Q: First off a hearty thanks for these columns. I've read them for a year and am still learning.
You have mentioned more than a few times that newspapers are looking for people with multimedia experience. How should I highlight a substantial Web background when applying for reporting internships?
I am an undergraduate senior with strong writing and editing experience at a college paper. I spent this summer writing for a small daily. But I also have seven years experience as a freelance graphic designer, and have designed scores of Wb sites, including a few for a major university.
Besides a general familiarity with multimedia production, how can I hghlight this second aspect of my experience within the confines of a rporting internship application?
Josh
A: sounds as though you may be afraid of getting pigeon-holed in a production role when you really want to be out on the streets.
If that's the case, I would not work hard to play up my mutimedia skills. Our skills are relevant only wehn we plan to use them.
However, if you can pitch yourself as a multimedia reporter, with some abilities to gather audio, photo and video, you'll be a find for some newspaper.
On your resume, write about how you have applied your multimedia skills on the job and list the software programs you have genuine expertise with. Some editors will key on specific software. Others will key on how you have used it. All who hire you for your multimedia skills will want you to use them.
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