Diwakar Shukla, Head International Office- Jagran School of Journalism & Communication

Inspiration & Build upon your natural writing talent. To become a journalist, some intrinsic skills are necessary to achieve success. First of all, you have got to have an inquiring mind. You must be passionate about knowledge and learning, and willing to do what it takes to get at the truth behind a story. Education: I recommend pursuing a journalism degree and double majoring or specializing in your core interest areas. Still, journalism is a doing field. 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. Choose your niche. Attend the basic courses in journalism, but make sure that you get classes in your chosen specialty. If you are interested in fashion reporting, for example, you may not have the same courses as someone who is studying investigative journalism. Become an expert in your chosen field. Read books, subscribe to magazines, and attend events anything to keep you current. Get involved. You must have passion for your subject. Indifference and apathy are the enemies of good journalism. Secure an internship (or two or three). Many Universities have newspapers, yearbooks, newsletters, or radio stations that accept interns. The experience gained is essential when it comes time to apply for a job. Write, write. Then, write some more. Build a portfolio of your work that you can present to future employers, and make sure its quality work. Read newspapers, subscribe to magazines, and explore books. It is very important to stay up to date on current events. Job Opportunities
Although media is evolving rapidly, I still put journalism jobs in two buckets: broadcast and print. Digital has now broken all walls and increasingly reporters are expected to file stories on webpages, digital platforms. So look for any opportunities. Be willing to start small. Think community publications, local newsletters, or small area newspapers. Anything to get your work published. If you have a hobby, look for opportunities to write a piece for a newsletter. Sometimes for free, but again anything to get your work published. Create an online presence for yourself by starting your own blog or website. Learn editing & Photoshop software.