Attention aspiring journalists; tips from a seasoned reporter

Tina Firesheets was determined to be a journalist, applying more than once for a job at the Greensboro News & Record where she works today as a seasoned reporter.

You can tell that Tina Firesheets is good at what she does. The well-spoken reporter from the Greensboro News & Record addressed our reporting class this week to tell us a little bit about herself and her job.

Nothing is more intimidating to a reporter than a blank screen–especially on deadline. As our class continues working on two big stories, a personality profile and an in depth investigative piece, something Firesheets said about the writing process really stuck out to me:

“You’ll start hearing themes from your sources,” she said. “That’s the nuts and bolts of your focus.”

Looking at folders of documents and data and more than ten interviews with sources, I decided to really search for the themes in my research and take it from there. When all the information you have for a story is overwhelming, it’s best to just keep it plain and simple.

“You just have to take a deep breath,” she said. “Just figure out how to get in the information that is most important to your readers.”

I’d have to say one of the most appealing things about Firesheets’ job as a general assignment reporter is that she gets access to places she might otherwise never see.

“I’ve been in some of the nicest homes in the city and some of the worst,” she said.

Of course “all access” isn’t always luxurious–the job can be dangerous. One of her friends, a little woman, she described, was out on assignment once and had a man come at her with a baseball bat. Scary? Yes. But exciting nonetheless.

For aspiring journalists who want an all access pass to “stepping into someone else’s world,” as Firesheet’s puts it, here are some of her top tips to help you get there.

1. Get an internship

“I can’t stress how important it is to do internships,” Firesheets said. Firesheets didn’t  major in journalism, but with a communications degree and an internship with a New York Time affiliate under her belt, she was ahead of the game.

2. Learn to work fast.

“If you don’t like being rushed and having to do things really quickly, this isn’t the job for you.”

3. There’s power in persistence

Sometimes you can’t take no for an answer. Firesheets applied for a job at the News and Record a couple of times before she ever got the job. “Don’t give up,” she said. “There’s more than one way to get in.”

4. Be prompt

You never want to risk looking unprofessional by showing up late. In fact, Firesheets goes by the rule that being on time is being early.

5. Dress the part 

You never know where you’ll end up as a reporter, and Firesheets says you’re sure to regret showing up under-dressed in a room full of businessmen. She recommends keeping a business suit in the trunk of your car. “How you come across is very important,” she said. On the reverse, she recommends you also stash an old pair of old tennis shoes in your car, for the occasional assignment that sends you somewhere messy, like a marsh.

6. Be over prepared

“The more ready you are when you come to an interview–the better,” she said. “It’s obvious when you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

So remember, whenever you find yourself staring at a blank screen, keep these tips in mind and just take a deep breath.

A Veteran Journalist’s Honest Advice

Tina Firesheets, retail and general assignment reporter for the News & Record in Greensboro, N.C., came to class on Monday to talk about the industry.

Tina Firesheets, reporter for the Greensboro News & Record, offered real life advice about the field of journalism to Elon University students on Monday. Photo courtesy of http://www.news-record.com.

Cup of coffee in hand, she sat down and began discussing the highs and lulls of journalism  — no fluff, just straightforward narratives concerning the positive and negative experiences she’s had throughout her 14 years on the job.

She offered some real world advice on how to succeed, how to stay energized and how to handle difficult sources and lengthy stories. She admitted she chose a career in journalism because she had always been told she was a good writer, and she even mentioned that sometimes, it’s the reporting, not the writing, that is the most fun part of her job.

Some of her points especially registered with me, a young, aspiring journalist. Though they might seem more like common sense snippets than profound thoughts, they are still critical pieces of information to remember if one wants to excel in this industry.

1. Apply for internships before graduation
   -“Do anything you can to get that experience and those clips,” Firesheets said.
2. Learn how to meet tight deadlines
   -“If you don’t like being rushed, this is not the job for you,” she laughed. On the other hand, she said, “If you’re naturally curious, and you like to talk to different people, it’s the best job in the world.”
3. Don’t quit
   -After telling about how she applied to numerous positions at the News & Record to no avail for months, she encouraged us to never quit trying. With the help of her editor at the newspaper’s sister, entertainment magazine, Firesheets finally managed to secure a part-time position on the paper’s staff. “Don’t give up — there’s more than one way to get in,” she said.
4. Always be prompt
   -“Always be on time, and be early if you can.” In respect to time, she said you may see sources sitting in their offices sipping on cups of coffee, doing nothing but reading the paper or checking emails. However, she smiled, they still may make you wait ten minutes before they invite you into their offices for interviews. When stating her feelings on these situations, Firesheets said, “Be flexible.”
5. Ask for help
   -Firesheets explained that sometimes, when working on in-depth pieces, you lose your ability to be an outsider, to consider the story from a detached perspective. In order to gain that viewpoint, though, she said, talk to your editor and other reporters. Ask for help. And in terms of interviews with sources, admit when you don’t know about an issue. “Sometimes, the source can it explain it to you better than legal documents can,” she said.