It goes without saying that jobs in the creative industries, particularly within Journalism, are competitive, and it can be challenging to break through the noise in such a fast-paced environment. So, what can you do to increase your odds within this ever evolving industry?
One technique, is to find your own unique voice, so you can attract your own unique audience – this is something that all aspiring creatives should be looking for. Among this, particularly within written work, finding your voice is essential to standing out among the crowd.
Become a ‘Storyteller’, not just a ‘writer’
People love nothing more than a good story, something they can attach themselves to and pull some kind of emotion from, so of course portraying yourself as a ‘storyteller’ rather than a ‘journalist’ in your writing makes sense. Storytelling is now being used more than ever by in-house writers or PR firms, working on behalf of different brands, in the hopes to draw in and retain the attention of audiences, and it seems to be working!
Get rid of that writer’s block!
For all creatives, writer’s block is one of the biggest concerns, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Don’t be afraid to go out and get some inspiration for your work, it doesn’t always have to be 100% your own, and there’s always a twist you can put on a story to make it your own. The best ways to gather ideas? Talk to people – a conversation can be a great source of inspiration.
Be true to others, as well as yourself
Misinformation is everywhere on the internet, so being able to distinguish the fact from the fiction is crucial. It’s easy to choose journalism subjects with the ‘shock factor’ in mind, thinking that you’ll get a few extra clicks in a shorter time frame, however, those few extra clicks are not worth the reputational harm.
Why a voice is important, and why a niche will help
As a journalist, it’s hard to find unique and interesting topics all the time, which is why it’s important that you write these topics in-line with your genuine interests – this is your niche. Naturally, you’ll create better work by working on something you truly care about, and in-turn you’ll attract the audience you’re looking for.
Take your time
Last but not least, be patient. Nothing ever comes right as you want it, but if you keep working toward that end goal, it’ll work in your favour. You’ll often receive pushback from people you’re working with, and there will be plenty of people asking for revisions, but the feeling of completion once you get that one piece out there into the world is fantastic.