stay away from political, or divisive posts. When people look at your profile they see what your comments and posts are, remember this is a career platform, not Facebook. We want to avoid anything that comes off as negative and could potentially turn off a recruiter or someone looking to do business with you.

I hear a lot of people that are critical of LinkedIn, particularly when it comes to getting employment on the platform. In reality, it’s like anything else, with a little bit of effort, strategy and consistency it is a great tool that can bring opportunities into your life.

A Freelancer’s Glossary

By Features, Resources

by Abby Hood, Guest Contributor

A

Anonymous source – Anonymous sources are only unknown to the public. Usually the writer and editor know who the source is and is able to check their identification and expertise or qualifications. In rare cases I have heard of sources only being known to the writer for security purposes. Regardless, this just means the publication doesn’t print their name.

Asset – This usually refers to a piece of graphic element for a story or post, like a logo, photo, illustration, etc. You will hear this in both marketing and in newsrooms.

B

Byline – This just means a story you’ve written and published. “I have bylines in….” This is because your name is printed alongside the story, sort of like a dateline. Sometimes your legal name and byline will be different, i.e. my name is Abigail Lee Hood but my byline is Abby Lee Hood because that’s what I go by. Make sure you communicate this to editors.

Beat – A beat is your niche or expertise. Maybe you work the police beat, or the environmental beat. This is your speciality. But it’s also okay not to have one!

Breaking news story – This is a class, hard news story with no opinion or editorializing. Usually published very quickly after an event to get the news out.

C

Copy – The most vague term; this is literally just words. Could be words in a blog post, for a Facebook ad, or for a story. “Turn that copy in by Friday,” is a good example. They want the assignment, whatever it is, before the weekend.

Content – Another vague term; content is usually a marketing or social media term. Content is anything you post online, whether it’s video, email, blog post, etc. Usually you will create content for a client or company. It’s not as common in the journo industry.

Cold email –  A cold email is usually written to ask for business or try to get work. It’s different from a story pitch, which is usually only for the news industry. Cold emails are usually sent to try and get social media work or copywriting work and should introduce yourself and your qualifications to the potential client.

Cutline – The caption to a photograph or other illustration. Used interchangeably with “photo credit.”

Content creator – Someone who makes content online! This could be an Instagram influencer, YouTuber, etc.

Creative – This is usually a marketing or copywriting term and can be used interchangeably with “asset.” This is simply an illustration or piece of graphic design to accompany your copy. You might hear, “What creative are we getting with this?” or “When can we talk about creative for that post?”

D

Dateline – The bit of text at the beginning of a story that gives you the location, and sometimes the date, of where and when a story was written or reported.

Dek – This is a marketing term and usually refers to a dek of slides, aka a fancy name for a Powerpoint. Usually a dek pitches an idea, product, timeline, etc.

E

Edits –  Edits are changes and requested improvements, or feedback, on your piece. Your editor may say, “I’ll have those edits to you tomorrow.” You need to make the edits yourself; your editor will not do them for you.

Editorializing – This is inserting your opinion, voice or ideas into a story instead of doing straight, hard news. This is acceptable in some features and opinion pieces; make sure you know the publication you’re writing for so you understand what’s allowed and what’s not.

F

Feature story – A feature story is usually in the ballpark of 1,500 words and has an angle and a takeaway. It’s a deeper look at a trend, problem, new idea or sometimes, a person or company. This is usually not breaking news and will be published days or weeks after an event. It doesn’t always have to be connected to breaking news, though, and can be original reporting on something you’ve discovered to be newsworthy on your own.

Freelancer – A general term for someone who does any kind of work without a company or boss. Social media managers, journalists, copywriters, designers and other creatives can all fall under this category.

G

Graf – Short for paragraph.

I

Intro – There are many kinds of intros but I’m talking specifically here about a kind of email, one that usually introduces two people to each other. “Can I get an intro to Beth?” is a way to request a digital introduction to the person.

L

Lede – Journalist lingo for the opening graf of your story. Not spelled “lead” although you may see that from time.

N

Nut graf – The takeaway or thesis of your story. Usually comes one or two grafs after the lede. Tells the reader what you’ll be talking about for the rest of the story.

News peg – Used interchangeably with “news hook.” This is a news item or story the rest of your article hooks on to make it timely and relevant. You must have a news hook in most feature stories, although not always.

News hook – See above.

Newsworthiness – This is the qualification for being reported, best answered by asking, “Why is this worth writing and publishing?” This is the justification for telling readers a story. Something has newsworthiness if it’s important or timely.

O

Opinion story – An article that expresses opinion. These will often feature data, sources and interviews just like a news story—at least, the good ones do.

Op-ed – Used interchangeably with “opinion story.” See above. Short for “opinion editorial.”

P

Portfolio – A collection of your published work, normally used to show employers or editors you pitch. These can be digital or physical, and are important for designers, writers, marketers, etc.

Pitch – A news term. Send pitches to editors to get stories, usually via email.

Photo credit – Used interchangeably with “cutline.” See above.

Peg – Used interchangeably with “news hook.” You may hear an editor ask, “what’s the news peg?” Aka, what makes this timely and newsworthy?

S

Section – A part of the paper or publication, like the business section or the lifestyle section.

Source – Someone you interview for a story, or sometimes, a paper or other document you’re using to support your article.

T

Timeliness – The quality of a news story depends on timeliness; if you publish a story long after an event happens it’s no longer timely.

V

Vertical – Used interchangeably with “section.” Editors will be in charge of certain verticals, like the science or politics vertical.

Support Abby Hood’s “Bitchin’ Pitchin'” on Patreon

New opportunities for members! Check out NBCUniversal’s internships

By Career Opportunities, News

As you start your journey into media and journalism, internships give you valuable insight and experience that you’ll unlikely find elsewhere.

That’s why Military Veterans in Journalism highly recommends applying for these exciting opportunities (listed below) from NBCUniversal. Sophomores with a 3.0 or higher pursuing an associate, bachelor or graduate degree in an accredited program for the duration of the internship are qualified to apply.

NBCUniversal’s Summer 2021 Virtual Internship Program offers positions (application links below) for a variety of interests and career goals, and prepares you for work at a top-tier media outlet.

“It’s crucial you fill out the Google Form here and apply quickly! Opportunities at top-tier organizations like NBCU can be difficult to come by, and I want to see our members succeed.” – Zack Baddorf, MVJ Executive Director

Submit your application as quickly as possible for top consideration, and no later than Jan. 29. We will flag your application with NBCU because they want to ensure they have a diverse group of participants.

If working at NBCU sounds appealing, or you just want to learn more about the work environment and corporate culture, you can also sign up for their upcoming virtual information session Tuesday January 19 – Here You can Be Authentic – where you will hear firsthand accounts of employees of varying levels and backgrounds providing insight into their own experience with the intersection of career and identity. Sign up at the link and be there Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.

Thanks and good luck! As always, reach out if you have questions.

Ad Sales Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
CNBC Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
Content Distribution Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
Corporate Functions Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
Corporate Legal Internship – Summer 2021, Remote
Data Engineering Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
Data Science Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
Filmed Entertainment Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
Late Night & The Tonight Show Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
Media Tech Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
NBC News & MSNBC Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
NBC News Digital Technology Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
NBC 5 Telemundo Chicago Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
Operations & Technology Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
Owned Stations & Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
Owned Stations Digital Design Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
Peacock Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
Stamford Media Center Digital Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
TV Ent. Digital / Graphic Design Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
TV Ent. Marketing / Communications Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
TV Entertainment Production / Dev Internships – Summer 2021, Remote
TV Ent. Research Internship – Summer 2021, Remote
Universal Studios Group Internships – Summer 2021, Remote

Military Veterans in Journalism MVJ logo transparent

MVJ Scholarship for Bitchin’ Writers Course

By Career Opportunities, News

The Bitchin’ Writers Course is an informal online class that teaches you how to pitch stories and sustain a career as a freelance journalist. The course normally costs $900 per person. However, Military Veterans in Journalism is offering a $700 scholarship to cover the cost down to $200 for two veterans.

According to Abby Lee Hood, the course designer and instructor:

“You’ll be delivered video content via my website and Facebook, get 1-on-1 calls, and participate in group calls. You can watch the content at your convenience, in a timeframe that works for you. Work through quickly or take your time. You’ll also be given action steps and homework to help you absorb the content and take steps to get results quickly. The FB group is a great place to network and ask questions, too. You’ll get continued support throughout.

We’ll meet once week on a small group call. You can ask questions to workshop problems you’re having, and we’ll look at pitches, ideas, stories, social media promotion—anything you need. I’ll also be available for one-on-one calls if you need them.

We’ll break our work down into into month-long focus areas:

Month ONE- Establish & learn the basics
Month TWO- Scale & grow
Month THREE- Promote yourself & diversify income”

Learn more about the course on Abby’s site.

Fill out this form to apply:

Hearst Television Career Opportunities

By Career Opportunities, Resources

Building a career at Hearst Television isn’t only about successfully transferring from military to civilian life. It’s much bigger than that – it’s an opportunity to build on your military experience, learn new skills, and succeed in a supportive environment where you’ll feel valued.  Hearst has an average of 10 open positions at any given time that are geographically dispersed.  The real kicker is, Hearst is prioritizing hiring US veterans!

If you decide to pursue one of these gigs, please email Zack at [email protected] with this information: a) link to the job post; b) title of the job & location & c) your resume.  We ask that you do this so we can reach out to our partners like Hearst to let them know one of our members has applied.

MVJ’s Top Veterans in Journalism

By News, Resources

Welcome! Thanks for your interest in nominating someone for MVJ’s Top Veterans in Journalism.

Military Veterans in Journalism wants to recognize the amazing veterans doing great work in media. This is just one opportunity for us to do that. We want to highlight the achievements and work that veterans in our field are doing every day, and support them in recognizing their expertise and contribution to the community.

Submissions can be made on behalf of someone that you directly work. Self-nominations are also acceptable.

The submissions will be scored on originality, production value, newsworthiness, and journalistic quality. Our panel of judges will apply their experience, editing standards, and personal background to understand how well a piece does in each category. Judges will be looking for accurate and insightful storytelling that engage them as the audience.

Submissions will be in the form of finished and published work. All submissions should include the original publishing or release date, all contributors, and the organization under which it was published.

Only work conducted by an veteran of the armed forces is eligible. While pieces developed by a team are acceptable, journalists involved will only be considered eligible if they are a veteran.

Please only submit one piece per nominee. Only stand-alone works are eligible. Please do not include multi-part series, segments, or alternate versions. If there is a composite work of a series, that is acceptable, but will be considered as a single finished piece.

All submissions should be work completed and made publicly available within the past eighteen months.

All forms of media are acceptable. Alternate or emerging forms of journalism such as Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Interactive Data Visualization and others will be considered. However all works, regardless of media type, will be seen by the same panel of judges and scored in the same manner.

While every submission will be scored, and selections for the list made, scores will not be released publicly. Outside of scoring, judges will be able to supply commentary if they wish, but not every piece will receive comments.

Please also give a brief description of why the nominee should be recognized in this forum. We’d like to know about the person themselves, along with seeing their amazing work!

Nominations will be closed on December 20, 2020 at 2359 Eastern.

Finally, you DO NOT have to be a member of MVJ to submit a piece of work, nor does the nominee, however we encourage you to join.

 

Nominations have closed. Thanks for applying. Be sure to come back next time!

internship

MVJ-NBC Partnership: Internship Program

By News, Resources

We’re proud to announce that Military Veterans in Journalism has partnered with NBC Universal to help get more vets into America’s newsrooms.

We will flag the applications of MVJ members to NBC directly for consideration in their highly competitive (PAID!) internship program for Spring 2021.

Step 1: Apply here: https://www.nbcunicareers.com/internships

Step 2: Fill out this form so we can flag your application to NBCUniversal. https://forms.gle/pt2NnycE6WLX7M4K9

Deadline: Thursday Oct. 1 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern

Note: you must be a current member of Military Veterans in Journalism. More info: www.mvj.network/membership

Email us with any questions: [email protected] 

MVJ-Washington Post Internship

By News, Resources

We’re proud to announce that Military Veterans in Journalism has partnered with the Washington Post to help get more vets into America’s newsrooms.

As part of its 2021 Summer Internship program, the Washington Post will select one military veteran through MVJ to participate in its paid internship program.

The Post selects interns to fill various roles for reporters, visual journalists, multiplatform editors, multiplatform producers, news and digital designers, graphics reporters and developers, audience producers, and audio producers. (For summer 2020, the salary was $750 per week.)

This will be an important early career step for veterans working to advance within the media field. Each applicant must have had at least one professional news media job or internship.

Washington Post interns have become Pulitzer award winners and executive producers and editors. Working alongside top professionals in the field, interns do meaningful work across a variety of departments at Washington Post.

Applications for internships may apply online with Military Veterans in Journalism. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2020 at 6pm Eastern.

APPLY NOW and then email the required supplementary documents to [email protected] .

 

MVJ To Offer Complimentary NAHJ Membership

By Resources

Military Veterans in Journalism members will now be granted complimentary 2020 membership to the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, thanks to a new partnership between the affinity groups.

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists, often abbreviated as NAHJ, is a nonprofit association and national network of professionals and students dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry, while providing a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. Members of this affinity group are eligible to participate in a variety of educational courses and sessions, apply for internships, fellowships and scholarships, and attend networking events at the local and national levels. Thanks to this partnership, MVJ members will be able to take part in events and opportunities with their local NAHJ chapter and the national group at no cost.

In addition to complimentary membership, MVJ members will also be eligible to take advantage of a special discounted rate for NAHJ’s upcoming annual convention and career fair. This year’s event, co-hosted with the National Association of Black Journalists, will feature hundreds of recruiters from top media companies and journalism schools. NABJ-NAHJ 2020 is set to take place virtually from August 5-8, 2020, and tickets for veterans will be discounted to the early-bird rate.

This is an incredible opportunity that MVJ members shouldn’t miss. If you’re interested in claiming your complimentary NAHJ membership or would like more information on the special NABJ-NAHJ convention discount, contact us at the link below.

2020 NPR Internship is On Again, and fully remote!

By News, Resources

Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) is excited to announce that the internship program with National Public Radio (NPR) is on again! It’s specifically for military veterans, and it’s paid.

The best part? It’s completely remote.

The deadline to apply is Friday July 10 at 6 pm EST through MVJ at this link.

An internship is a great way to get your start in journalism. It allows for networking and getting hands-on experience, positioning you for a full time role. NPR Interns will gain exposure to training, NPR’s daily operations, and work alongside world-class journalism professionals. Thank you NPR for your role in supporting military veterans seeking to get started in the journalism world!

The program runs from September 8, 2020 to December 11, 2020. We’re really excited to offer this opportunity to MVJ members and hope that it will be the first of many internship/fellowship partnerships to come! Once again, the link to apply is here.

MVJ To Host First Virtual Career Fair

By Career Opportunities, News, Resources

MVJ is excited to announce our first virtual career fair! This opportunity will offer MVJ members a chance to network and potentially interview for positions with some of the biggest names in the journalism industry. The event will take place via Zoom on July 1, 2020 from 10 AM to 2 PM. The registration deadline is June 22.

The following are just some of the newsrooms attending this event:

  • New York Times
  • NPR
  • WSJ
  • Penske Media Corporation
  • ProPublica
  • NBC
  • CNN
  • FOX
  • The Daily Caller
  • Military Times
  • DiversityComm
  • Stars & Stripes
  • Task & Purpose
  • Forbes
  • Verizon Media

In order to help interested members be as prepared as possible for this career fair, we’re partnering with Penske Media’s Andy Limpus. Andy will join us for a virtual resume workshop, where he will share his biggest tips for resume success from over 25 years of experience. The workshop will take place via Zoom on June 3, 2020 from 12 PM to 1 PM. The registration deadline for this event is May 27.

Apply Now For The (Paid!) 2020 NPR Internship for Military Veterans in Journalism!

By News, Resources

Update: This internship opportunity is on hold as a result of COVID-19. We will provide updates as soon as we have more details on rescheduling this chance to work for NPR.

Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) is excited to announce that we’ve partnered with National Public Radio (NPR) to offer a paid internship in Summer 2020 specifically for military veterans! It’s paid, will be in either Washington DC, Los Angeles, or New York City, and the deadline to apply is March 6 at 6 pm EST through MVJ at this link.

An internship is a great way to get your start in journalism. It allows for networking and getting hands-on experience, positioning you for a full time role. NPR Interns will gain exposure to training, NPR’s daily operations, and work alongside world-class journalism professionals. Thank you NPR for your role in supporting military veterans seeking to get started in the journalism world!

The program runs from June 1, 2020 to August 21, 2020. We are really excited to offer this opportunity to MVJ members and hope that it will be the first of many internship/fellowship partnerships to come! Once again, the link to apply is here.

NPR Internship for Military Veterans in Journalism

By Career Opportunities, News, Resources

In partnership with the non-profit organization Military Veterans in Journalism, NPR is proud to be part of an effort to create a pipeline to get more vets employed in America’s newsrooms. 

As part of its Fall 2020 Internship program, NPR will be selecting one American military veteran to serve as an intern from September 8, 2020 – December 11, 2020. This internship is fully remote and paid.

This will be an important early career step for veterans working to break into the media field. The NPR internship program has a rich history. Nearly 10% of our current staff — including Ari Shapiro, Audie Cornish, and many more — were discovered as interns.

From day one, interns at NPR are given real-world, hands-on responsibilities. Working alongside top professionals in the field, interns do meaningful work across a variety of departments at NPR. Find out how you can contribute your diverse talents to gain invaluable experience at the heart of a thriving multimedia organization.

Interns at NPR play a vital role in the organization’s daily operations in almost every division — from NPR News, Programming and Music, to Communications and Engineering. Interns are also offered a broad variety of training opportunities.  

Who Should Apply:

  • We’re looking for military veterans who are intelligent, creative, and curious. We need strong researchers and excellent writers who work well on diverse teams and can also thrive with individual assignments.
  • Candidates don’t need to know everything about NPR or public radio, but it helps to be at least a little familiar. And, of course, it doesn’t hurt to love NPR.
  • Qualified applicants must a) have been discharged from active duty, b) a reservist with at least four years of service, or c) a National Guard member with at least four years of service.   

Applications for internships may apply online with Military Veterans in Journalism. The deadline to apply is July 10 at 6pm Eastern.

The application requires:

  • a cover letter;
  • a writing sample;
  • your resume;
  • your DD-214 form (with social security number redacted);
  • names and contact information for three references (reference letters are not required), at least two of whom should be familiar with the applicant’s research and writing skills;
  • and, any unofficial transcripts from universities.

MVJ To Send Ten Military Veteran Journalists to New York for the 2020 NBC Producer Workshop

By Career Opportunities

Military Veterans in Journalism will send 10 veterans in journalism to New York City to attend NBC’s three-day Producer Workshop, thanks to a new partnership with the major network.

The veterans selected for this opportunity will learn about NBC’s national operations and about the ins and outs of daily news production. Attendees will:

    • Attend panel discussions with senior reporters from NBC’s team
    • Attend a career fair with the network’s human resources staff and other networking events to connect with other journalists
    • Shadow a staff journalist for a day

The NBC Producer Workshop will take place in early May 2020 in New York City and is offered for free to those MVJ members selected. Applicants must be based in the United States and cover their own expenses like ground transportation, baggage fees and meals. MVJ staff will make hotel arrangements and work with selectees to book flights. The deadline for applications is March 5, 2020.

Interested applicants should email the following to MVJ President Russell Midori:

    • Resume
    • Work samples
    • Reason for applying
    • DD214

Apply today for the 2020 NBC Producer Workshop!

10 Killer Tips: How to Pitch a Magazine

By Resources

By David Bruce

I already know you have an amazing idea for a story, this post will help you get into the publications you have been dreaming of writing for. When pitching, brevity and accuracy are key.

Crafting an effective pitch is relatively easy. Even if the editor is not interested in your idea, with a good pitch, they may reply with, “No thanks, but what else do you have?” That happens.

After a bit of trial and error, below are a list of the ten best practices that helped me go from lost in an inbox to getting responses from editors and getting published in my favorite magazines.

1. Find the right outlet for your niche. Make sure the magazine or blog is a good fit. Check out past issues and make sure the magazine hasn’t published anything too similar to what you are proposing. Try to approach them with something that’s in their wheelhouse, but come from a different angle so your piece is different.

2. Find the right person. Find the editor that works in the section of the magazine that you are pitching. Many times, magazines break down their sections and have an editor that covers that specific section.

3. Send your pitch by email. People do not want to be pitched via social media, so using the editors working email inbox rather than LinkedIn just makes sense.

4. Hook em high. As in high up in the subject line. Grab their attention with a subject line like, “Query | Lines at the registry are longer than they have ever been. Here’s how to avoid the lines.”A recent survey found that 47% of email recipients open emails based on subject lines. Now, this was a random sampling – picture an editor receiving random email pitches all day. You have to come at them with something that makes them want to read the next sentence, then the next sentence.

5. Address the pitch to the editor by name. Start with “Dear (Name)” or “Hi (Name)”. Refrain from using “Dear Sir or Ma’am.” It reeks of a generic pitch that has been shot-gunned out to several sites, and that’s not the look we’re going for.

6. The shameless art of name-dropping. While name-dropping for some type of social credibility is shameful, in pitching it is somehow… well, less cringe-worthy, and sometimes necessary. If you have a mutual acquaintance and they know the editor to pitch it to, by all means, use the name.

7. Keep your pitch short and sweet. Editors are busy people. They just want to know if the story will work for them and they want to know that you can pull it off. The pitch style that I have had the most success with is actually only one half-page long.

8. Embed links to your work in the email. Do not put attachments in the email. If you’re just starting out, a WordPress blog is a great place to post and share your work.

9. Timeliness. Knowing that your pitch may land in a proverbial black-hole, never to be heard from again, it’s okay to put an expiration on your pitch. Many stories are time sensitive and lose relevancy as time goes on. For this reason, I typically, kindly inform editors, that, I will continue pitching this story after a week or so.

10. Photos. A picture speaks a thousand words, so why not take advantage? If you have a good one that applies to the story your writing, include it. Also let the editor know if you will be supplying pictures with your story.

Now, having a well written pitch is necessary and very helpful for a writer, but it can’t compensate for a mediocre story idea. Run your ideas by trusted friends, and see what type of twists and turns your story takes. Use those twists and turns in your story because that’s the natural progression of the conversation and it will contain questions that your audience will likely have and make for a great piece.

Good Luck!

P.S. Here is a basic pitch template that I like to use:

Pitch Template

Hello [Editor’s Name],

My name is XXX, and I am a Boston-based freelance writer specializing in [Niche].

My work has been published by [links to relevant outlet], and [link to relevant outlet].

I am passionate about [subject], I would love to use my expertise and insights to write a piece for [this brand or publication]. I have included a story idea below that I think will really resonate with your readers:

[Story Headline]

[One or two sentences outlining the piece]

I’d love to get your thoughts–is this something you’d be interested in having me write for [brand or publication]?

Thank you so much for your consideration, [Editor Name]. I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Best,

[Name]


David is a freelance writer from the North Shore of Massachusetts and a former 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper/medic. David recently graduated from UMass Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and is currently in a mentorship program with the Military Veterans in Journalism Program.

Journalism portfolio website

How to build a journalism portfolio website

By Resources

By Zack Baddorf, Executive Director/Founder

Every journalist needs a portfolio website. The news business is fickle, and it’s normal for reporters to shift from one outlet to the other over the years.

Another outlet might poach you. You might be laid off due to budget cuts. The bosses might decide that video production is the future and then change their minds. Your outlet might just be totally shuttered. Or you just might have had enough of a terrible boss.

Unless you happen to be independently wealthy, you need to be prepared for the eventuality that you’ll be on the job market a few times during your career.

One vital asset you’ll need is a journalism portfolio website, especially if you’re just getting your start in journalism.

You may not be a coder or good at graphic design but there are plenty of options for low cost or free ways that are not super complicated.

Step 1: Buy a domain.

A website domain, like mywebsite.com, is where your portfolio website lives. Think of it like a street address. Usually, for your portfolio site, you just want to buy a website domain that is your name. If you have a common name, you may need to buy something like John-Doe.com or JohnDoeJournalist.com . These cost about $10 per year.

I recommend buying your domain at Namesilo which has two factor authentication to make sure you aren’t (easily) hacked.

Step 2: Choose a website host.

A website host has a server out there in computer land where your website content actually lives. It’s like the house being built up on the street address.

Now, some hosts are more complicated than others and some are more simple. Prices also vary.

If you are not tech savvy at all, consider using a site like Squarespace that charges $12 per month for a nicely designed site that is easy to build. Wix is great too and more affordable, but it isn’t as fancy.

If you have more tech skills and more time on your hands, you can design your own website using a content management system like WordPress. I always go to ThemeForest and search for WordPress themes that I then customize. Themes are frameworks that you can use for your site. There are lots of options there that are affordable and beautiful. You’ll also find many themes specifically intended to be portfolios.

If you go the WordPress route, you’ll need to pay a web hosting service to put the WordPress files on your domain. I recommend DreamHost which is reliable, secure and affordable (for as low as $2.59/per month, as of June 2019).

I prefer building my own site on WordPress because:

  • you get to customize everything exactly as you want it
  • you can choose from a much wider variety of themes
  • and there are a lot more things you can do technically.

If you pay for Adobe Creative Cloud programs, then consider using Adobe Portfolio to create your site. This program allows you to select a theme, customize photo galleries that you can upload/edit from Adobe Lightroom, and personalize your URL. If you use all the Adobe Creative apps like Photoshop, Portfolio and Premiere, it’s $52.99/ month. However, if you want to only invest in Portfolio, it is $9.99/month.

Step 3: Building your portfolio website

With the tech stuff out of the way, you actually need to put good and useful content on your portfolio website. At the minimum, you should include:

  • Your bio
  • A full (downloadable) résumé in PDF format
  • A selection of your best clips
  • Your reel (if you do video work)
  • Your contact info (including PGP key if you’re into that sort of thing)
  • Links to your social media pages (not profiles)

For those of you who do journalism work in a range of mediums, you may need to separate out video, radio, photo and print stories into different sections. I suggest a maximum of 10 stories for each medium.

Ultimately, this website should be how you want to present yourself to the world. Carefully craft the wording and make sure it captures where you are now as a journalist while also being forward-thinking about how you want to position yourself in your career.

A few tips before you go live

Get other people to check out your website before you go live. You may be a strong editor but it’s always good to get a second or third look. If you’re an MVJ member, your mentor can go through your website with you. (If you’re not yet a member, apply now.)

Your website should be a constant work in progress. Add in your latest and greatest clips, especially if you’re proud of them. Update your bio and resume whenever you’ve achieved something new, like winning an award or publishing at a new outlet.

Some folks like to have a blog on their website. I’ve done that in the past and ultimately deleted mine. Unless you’re posting regularly, say once every week or so, it’s going to look dated. Typically, when you have real stories that pay the bills with real deadlines, a blog on your portfolio website is going to end up on the bottom of your to-do list.

Whether you like it or not, as a journalist, you have to market yourself. You are a brand. Spend the time to do your website right. Your career thanks you.

Zack Baddorf is the executive director of Military Veterans in Journalism. He’s an award-winning journalist and filmmaker with reporting experience in more than 40 countries. His work has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, AP and elsewhere.

Babee Garcia contributed to this post. She is currently the Social Media Coordinator for Military Veterans in Journalism and is an award-winning multimedia journalist from New Jersey.

New journalists: find your specialty

By Resources

By Zack Baddorf

It can be overwhelming starting in the journalism field. There are countless news outlets (leaning left, right and everywhere in between) filled with an array of positions (editor, assistant producer, videographer, print reporter, etc) reporting on a whole range of subjects (from science to interior design).

Specializing, or building an expertise in a singular coverage subject or technical skill, can help you find direction in your career.

One way to find your specialization is to follow your passion. Like some other military veterans who work in journalism, I’m naturally drawn to stories related to conflict and post-conflict. After finishing my military service, I freelanced around the world for a few years, reporting mostly on stories of humanitarian crisis, development, and conflict from places like Syria, Cambodia and Venezuela.

Even that level of specialty is really too broad. The smarter career move for me would have been to settle down in one of these places for a year or two and really dig in. Only later in my career did I live and work in places like South Sudan, Afghanistan and Central African Republic for about a year each. I became known to editors around the world and it was normal for the BBC to call me up for analysis.

That’s the key: Become an expert. Become someone whose reporting is valued and recognized as trustworthy.

You don’t have to fly off to a war zone to find your speciality. Perhaps you’re really into emerging technology: Go to Silicon Valley and start filing stories about tech startups. . Work on building two types of contacts – insiders who do work in the specialized beat you’re covering, and editors who can publish your stories or hire you to their staffs.  With time, dedication, and solid reporting, you’ll eventually find your place in the industry. You will become known and people will come to you with stories and leads.

Importantly, you should be reading. A lot. Find articles and outlets where you’d want to be published. If you find yourself reading a story and wish you had been the one to write  it, find out how that reporter got to their current gig. Knowing their path makes it easier to find your own. It’s critical, especially as a freelancer, to visualize where you want your work to end up and then doggedly pursue the gatekeepers to get your best work published.

That’s not to say you can’t shift your focus later in your career. It happens all the time. In the beginning, at a local outlet, you might be a generalist covering everything from political dog and pony shows to literal pony shows. Consider applying for fellowships after you’ve established a track record and have a solid portfolio showing you can hammer out strong reporting.

Ultimately, to find your specialty, you need to follow what interests you and dive deep.



Zack Baddorf is the executive director of Military Veterans in Journalism. He’s an award-winning journalist and filmmaker with reporting experience in more than 40 countries. His work has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, AP and elsewhere.

Getting Started in Journalism

By ACP, Resources

Journalism may be the most personally fulfilling career for those who dream of being a first-hand witness to history and believe in the value of an informed citizenry. But the career field is competitive, the hours are long and you’re unlikely to become wealthy, so you have to be sincerely passionate about the work of telling true stories clearly.

According to one guide, journalists have certain basic characteristics:   

  • They are critical thinkers who can access, synthesize, and retain factual information logically and systematically
  • They are motivated and persistent in their efforts to get at the best available or obtainable version of the truth, and then to verify those facts
  • They are good communicators who have an intuitive understanding of storytelling and the non-fiction narrative devices that create drama, tension, and suspense

It’s important to think through where you want to end up and plan out how you can get there. Maybe that means going to Columbia Journalism School, doing an internship at Fox, freelancing from East Africa for a year. There are lots of ways to be a journalist. Leverage your association with Military Veterans in Journalism or other mentors to help map out your own path.

One of the best ways to carve out your path is to find a journalist doing work that you admire and reach out to him or her. Sometimes you can find their email addresses online, or you might get tips on tactfully contacting them through people in your growing network. Learning to get ahold of people is part of nearly any job in journalism, and talking to somebody who is already where you want to be can offer you great assistance as you figure out how to get there yourself.

Here are some tips on how to break into the field:  

GET A DEGREE (OR NOT)

Having a college degree is not a requirement to be a journalist, but it certainly helps (and more top tier publications do require it). Most importantly, a journalism bachelor’s or master’s degree at the right school can help you network your way into a job. Most journalism school professors either work or have worked in the field and will help you get internships and flag your resume with potential employers. You’ll build up a network of future journalists among the student body who will become your peers across the field. You’ll also hone your skills in journalism and gain a depth of knowledge on history, theory and professional guidelines of your craft.

“At the end of the day, you need to be able to talk to people, see trends, organize your research and communicate it in an engaging way. … More and more, the onus is on individual journalists to come up with the ideas and report, write, edit, publish and promote the work themselves. That takes independence, drive and attention to detail, which can’t be taught in a classroom.” — Jenna Goudreau, Forbes

That said, if you’re interested in reporting on the aviation industry and you already have a degree in aeronautics, then you may prefer to simply find mentors and craft your storytelling skills by some other means rather than going back to school.  

One of the best ways to research if a school is right for you is to reach out to graduates of the program you’re examining. You can connect with them on LinkedIn or through a professional association like MVJ. Don’t rule out technical schools like New York Film Academy or community colleges. No school is perfect for everybody, but if you learn what to expect from the people who have been there, you’ll have an easier time finding the school that’s right for you.

If you do decide to study journalism, look for extracurricular opportunities to improve your craft, such as working for the school newspaper or a college radio or TV channel. Such experiences will invariably improve your proficiency and strengthen your storytelling voice. You’ll also increase your odds of winning awards and producing work that will get you noticed in the industry.

START PRODUCING

It’s important to start creating the types of stories that you want to get paid well to report on once you land your dream job. You can always create our own website/blog and self-publish. This will help you develop your own style and give you room to be creative. Knowing how to manage a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress is a valuable skill.  

You can also start pitching freelance projects. This will help build up a collection of published work in case you want to apply for a full-time job. You can pitch to your local newspaper, magazine or regional online outlet, but don’t be scared about aiming for larger publications like the New York Times or the Daily Caller.

Most important for pitching is knowing the publication, its audience and how your story fits their need. Then, you need to get to the right editor. Sometimes, their email addresses are on the website, other times you’ll need to Tweet at them, or you might find them on LinkedIn. Keep pushing until you’ve found the right person. And then pitch away.

GO FREELANCE

One benefit of working freelance is that there are typically fewer time constraints and deadlines, allowing you to really dive into stories that you care about. Don’t be afraid to spend days, weeks or months on a feature story. It can be your calling card to show news outlets that you can produce quality work. Once you’re employed full-time, there’s much more pressure to produce on a tight deadline.

Some people stay freelance for their entire journalism careers by choice. The pay isn’t as consistent and there’s more hassle finding gigs, but it can allow for more flexibility and focus on passion projects.

CREATE A PORTFOLIO

As a journalist, you need to create and manage your own brand whether you like it or not. To get the gig you want, most outlets will expect that you have an online presence — a professional website and active social media.

Squarespace is easy but a little pricey. If you have more time to learn, WordPress templates make it pretty easy to build your own custom site. We suggest the hosting service Dreamhost which has very affordable web hosting.  

You may know that you want to be a print (written word) journalist or you may have decided that you only want to shoot video news. However, consider trying a variety of mediums (print, photo, radio, video) and learning some of the basic technical skills for each. You may end up specializing on one of them, but at least when you’re at a job interview some day you can project confidence in your ability to make a short video story for Facebook to go along with the written word piece on their website.

ESTABLISH AN EXPERTISE

You can be a general reporter. At local outlets, you may indeed focus on lots of things — a councilperson campaigning for office one day and a fireman saving a kitten the next — but as your career develops, it’s helpful if you have an expertise that will make you stand out. It could be that you use your background in the military to focus on reporting about the military. Perhaps you served as a pilot; you could easily write for an aviation trade publication. Having a speciality makes it easier for you to fit into specific hiring needs.

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK

Journalists rely on strong professional networks. Just like any other field, you can ask reporters and editors for “informational interviews” to learn more about their careers and how they got to where they are. Ask these people for 15-20 minutes to chat (preferably in person but, if not, on the phone). Be ready to ask good questions and share your own professional goals. Connect with them on LinkedIn and always send a note afterward thanking for their time. Keep in touch with these people as your career grows.

Find mentors who can coach you in your career as you’re getting started. The good ones will support you as you move forward.

INTERN

Look, we know you’ve worked for at least four years in the military. You’re used to a job with 30 days vacation, a regular paycheck and some degree of authority. Unfortunately, the news industry puts little value behind your past military work and you’ll typically have to start at the ground level: interning.

That said, it’s a valuable experience to:

  1. figure out whether you actually want to do this sort of journalism full time,
  2. create professional connections (who could serve as future references),
  3. gain professional on-the-job experience,
  4. help you build your portfolio, and
  5. potentially land you a job where you interned.

Some internships will involve you more in the actual news production than others.  

“Expect to not do a lot of content creation at first. There’s a lot more to journalism than what you actually see published. You’ll be organising folders, answering emails, calling in information from PRs, sourcing contact details and images, and, yes, almost certainly fetching lunches and making a few cups of coffee.” — Oxford Learning College

While you’re interning, volunteer to put in the extra hours. Think of your internship as months-long job interview. Some of them pay, which is nice, but don’t count on that. FYI, reporters, correspondents and broadcast news analysts earn a median salary of $40,910 per year. Discouragingly, the U.S. Department of Labor predicts a 9 percent decrease in these positions in the next 10 years (while most career fields have 7 percent expected growth).

APPLY FOR JOBS

Mediabistro, JournalismJobs and Indeed are great places to start to look for jobs. Find journalists who have jobs that you want and figure out what their career trajectory was. It won’t always work out the same (especially looking at journalists who started in the pre-Internet days) but it’ll give you an idea of what it takes to get that dream job.

“Most national media companies in the U.S. are headquartered in New York, NY. You’ll also find major bureaus in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco and overseas in places like London and Hong Kong.”  — Jenna Goudreau, Forbes

Wire services like the Associated Press have news tests at universities and place young journalists that way. Check out the hiring websites for news outlet and look to see if they have a veteran hiring initiative. If so, that’s a good way to be flagged by the HR people who are doing the hiring.

While it may not be your dream, you could also work in a communications field job like public relations that can build up your writing portfolio.   

Don’t forget to negotiate your salary. Media outlets will try to get you on board as cheaply as possible. Check Glassdoor to learn more about what you should be getting paid.

Check out this article to learn how a variety of journalists got their jobs.


SOURCES:

https://www.wayup.com/guide/how-to-become-a-journalist/

https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-break-into-journalism

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2012/11/09/top-10-tips-for-young-aspiring-journalists/#6995ed9f6346

https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/how-to-get-into-journalism/

https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/arts-humanities-careers/journalism/

Applying Online – Employers and Job Boards

By ACP, Resources

Applying Online – Employers and Job Boards

Employer’s websites

Newspapers, broadcast outlets, and digital publishers sometimes recruit directly from their company websites. Submitting an online application to work for your favorite news source is a good way to begin your job search. Here are some career pages for companies you might like to work for. You can use any of these links to start applying for jobs at that company. This list is nowhere near exhaustive. 

Veterans job boards 

Job boards are an invaluable resource for any job search. It can be especially helpful for veterans to frequent military- or veteran-oriented job boards, in addition to traditional job boards like Monster.com and Craigslist. See below for a list of reputable military job boards, and note that this list is not exhaustive.

Journalism job boards 

Getting tied in to job boards specifically intended for journalists and producers is a great way to see what jobs are out there for you and get on the radar of hiring managers in the industry. To get the most out of these, you may want to make a complete profile and keep it up to date.

Translating your Military Skills to Civilian Terms

Translating your military skills into terms that civilian hiring managers will understand is a challenge but the better they understand your valuable skills and qualifications, the more likely you are to get the job! We’ve compiled a list of websites and organizations that can help.

Networking Tips

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

Networking Tips

Here are some tips to keep in mind as you make introductions and expand your personal network of contacts

  • Networking is a two-way street. Don’t merely focus on your own needs; try to find ways to develop a mutual support system. If each party has something to gain from the relationship, then both will have a reason to stay in touch.
  • Form real relationships. Networking is about making quality contacts, not just meeting as many people as possible. Make it your goal to build genuine relationships with others and those connections will be far more fruitful.
  • Have a plan. Know what you are trying to gain from networking. Are you looking for a job, a recommendation or just advice? Having clear intentions will help new contacts better understand your goals.
  • Follow up. Ask new connections how to best stay in touch. Keep records of people you meet and take note of specific traits or conversation topics that will help you differentiate between contacts. Follow up within 48 hours for the next steps.
  • Say thank you. Your contacts will appreciate that you recognize and value their efforts, whether your thanks comes in form of an email, a handwritten note, or a phone call.
  • Share your passion. Don’t be intimidated to express your genuine interest in a company, industry or position. Connect with like-minded people to help build substantial relationships and show your enthusiasm to leave a lasting impression.
  • Make connections with others in your situation. View your peers not as competition for jobs or opportunities but as a valued resource. They can be some of your best allies in exchanging advice, tips and even job openings.
  • Ask permission. Always ask permission to use a contact’s name before attempting to reach out to someone in his or her network. For example, if you say “John Smith told me to reach out to you,” and it turns out that John Smith did not offer the introduction, you will risk permanently damaging your relationships with both parties.
  • Update your contacts. If someone has given you advice regarding a certain situation, such as an interview or presentation, keep him or her updated about how it turned out. Even if you didn’t accomplish your original goal, keep the conversation going and thank them for their time and input.
  • Don’t burn bridges. Stay on polite terms with contacts from college, the military, internships and previous jobs. You never know who end will up working at your dream company or as a hiring manager in the future.

Navigating the Informational Interview Process

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

Navigating the Informational Interview Process

Informational interviews are a great way to learn more about an industry or position. They are especially helpful for students debating a course of study or someone trying to enter a new industry. If you are unsure of how to arrange or conduct an informational interview, here are a few helpful tips:

Identify An Interviewer in a Company or Position of Interest

  • See if anyone in your current network of friends, family, or colleagues can make an introduction. Your Mentor might be able to provide introductions.
  • Search online directories, contact HR departments or veterans groups and search LinkedIn to find someone local you can meet in person.
  • Don’t just look at job titles – they are different in every company. Use LinkedIn and the company website to try to get a sense for what they do.
  • Remember, you can still get a lot of value from speaking to someone who works outside of your target company.

Requesting the Interview

  • Send an email with a clear subject line, such as, “Informational Interview Request”.
  • If applicable, explain who recommended them to you, and provide a short description of your professional background and goals. This can include service details, education and ultimate professional goals.
  • Make it clear you are not asking for a job or an interview, and do not attach your résumé, but have it on hand when you meet them.
  • If they decline the meeting, you can ask if they can recommend another person to speak with.

Prepare a Few Questions Beforehand

  • Consider what you ultimately want to gain from this meeting, and work with your
  • Mentor to brainstorm a few questions around that topic.
  • Research the person you’re meeting with to craft more pointed questions about their specific background and find common ground.

Navigating the Meeting

  • Though an informational interview can be more casual, you should generally treat this like a normal interview.
  • Have your list of questions, a means to take notes and have your résumé on hand in case they would like to view it.
  • Give enough background information on yourself to provide context, but remember that informational interviews are about listening and learning from the other person’s experience.
  • Keep your eye on the time and check in about their schedule ten minutes before the scheduled end to give them the opportunity to either leave early or extend the conversation.
  • End the conversation by asking if they can recommend additional people to interview and asking if you can connect with them on LinkedIn.

Following Up

  • Send an email or note following the interview thanking them for their time and advice.
  • Go the extra mile by highlighting something you enjoyed learning from them.
  • If applicable, reach out to the person who introduced you to the interviewer to thank them and share some of the things you learned during the interview.

Interview Tips

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

Interview Tips

Before going in for your interview, read through the following steps to make sure you leave a positive and lasting impression.

Step 1: Re-read the posted position and job requirements.

Step 2: Research the organization/company in which you are going to interview, including reading the President/Founder’s letter in their annual report (usually found on their website).

Step 3: Research common interview questions and practice answering them out loud, or practice with a friend. Certain industries have different types of interviews. The most common is the performance-based interview but it’s possible that you will be going for a behavioral or case interview, which would require different preparation.

Step 4: Search for information pertaining to the industry and the job you’re interviewing for and read up on recent articles or studies in the field.

Step 5: Prepare four or five questions about the company/position to be able to ask the interviewer.

Step 6: Check your network to see if you know any current or past employees of the organization/company. If you do – reach out and let them know you’re interviewing!

Step 7: Visit Glassdoor.com to see what past employees and interviewees say about the company and interview process. Check Salary.com for an estimate of what the average salary is for that position in your area.

Step 8: Choose appropriate interview attire. Most in-person business interviews require a solid-colored matching suit, but you can research your industry and “proper interview attire” for more specific information.

Step 9: Print materials you will need for the interview, including your résumé, cover letter, and references. You may not be asked for a hard copy of these documents, but you should always have them available. Bring three copies of each and a pen and paper for note taking as well.

Step 10: Be early but not too early! Aim to arrive about 15-20 minutes prior to the interview. Map out your route ahead of time.

Step 11: Make sure to send a thank you note within 2 days of the interview.

How Videoconferencing Can Make a Difference in Your Mentorship

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

How Videoconferencing Can Make a Difference in Your Mentorship

Videoconferencing can help a new mentorship get started on the right foot or enhance an already strong relationship. When working with a Mentor or Protégé who lives a great distance from yourself, videoconferencing can make it easier to build a connection. It can also be a valuable learning opportunity! It is a commonly used method of communication in many professional environments.

Videoconferencing Do’s and Don’ts

  • Do find a clean, quiet place to talk.
  • Do dress professionally.
  • Do consider your spacing on the screen. Your Mentor or Protégé should see your head and shoulders, not just your face or the entire room behind you.
  • Do maintain eye contact.
  • Do be aware of any online profiles you have set up. If they can be viewed publically, make sure that you are portrayed in a professional manner.
  • Do treat your videoconference with the same focus and professionalism that you would if you were meeting in-person. Bring a pen and paper to make notes and have any material you may need for the meeting (résumé, cover letter, etc.) in front of you.
  • Don’t send unexpected chat requests. Always schedule a videoconference in advance and agree upon a start and end time to keep the conversation on track.
  • Don’t eat food or chew gum during your videoconference.
  • Don’t “introduce” your Mentor or Protégé to other people via videoconference unless you have discussed this first.
  • Don’t multitask, check social media sites or surf the web.

What should we talk about during a Videoconference?

  • Treat it like an in-person meeting. Talk about the same things that you might talk about during any meeting: career goals, professional and educational experiences, jobsearching, skills related to résumé-building, networking, and interviewing.
  • Try a mock interview. Videoconferencing is a great medium for mock interviews! A
  • Mentor may be able to offer more meaningful advice if he or she can see how the Protégé is moving, behaving, and responding to the interviewer’s questions. Skilled verbal and physical communication are equally important during interviews.
  • Provide Feedback. Mentors can provide Protégés with feedback regarding professional attire, public speaking and presentations.
  • Review your résumé in real time. Email your Mentor a copy of your résumé and then discuss it live.
  • Visit our resource center. Go online and visit ACP’s Resource Center together for conversation starters and suggested activities.

Videoconferencing Options and Instructions 

Google Hangouts: This is a great tool to use in your mentorship as it will allow you to video chat, view documents together, and network. Be sure to add ACP to your Google+ circles once you have an account!

Start by creating an account at hangouts.google.com. You can log in with an existing Gmail account. Google provides help and instruction along the way explaining features and options. Once you have logged in or created an account you can follow the following steps to start a hangout:

  1. On the main page of Google Hangouts, click the “Video Call Option”
  2. On the next screen, if the a Hangout has already been scheduled, you can enter the name to start the call.
  3. To create a new call create a new name and invite attendees by clicking “Invite People”
  4. Once you have started the video call, you can share a view of your desktop and collaborate on document by clicking the buttons on the left hand side of the screen.
  5. Use the chat feature to share files with everyone on the call.

Skype: Skype is another valuable resource to use in your mentorship as it allows you and your Mentor/Protégé to videochat and network. Skype utilizes unique features such as voicemail, landline and mobile calling ensuring seamless communication between Mentors and Protégés.

Start by visiting www.skype.com and create an account, or sign in by using your existing Microsoft or Facebook account. Skype also provides assistance along the way detailing individual features and options.

  1. First download and install the Skype application.
  2. After Skype is successfully downloaded, refresh your browser.
  3. Login to your Skype account.
  4. Once signed in, you can contact your Mentor/Protégé through either your Skype Contacts or dialing directly through the Dial Pad.

FaceTime (Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch): Apple users can utilize the FaceTime application offered on the new iOS 7 software, making it easier than ever to stay in touch with your Mentor/Protégé. The FaceTime application allows users to make video calls from their iPhone, Mac, iPad or iPod Touch.

Start by visiting http://www.apple.com/itunes/ and download the iTunes application to the device(s) you will be using. Once the iTunes application is downloaded, create your Apple ID. Your Apple ID will be used to connect you with FaceTime.

  1. Go to settings on your device and tap FaceTime. Turn on FaceTime and tap “Use your Apple ID for FaceTime.”
  2. Enter your Apple ID and password.
  3. Tap Sign In. (Your phone number and all email addresses associated with your Apple ID will be
  4. displayed.) Tap Next.
  5. Finally, choose the email addresses and phone numbers you want people to see in order to contact you for FaceTime calls.

All information on downloading, including the Facetime tutorial, can be found at: http://www.apple.com/ios/facetime/

Getting Started as a Mentor

By ACP, Resources

Thanks for stepping up to help your Protégé achieve personal growth and professional development. Mentorship is the most important aspect of our program, and we are so grateful you chose to take on this responsibility. This page explains everything you need to know about your role as an MVJ mentor.

It is your Protégé’s responsibility to reach out to you. We will provide him or her with your email address and/or phone number so you can coordinate and schedule your mentorship sessions.

We encourage you to hold a total of three mentorship sessions during the course of the next three months with your Protégé. Each session should last about an hour. 

Of course every Protégé is unique, but we have found the following topics make worthwhile lessons for just about anybody you might mentor through this program:

  1. Tailoring your resume for a journalism career
  2. Building a portfolio website
  3. Maintaining active and professional social media accounts
  4. Joining professional associations like NABJ or Overseas Press Club
  5. Exploring how college might help your Protégé. (Remember many of our members benefit from the Post-9/11 GI Bill.)
  6. Preparing for a job interview
  7. Negotiating a salary
  8. Getting promoted and planning a long-term career track
  9. Finding the right internship and/or job according to your Protégé’s stage of career development
  10. Expand your professional network (which you might be help by introducing your Protégé to other journalists) 

We have compiled a bunch of great resources to help you succeed at being a mentor. One of the most helpful at this early stage of your mentorship may be First Meeting Tips.

And here are good ideas for you if you are located far from your Protégé.

Long Distance Mentorships

Video Conferencing Guide

Remember, you aren’t alone in this. If you have questions, you can email [email protected] and we will be happy to reach out to you by phone or email. We have an all-volunteer staff of working journalists, so please be patient with our response time. We are committed to providing a great mentorship experience, and you are the key to fulfilling that mission.

Foundations of a Successful Mentorship

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

Foundations of a Successful Mentorship

The most effective mentoring relationships are based on a foundation of trust and confidence, where the Protégé feels safe to openly share his or her goals, objectives, and concerns. While every mentoring relationship is different, the following general guidelines are essential for success:

Have Realistic Expectations

Both parties should understand and agree on their expectations for the partnership. Selfawareness is important, and both the Mentor and Protégé should identify what they would like to gain from the program and what they are able to deliver. Articulate these desires to each other and determine realistic goals.

Share Responsibility for the Relationship

Both the Mentor and Protégé need to take ownership of the relationship. Neither should assume it is the other’s sole responsibility for arranging meetings. Significant energy and time is required of both parties to create a successful mentorship.

Establish Concrete Goals and Develop an Action Plan

The mentorship should be focused on learning and development with clearly stated goals. Set objectives and benchmarks at the outset and review them frequently as they may change over time.

Communicate and Respect your Partner’s Time

No relationship can succeed without clear communication. Show respect for your partner’s time by confirming meetings beforehand and always letting your partner know if you are running late or need to reschedule. Protégés should anticipate what they would like to discuss in advance of each meeting.

Keep an Open Mind

Both parties need to be willing to be open and exchange information. Remain open-minded and flexible as your relationship evolves.

Take Ownership of your Career Development

While Mentors may help Protégés develop the necessary tools for success, Protégés must remember that it is up to them to implement these tools. Protégés will need to put in the time and effort required to advance toward achieving their career goals. It is important to keep in mind that success will not come immediately. And while the Mentor can be a valued guide, responsibility for the Protégé’s career always belongs to the Protégé.

Be Aware of Differences

Be sensitive to cross-race/cross-gender relationships, different social and educational backgrounds, and different career experiences (e.g., military vs. civilian).

Finding an Internship

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

Finding an Internship

Internships are a great way to acquire professional experience or even a reference while you are still a student. Whether your internship is paid, unpaid, or for college credit the experience and connections that you make an intern can be invaluable.

Determine which internship is right for you:

  • • This internship predictor is a great tool to help narrow down the type of internship that is best for you (Note: you do have to create an account, but it is free).
  • InternMatch.com also provides a great tool to focus your internship search (Note: you do have to create an account, but it is free).

How to find an internship:

  • Your College/University: Talk to your school’s Office of Career Services for internships opportunities. If you are applying for a summer internship, it is never too early to get started on the application process.
  • Internships.com: is a comprehensive internship search engine. Narrow down opportunities according to your major, field of interest, location and desired company.
  • Idealist.org: is a great site for non-profit internships.
  • Simplyhired.com: compiles internship listings from many sites and allows you to sort by keyword, industry and location.
  • Research Companies which have specific programs for hiring veteran interns.
  • Some of your favorite companies may have veterans initiatives.

Tips to enhance your internship search:

Elevator Pitch Checklist

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

Elevator Pitch Checklist

Can your Protégé describe his/her skills and professional aspirations within the time span of one elevator ride? In today’s competitive job market, it is essential to develop an “elevator pitch,” or a concise, verbal summary of what one does and what one wants to do.

Help your Protégé market himself/herself to prospective employers by evaluating his/her pitch based on the following checklist:

  • Content: Did your Protégé’s elevator pitch include:
  • Your Protégé’s name, origin, current position;
  • Something unique about your Protégé;
  • Your Protégé’s aspirations; and
  • A clear request at the end?
  • Did your Protégé’s speech flow logically from point to point?
  • Did your Protégé seem sincere, confident, and passionate in his/her delivery
  • while maintaining a conversational tone?
  • Did your Protégé maintain eye contact and good posture throughout the pitch?
  • Did your Protégé’s elevator pitch last 2 minutes or less?
  • Was your Protégé’s elevator pitch memorable?

Which three elements were most successfully represented in the elevator pitch?

Which three elements could use more practice?

Provide any additional comments/observations for your Protégé to think about as he/she further develops an elevator pitch.

Contribute to Your Mentorship’s Success

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

Contribute to Your Mentorship’s Success

Your mentorship is an opportunity to build a relationship with an experienced corporate professional and refine your professional ambitions. Mentors can share their experience, knowledge, and resources to help you structure and organize your career path. Here are some tips to make sure your conversations are productive and meaningful.

Tell your Mentor more about you

  • Give your Mentor context about your military and/or professional experience. This will help the Mentor better understand you as an individual and offer appropriate advice and guidance.
  • As the mentorship progresses, be sure to share updates about your professional and/or personal life so that your Mentor can give customized feedback.

Be prepared for your discussions

  • Come prepared to mentoring sessions armed with questions and discussion topics.
  • Consider drafting an agenda and sending it to your Mentor prior to your meeting. Let your Mentor know what you would like to discuss before each session.

Be ready to work at the relationship

  • Let your Mentor know when you can speak with him or her.
  • Respond to emails and voicemail messages within 24-48 hours.
  • Be curious and ask your Mentor specific and direct questions.
  • Don’t be afraid to follow up with your Mentor if you haven’t heard from him or her in 1-2 weeks and don’t be discouraged if your Mentor appears to be very busy; they are there to assist.

Be open-minded

  • Listen to your Mentor’s suggestions and experiment with them. See which ideas suit your transition best.
  • Be prepared to receive constructive feedback from your Mentor regarding your résumé, interviewing skills, and approach to the job market.

Follow through on agreements

  • Set calendar reminders for when to contact your Mentor next.
  • Set deadlines and submit résumés, cover letters, business plans, etc. to your Mentor at a mutually agreed upon date.

Say “Thank you”

  • Send a thank you note or email whenever you achieve one of your goals.
  • Write a handwritten note at the conclusion of your mentorship.

Choosing a School or Program

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

Choosing a School or Program

Choosing between various higher education programs can be difficult. Use the guidelines below to make sure you are asking yourself the right questions.

How will you fund your Education?

  • Military Funding – The Post-9/11 G.I. Bill entitles eligible veterans to affordable public higher education or equivalent funding to attend a private institution. You can also research schools that provide additional funding through The Yellow Ribbon Program.
  • Read up on the Post-9/11 GI Bill at Military.com
  • Check if your ACE credits, CLEP testing and other college credits transfer
  • Find VA-approved programs at Military.com or search Military Friendly Schools by degree, location, or area of study
  • Ask your Company – Many companies are willing to sponsor further education of their employees. Find out if this is a possibility, and if so, write a formal proposal. Remember to frame your request in terms of the corporation’s interest.
  • Scholarships and Grants – Many schools offer scholarships to incoming students, but there are also a number of grants and scholarships given by external organizations that you can look into.
  • Research the different awards that are out there, the amounts they offer, and see if you’re eligible to apply.
  • Student Loans – Consider the pros and cons of federal student loans, private student loans, or building a portfolio of multiple loans to pay off your debt strategically.

Which type of program do you want to enroll in?

  •  Do you want to take a Full-Time, Part-Time, or Online program?
  •  What would you immediately rule out and what are the pros and cons of your best options?

Do you have a sense of where you would like to live or work after you graduate?

  • Which schools have a strong network of alumni in your ideal industry?
  • Are internship opportunities available at specific companies?
  • Universities put their prospective employers’ recruiting schedules online. Go to the career services website of the university you’re interested in to see which companies are recruiting.
  • Call a college’s career services department and ask for their recruiting records to get a sense of employment outcomes for recent grads.
  • Would you live in the prospective city/town upon graduation? This is not necessary but an option to consider.

What is the return on investment?

  • Look at the tuition of the schools you are considering. Are certain programs significantly more expensive? If so, what do they offer to make up for this price increase?
  • What is the average salary for someone in your desired field? Will you need additional schooling after taking the first step?
  • Accrediting bodies evaluate the quality and credibility of programs. Can you find an accreditation rating for your school of choice?

Writing Thank You Notes

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

Writing Thank You Notes

It is customary in the corporate world to send a thank you note to anyone who has done something to help you advance professionally.

  • Who: Send a thank you note to anyone who does a professional favor for you.
  • What: Examples include reviewing your resume, introducing you to a networking contact, conducting an informational interview, or helping you improve your online presence.
  • When: Send the note within a day or two of the favor.
  • Where: Send your note via snail mail or email. Either is acceptable.
  • Why: Sending a thank you note indicates that you have good manners and that you are appreciative of the help that others have provided. It also helps to cement networking relationships.
  • Go above and beyond: To maintain the relationship, keep your contact informed of your professional growth. Did their advice work? If so, let them know. You can also offer to return the favor one day. Building a reciprocal relationship with your contact will ensure the relationship’s longevity.

Sending a Thank You Note after an Interview

Sending a thank you note after an interview gives you the opportunity to express not only that you have good manners, but also that you have a genuine interest in the position.

What should the note say?

  • This note should say more than just “thank you.” Use this as an opportunity to follow up on previous discussions and reiterate your enthusiasm for the position.
  • Build on the conversations that you had during the interview. Try to talk about specific topics that were covered and use the note to strengthen your candidacy for the job.

What should you avoid saying in a thank you note?

  • Avoid being generic or sounding like you used a template to write your note.
  • Potential employers can sense when you have simply inserted their name into a previously formatted email.
  • Don’t just say, “I am qualified for this job.” Tell the interviewer why you are qualified and be sure to back up your statements with specifics.
  • Avoid saying, “I’m sorry for my delay.” Do not start your thank you note with an apology. You risk giving the impression that you have poor time management skills.

When and how should you send a thank you note?

  • Send a thank you note within a day or two of the interview.
  • Wait at least a few hours from the interview to send a thank you note. Give yourself time to reflect on the interview and what you learned about the company.
  • You can send your note via email or snail mail.

Useful Questions to Ask your Mentor

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

Useful Questions to Ask your Mentor

If you don’t know where to start, here are some helpful questions to ask your Mentor upon introduction.

How did you get where you are today? Chances are you would like to someday be where your mentor currently is in their career.

  • How did you get your first job post-graduation?
  • What advice would you like to have heard when you were starting out?
  • Do you have any recommendations with regards to useful courses to take or extracurricular activities to be involved with?

What qualities do you look for in the people you hire? Someday at an interview, you will probably find yourself face-to-face with someone very similar to your Mentor. Get the scoop on what these people are really looking for in a casual setting.

  • What are the main or most important personal characteristics for success in the field?
  • What kind of education/training do you have? How important is a graduate degree, designation, or additional certificate in this field?
  • How is a typical job interview in this industry conducted?
  • When should I start applying for positions and forwarding my resume?
  • Is there anyone else in this field you would recommend I talk to? When I call them, may I mention that you referred me?

What else is out there? You may want to know what other positions correlate with your background, if there are any other organizations that are useful to be a part of, and how to go about finding the best fit for you.

  • Are you a member of any professional orders or associations? Which ones do you feel are the most important to belong to?
  • Are there any other fields or jobs you would suggest I research/explore?
  • How do people find out about job openings in this field? Are they advertised? If so, where?

When do you want to meet next? Both you and your Mentor probably have very busy schedules so it is very important to plan ahead in order to stay on the same page. Do not let your time with your Mentor lapse.

Translating Military Experience for Civilian Employers

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

Translating Military Experience for Civilian Employers

Some civilian employers have a limited understanding of military life and the specialized language that goes along with it. It is important to know how to describe your military experience to a prospective employer to show that you have the right skills for the position you want.

Here are four tips to help translate your experience into “civilian-speak:”

Avoid Acronyms

Hiring managers may not know what MOS stands for or what it means to have worked at CENTCOM. It can be frustrating for them to figure out shorthand acronyms. Write the words out instead and put the acronym in parentheses.

Include and Explain Relevant Awards

It is natural to want to highlight your service record and the honors you earned. However, many civilian employers will not understand either the meaning or the significance of a Defense Meritorious Service Medal or a Silver Star. Therefore, follow two rules:

  • Reference the highest-level award that pertains to the position you are applying for.
  • Summarize what you did to earn your award.

Translate Your Rank

In the military, ranks are clear and understood by everyone. They indicate position in the chain of command and, to some extent, responsibilities. The civilian workforce also uses titles, but they are mostly job descriptors and, in some cases, indicators of rank. Different companies often use different titles to describe similar positions. Explain your basic duties and focus on the skills and responsibilities that can be applied to the position you are seeking. You may need to explain the level of responsibility that your rank and position required. It is good practice to provide the skills developed instead of just the number of people under your command.

Interpret Your Training

A civilian hiring manager may not immediately understand what it means to go through Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training or Basic Combat Training. If the skills and knowledge you gained in a training course are relevant to the job you are applying for, include it on the résumé with a simple summary of its value.

Extra Materials and Activities:

  • Skill Translators – These sites offer a way to look up your MOS and identify civilian equivalents. They are especially useful if you are looking for civilian positions you are qualified for based on your MOS. Some of our favorites include Military.com and CareerOneStop.
  • Community Feedback – You can log on to the free online forum, ACP AdvisorNet and ask other volunteers to review your résumé. Here is a link to a sample résumé review question: Résumé Critique.
  • Discuss Your Skill Set – Speak with your Mentor about the skills you developed during your military service. Your Mentor will be able to give you advice on how to present those skills effectively. You can use Translating Military Experience to Civilian Employment from RealWarriors.net and Soft Military Skills That Deliver Hard Results for Military Veteran Careers from LinkedIn to start the conversation.
  • Job Sites – These sites can offer suggestions in terms of formatting, wording, and structure of your résumé. One of our favorites is Job Hero, which finds sample résumés that other applicants submitted for different positions.
  • Veteran Service Organizations – There are several veteran service organizations that help with skill translation. You may want to take a look at tools from organizations like Hire Our Heroes.
  • Career Fairs – These events can be great for practicing how you are describing your experience and refining your elevator pitch. Check out Recruit Military for a veteran job fair in your area.

Tips for Writing a Résumé

By ACP, Resources

This resource is provided by American Corporate Partners, which aims to ease the transition from the military to the civilian workforce. ACP is a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice.

Tips for Writing a Résumé

A résumé is a brief, informative summary of your abilities, education and experience. It should highlight your strongest assets and skills and differentiate you from other candidates seeking similar positions. Although a great résumé alone will not get you a job, this document is essential for obtaining an interview.

  • A typical résumé is no more than one page long. Eliminate information that does not relate to the position to which you are applying. The hiring manager could be reviewing hundreds of résumés, so be sure to keep your descriptions succinct.
  • Take time to make your format appealing, as this is their first impression of you. Keep the format uncluttered and consistent, and use a professional font such as Times New Roman or Arial.
  • List your up-to-date contact information, including phone number, mailing address and email. Use a professional sounding email address. If your email contains an unprofessional nickname, slang, profanity, etc., create an account that is appropriate for job hunting.
  • Describe your accomplishments rather than outlining your job description. Employers want to see how you’ve increased productivity, strengthened sales, balanced responsibilities, etc. Quantify and qualify your accomplishments when appropriate.
  • Pay attention to the job posting and utilize keywords mentioned in the listing. It is helpful to print out the description and underline credentials that you can reiterate in your résumé.
  • Avoid using personal pronouns such as ‘I’ or ‘we’.
  • Use action verbs like ‘initiated’, ‘implemented’, ‘managed’, ‘launched’, etc. These words demonstrate that you are a proactive and engaged employee. Click here to see a full list of action verbs.
  • Avoid using flowery or extravagant language. Over-selling your accomplishments can come off as disingenuous. Avoid using too many exaggerated adverbs, such as ‘successfully’ or ‘effectively’, as it is assumed that any task listed on your resume was carried out ‘successfully’ and ‘effectively’.
  • Make a strong case for why you should be hired. Tailor each résumé to suit the position you are applying for. Highlight skills and accomplishments that prove you will be successful in the job at hand.
  • Proofread your résumé and ask at least two other individuals to look it over as well.
  • Grammatical errors and typos will immediately exclude you from the pool of candidates.
  • Consider converting your finished résumé to a PDF to avoid formatting errors.