Chip Mahaney and Anna Martinez were part of a panel to discuss the job options in the journalism field. The panel was hosted by the Career Center. (Christina Parrish)
Experienced journalists shared tips with students Wednesday about how to get a job in journalism and what to expect after graduation.
The five panelists who participated in the Brown Bag discussion, sponsored by the Hegi Family Career Development Center in Hughes-Trigg, included Chip Mahaney, managing editor for FOX TV; David Ninh, stylist and reporter for the Dallas Morning News; Brittany Edwards, reporter for the Dallas Morning News; Celine Gumbiner, co-publisher and CEO of Bee Woman magazine; Quia Querisma, freelance writer for Where magazine; and Anna Martinez, director of broadcast relations at SMU.
Journalism students at SMU have a great advantage being located in a city like Dallas which Mahaney said provides students with a tremendous amount of options for their future careers.
“SMU gives you great opportunities,” Mahaney said. “Don’t ever forget that. Be aggressive. If you see something you want to do, go after it.”
Edwards was an intern throughout her junior year at SMU. She encouraged students to pursue internships for local publications.
“Ask for those internships,” Edwards said. “Go out there or write a letter. Everyone I know who dove in like that has gotten an internship.”
Martinez , the only panelist who was not an SMU alum, said students should appreciate every chance they are given. But they should also be sure that they have a love for the career they are pursuing, because that is the key to success.
“If you can put yourself out there then it can really work to your advantage,” Martinez said. “When I talk to people about going into a career, I think the passion is the critical element and taking advantage of opportunities that show themselves.”
Gumbiner went a step further and created her own opportunity when she began a women’s magazine focused on her interests in finance and business.
She came up with the idea for the magazine when she could not find a publication that shared her passions, Gumbiner said.
“I really wanted to make this opportunity happen for myself and created it because I didn’t see anything out there for women like myself,” she said.
However, Edwards said starting a career in journalism is not as easy as she and the other panelists made it sound. Which is why she advises students to stick with jobs in Dallas before they try and pursue careers in bigger markets like New York.
“You might not start with the most glamorous gig, but this is a great city and you can work your way up,” Edwards said.
Edwards’ colleague Ninh said that the experience he has gained while working for the Dallas Morning News has been invaluable. Not only did he say that he feels he would not have gotten that experience in a place like New York, but the pay would be much worse and the competition even greater.
But the flip side to working in a city like Dallas is that a lot of people never leave, Ninh said.
“Dallas is a fabulous city and it’s easy to get caught up in it,” Ninh said. “Give yourself a little bit of a business plan and have it in your mind so that you don’t let [future] opportunities pass you by.”
