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Write in the Middle,
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Writers@work


September 15, 2012

Journalist on the Job

Alexis Willey writes for the Times Union, a newspaper based in Albany, NY. She’s also an 18-year-old student. (Just to give you an idea of how big this paper is, the Times Union website gets 230,000 unique visitors each month!)

So how did Alexis land such a cool gig while still in high school? She was accepted into the paper’s New Visions: Journalism and Media Studies Program, a course for area students. Here’s what Alexis had to say about her experience. P.S. It’s all positive, so you may want to check out the program yourself – or see if your own local paper offers something similar!

Why did you want to be part of the Times Union’s New Visions program?
I started writing for my school paper during my sophomore year of high school. I immediately fell in love with writing and reporting from a journalist’s point of view. It’s different from just writing the essays or fiction I was used to doing in class. Our school paper’s small (but strong!) staff only put out six editions each year. I knew I wanted to push myself in the direction of my goals, so when I checked out the program I knew it was exactly where I needed to be. The opportunity wasn’t something I was willing to easily give up on!

What did you need to do to get accepted?
I had to fill out an application with a bunch of questions about why I was interested, what I would bring to the program, what I wanted to do in the future, and attach a sample of my writing. Once I made it past that selection process, I was interviewed by the teacher in the program and a few students from her New Visions class.

What kinds of things are you learning about writing and reporting through the program?
I don’t even know where to start! I learned so much this year. It was mostly hands on experience because that’s the biggest part of journalism. You really learn from just going out and doing it. When I started my internship in the features department in February, that’s when I really got the hands-on feel of working in a newsroom and writing for an audience that you know is reading. It has helped me express myself both in print and vocally.
I learned the basics of style and writing for your audience, which is so important. Without that you can’t be the type of “multi-media, all-around” journalist that the future needs.

What is the most fun part of reporting for the paper?
Seeing my name in the bylines of stories is always exciting. I’ve been printed I think six times now and I’m working on my seventh story. But every time is just as exciting as the first. I’ve gotten so much amazing, positive feedback. It’s really humbling because I’m thinking, “I’m 18-years-old. I’m still in high school,” but I’m so lucky to be respected by my peers and by the people I work with in the newsroom and by readers who have been reading the Times Union for decades. I’m a part of that respected group now. (Editor’s Note: Check out this sample of Alexis’s reporting. Nice work!)
What I love more, though, is being able to share other people’s stories. I’ve met some truly amazing people and being given the opportunity to share their contributions or histories is a really cool thing. It teaches you about yourself in a way, about the things you admire and appreciate. That has to be my favorite thing.

Have you learned anything that surprised you?
One of the coolest things we do in the program is the video production aspect. Because journalism is changing and social media has taken a big toll on how news goes out, there’s a larger focus on training the future’s reporters to work with lots of mediums: print, online, blogging, broadcast, photography, video production. All of those things are expected of you now, no matter what your “focus” may be.
I really got to experience and perfect all of that, especially video production through our program’s partnership with a local college, the College of St. Rose. We were able to use state-of-the-art equipment to learn how to produce news packages, work behind the scenes in production, and do camera work, audio and things like that to create news programs and video interviews and then edit them all into really cool products. That’s something I’m really interested in now that I probably would never have thought of dabbling in before.
I was also thrown into the studio at a local radio station, Fly 92, with a Times Union reporter during one of her Thursday segments. I was totally unprepared, but that was so much fun and I’d love to do that again.

What is the most challenging thing about writing for the paper?
There’s the obvious pressure of putting yourself out there for everyone to critique, like “What if I quote someone wrong?” or “What if people hate my story?” But my editors and mentors are there for a reason, and I’m not doing hard news so it’s a little less pressure. Dealing with that kind of stress is something new, but also kind of exciting.
Sometimes it’s hard to get people to call you back or to get the information for a story. Having the drive to keep pushing is hard, especially when you’re a “newbie.” Being afraid to call people - or to keep calling every hour for six hours if that’s what it takes - is normal. I interviewed the fashion editor from Seventeen magazine this year for a story. I was just sitting there looking at the phone thinking, “What am I doing? She’s so important and I’m just in high school. Why would she want to talk to me?” but when it came down to it, she was just a normal person with a great job. You just have to breathe and think of yourself as a reporter people should respect, even if you’re just an intern getting statistics or asking for pictures for a story.

How does your experience with the newspaper fit into your future plans?
I know now more than ever that I want journalism to be a part of my future. Some kids in my class learned they didn’t want anything to do with reporting, and that’s good, too. It gives you a real experience that regular classes just can’t provide.
This summer I’m coming back to the Times Union in a freelance position in features, which is absolutely amazing. I’m ecstatic about that. And I’m majoring in a mix of Journalism and Writing and Production for Film and Television at Hofstra University this fall. I really want to start interning as soon as possible. I’m obsessed with pumping out stories now. After all I’ve experienced through the program, sitting in class without having anything in the works would be impossible.

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May 21, 2012

Paid to Post!

Nancy A. Shenker, founder and CEO of theONswitch, spends part of each workday writing for other business owners. She gets paid to write what many people write for free: website content, blogs, posts, tweets and even Pinterest captions!

How do you get paid to write things like posts and tweets? 
Many people who grew up before the Internet are insecure and confused about the social media world. They hire me to help them build online communities and develop content for their business pages and sites. They pay me a monthly fee to handle posts, tweets and other writing for them. A coworker and I research and write content and answer questions from their fans and followers. The business owners like my writing style. They also hire me because this arrangement allows them focus on running their businesses.

What kind of experience did you need to get started?
I was an English and Psychology major in college. That has proven to be a great combination for this type of work. I learned everything about business from various jobs, from taking courses after I graduated college, and from many kind, smart, and patient mentors.

You also wrote a book of career tips. How did you find time to write it?
I made the time! I often wrote while sitting outside over the weekends, writing in a notebook and then typing up my creations. Lindsay E. Brown, my co-author, and I made a perfect team. She contributed to and edited everything I wrote. If you want something badly enough, you will make it happen!

How did you find a publisher for your book?
I met a publisher through LinkedIn. I queried him and we spoke on the phone. He liked my idea, and his company agreed to fund the design and production of the book. I handled the marketing.

What are your future writing plans?
I am currently working on a new business book with another colleague and friend. We’re not sure yet whether we will publish it independently or look for a publisher who can help more with distributing and marketing the book.
    I plan to continue writing for several blogs and create another "business comic book" in my series, and I am launching a Pinterest webinar. I also enter writing contests from time to time and am always eager to do new projects and hone my writing skills. You're never too old (or too young) to learn new ways to write and find different voices. 

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April 6, 2012

Children's Television Writer
Shows like "Sesame Street," "Little Einsteins" and "Super Why!" are obviously a little... well... young after a while. But don't dismiss them just yet. Take another look, listen carefully, and you'll find they're actually well-written stories with great, interesting characters. It takes talented writers to produce those shows - writers like Jennifer Hamburg. (She's also author of the picture book A Moose That Says Moo and creator of Dramatic Fanatic mystery theater parties for kids).

Here's what Jennifer has to say about her career in children's television. You can learn more about her here.

How did you get your first job writing for children's television?
I went to grad school to study Educational Psychology. After I graduated, I was hired to do research for a "Blue's Clues" spin-off called "Blue's Room." They knew I was interested in writing (because I kept reminding them!). After that job was finished, they asked me to stay on as an assistant writer.

What did you like most about the job?
I really got to see the ins and outs of how a TV script was written. Every show is different. For some the writers work together. They brainstorm ideas and each leave with specific writing assignments. Other times writers get a treatment and a deadline and work on their own. 

How long does it take to write a script?
Two weeks is typical for writing a script and maybe one week for a revision.  Sometimes I’m asked how long I need, and other times I’m given the date and time to hand it in.

What's the biggest challenge writing for children's television? 
I write for many different shows now. Each show has a specific tone, feel, style of humor, etc. My job as a writer is to take my writer “personality” and fit it into the particular show I’m writing for. It’s harder than it sounds! Also, lots of preschool shows have specific lesson plans for each episode. I need to include learning moments in the story, which can be tricky.

What's your favorite part of writing for children's television?
I like diving into a new script and going over and over it until it sounds just right. I think of rewriting as a creative exercise. I think of it as a puzzle - a very, creative, fun puzzle! I'm inspired by the shows I write for, and each script makes me a better writer. Most of all, I love knowing that my work is making kids smile. 














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