5 reasons to work for your school newspaper

USA TODAY College

Daily Iowan staff writer Allie Wright can literally count the ways working for her school paper has helped her.

Not only have I always loved current events, I have always had a passion for writing. The combination of these interests led me to my decision to major in journalism and mass communication at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.

I immediately fell in love with the journalism classes offered at the UI, but I wanted to expand my education by working for The Daily Iowan, the independent newspaper serving the campus and Iowa City communities.

This fall, I started working as a Metro reporter for The Daily Iowan. This is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I encourage anyone interested in journalism to pursue a job at their college newspaper for the following reasons:

1. Meeting new people. Since starting my job at The Daily Iowan, I have made a significant amount of new friends. The newsroom is almost like our home. It’s a place we can go for comfort, laughter, and inspiration from our colleagues. And sometimes, there are bagels.

2. Leads to better job opportunities after college. If you are interested in a career in journalism after college, working for a campus publication will undoubtedly put you above your competition.

3. National exposure. There is a possibility that a larger publication could pick up an article you write and link to it on their websites.

4. Great connections. Whether it’s with professors and faculty in different university departments, experts from organizations around the country, or a local business owner, college journalists are able to speak to a large spectrum of people.

5. Be a step ahead of your classmates. As a college journalist, you have the chance to do real reporting. As opposed to just learning about it in a large lecture, you will learn as you go.

My time as a college journalist has solidified the fact that I want to be a journalist for the rest of my life. Although it can be stressful at times, I am constantly proud of the work I get to do on a daily basis. My work makes me happy, and that’s what it’s all about, right? Read More

I'm Ron Denaro and thanks for joining College Campus Chatter today!

Ron Denaro is the president of College Campus Trips, a tour company providing high school students with tours of college campuses, nationwide. For more information, call (954) 567-5751 or e-mail: ron@collegecampustrips.com