Newspaper jobs are among the most sought after for writers because it gives them a chance to reach their audience on a daily basis. Unfortunately, it is becoming harder to get these jobs because many papers are having to undergo budget cuts. Much of this is because circulation numbers are down, since people can get most of their information from the internet, which means that fewer advertisers are using the newspaper as well. With that being said, many major papers, like the Houston Chronicle, are still going strong and will continue to grow well into the future. Therefore, it is a good time to attempt to get on with one of these larger papers, since your options might be limited later on.
The first thing that you will want to do if you are looking for Houston Chronicle jobs is get a university degree in English or Journalism. If you opt to go for an English degree, make sure that you select as many professional writing courses as possible. Many universities will have a professional writing thematic option for you to take, which will definitely look good on a resume. Working for the university newspaper will also help to give you some exposure and will help you to improve your journalistic tone, which the Houston Chronicle will definitely want to see.
Once you have your degree, you should start off by working some smaller newspaper jobs to get some experience. When you start working for the Houston Chronicle, they will expect you to know exactly what you are doing, while these smaller papers might be inclined to teach you more about the industry. While it might be possible to get on with the Houston Chronicle right away, you are likely better off to learn about the industry beforehand, as this will allow you to make a better impression once you get your job interview. You can search online for these various newspaper jobs, as they are available all over the country. You might also find an entry level position with the Chronicle online, so make sure that you keep your options open.
If you are having trouble getting one of the Houston Chronicle jobs that is available, you can start your career by working as a freelance writer. Freelance writers work for a variety of different companies at once on a per assignment basis. While it can be difficult to make money by freelancing, you should be able to pay the bills while you wait for your big opportunities to come around. There are countless places to look for these jobs online and the experience that you will gain will definitely help you as you move forward in your career.
If you are applying for newspaper jobs, you probably already have a fair amount of computer experience. Now is the time to take advantage of this experience, as most of the freelance opportunities that you will find will be online. You can live anywhere in the country as a freelancer so if you eventually want to work for the Houston Chronicle, move to the city and begin networking. You never know who you will meet as you freelance, especially if you end up getting a freelance contract for a major magazine or newspaper. You can also impress those who do the hiring for the Chronicle by creating your own blog. On this blog, you can write your own rendition of the day's top stories and include a link with your resume. While you might not make any money from this blog, you can definitely help yourself to get noticed and eventually get one of the top newspaper jobs in the country.
