Frontlines
Rounding up the Good, the Sarcastic, and the Funny from #AdviceForYoungJournalists
By Gabe Rosenberg February 16th, 2015Felix Salmon, senior editor at Fusion, took all of 2,000 words last Monday to tell young, aspiring writers his advice for those thinking of entering the field of journalism: Don’t.
It was disheartening at best. Finding success as a journalist, Salmon said, was a matter of pure luck—the economics of the field no longer support the great talent now flocking to it, and the chances that an individual will break out is worse than ever before. Better to not even try.
#AdviceForYoungJournalists was the response from the journalism industry, or at least the vast majority of it. Publishers, editors, and writers chipped in with suggestions, words of encouragement, humor, some negativity, but mostly good faith, encouraging students and up-and-comers to ignore Salmon’s pessimism and not give up the good fight. In the last week, I surfed through Twitter to collect the most practical, the funniest, and the most bitingly true advice.
Practical
https://twitter.com/ezraklein/status/564924221571497984
Vox’s Ezra Klein wrote up a great piece in response to Salmon that actually rang true, including “trade prestige for opportunity” and “learn things about things.”
#AdviceForYoungJournalists Of Color http://t.co/50Uxe97HdO pic.twitter.com/QpXoOSMAln
— tracy clayton jr the 3rd (@brokeymcpoverty) February 10, 2015
At BuzzFeed, Tracy Clayton and Heben Nigatu came up with 39 pieces of advice specifically for journalists of color. “Don’t feel like you have to do the ‘racism beat'” and “It is possible to write for two or more communities at once” stuck out in particular.
Objectivity and balance are not the same thing #AdviceForYoungJournalists
— Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff) February 12, 2015
https://twitter.com/albertocairo/status/565138217109045248
https://twitter.com/mkramer/status/564961585551380480
Tell the stories that matter to you. Be clear about your own biases and assumptions. Question them at every turn. #AdviceforYoungJournalists
— Laurie Penny (@PennyRed) February 10, 2015
Read a lot. Write more. And beware of advice from has-been journalists who rose in a different era. #AdviceForYoungJournalists
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) February 10, 2015
My #AdviceForYoungJournalists is a msg @michaelmaness left on his whiteboard:
Be insatiably curious
And relentlessly observing— Elise Hu (@elisewho) February 10, 2015
Here's a great, inspirational @carr2n counter to the @felixsalmon #AdviceForYoungJournalists: http://t.co/ZbBnZ0hBtX
— David Boardman (@dlboardman) February 13, 2015
New York Times great David Carr, who passed away on Thursday, was maybe one of the greatest advocates for young journalists. You’ll find the hashtag filled now with encouragements to read Carr’s work—which is brilliant—and to try and become Carr himself—which is more difficult.
https://twitter.com/Matthaber/status/566085325605199872
Carr’s own words, though, are the best advice: “Keep typing until it turns into writing.”
Humorous
Trending on Twitter now: #AdviceForYoungJournalists fun, funny & even poignant. Prof Sig Gissler's advice: eat your oatmeal
— Columbia Journalism (@columbiajourn) February 10, 2015
https://twitter.com/AlexJamesFitz/status/564924647410774016
https://twitter.com/josswhedon/status/564952923025584128
advice to young journalists: quit your job, disown your family, take your darkest desires for reality, nothing matters, burn everything
— Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24) February 9, 2015
Your mother loves you? Check it out. #AdviceForYoungJournalists
— Mo Krochmal (@Krochmal) February 10, 2015
Wear glasses and pretend to be clumsy to disguise your true nature as the last son of Krypton. #AdviceForYoungJournalists
— David Weigel (@daveweigel) February 10, 2015
Was gonna ask Brian Williams what his advice to young journalists was but that felt mean
— Leigh Munsil (@leighmunsil) February 9, 2015
https://twitter.com/mcgreenw/status/564914415745527808
Sarcastic
https://twitter.com/JohninJerusalem/status/564931489373356033
Never question or attempt to independently verify anything the police say. They never lie to reporters. Ever. #AdviceForYoungJournalists
— Africa Is a Country (@africasacountry) February 10, 2015
https://twitter.com/aoscott/status/564991651354255360
https://twitter.com/webjournalist/status/564998145906847744
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/565161203698532352
My advice for young journalists is not to listen to old people debate your future on Twitter.
— Matt O'Brien (@ObsoleteDogma) February 9, 2015
https://twitter.com/jfdulac/status/564915811836768257
My advice to young journalists: On the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog. Get a dog to write your stories, retire! pic.twitter.com/aWBwfEkCJm
— Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff) February 9, 2015
I can confirm: Nobody has yet figured out I’m a dog. So don’t be discouraged, fellow young journalists. There’s hope for us yet!
Image by Joshua Rappeneker/Flickr